I am a sentimental person. I really love things with photos on them that allow you to see and cherish the person, a special day, or a victorious moment. I love seeing those moments over and over again, feeling all the feelings just as I did in that moment frozen in time by the photo.
This year I turned to the London Drugs photolab to make a few of those heart warming items for a few of those hard to buy for people on my list. I have received all my products and I have to say that I am so glad that I did gifts this way. It was very easy and decreased my gift buying stress. Not to mention, the items turned out amazing.
Before I explain more about my experience with the London Drugs Photolab, here is a ton of awesome information for you courtesy of the London Drugs press release………
The End of Re-Gifting: Customized Gift Ideas You’ll Be Proud to Give this Holiday Season Richmond, B.C. – Gift giving can be stressful. There is nothing worse than seeing the look of disappointment on a loved one’s face if you’ve selected the wrong item. Personalized photo gifts are a great option because they show that you put genuine care and planning into the gift and that makes them more meaningful to the recipient.London Drugs’ PhotoLab offers a great selection of items that anyone can customize for that personal touch. There’s something for everyone – even the impossible-to-buy-for person – at every price point. No matter how hard they are to please, there’ll be no re-gifting these gifts!
• Photo Mugs: Choose from a selection of coloured mugs and add a photo, name and your own customized message. For a co-worker gift, try adding a photo and text indicating how they take their coffee. Everyone in the office will know whose mug it is and how to make their coffee just the way they like it.
The process is simple. You can upload a photo online – direct from your Smart Phone or computer – or bring it in to any London Drugs Photolab location. Next, you customize the text and send it straight to print. The mug will be ready for pickup the same day or you can have it shipped. From $14.99 for an 11oz mug.
• DIY Ornaments: This is the perfect festive DIY gift. Include unique details such as a photo, names, special dates and holiday greetings on a variety of ornament shapes. The customized design can be created at a London Drugs PhotoLab or online at www.londondrugs.com/PhotoLab. From $6.99.
• Customized Phone & Tablet Cases: Customize a Samsung Galaxy, iPhone or tablet with a rich, vibrant Metal Print and custom case featuring a favourite photo memory. This is a simple and thoughtful way to bring comfort and joy for gadget lovers this holiday season without having to spend the big bucks.
Choose your favourite style of case, upload a photo and London Drugs’ Photolab will create a customized Metal Print that fits securely on the new case. From $7.99.
• Meaningful Wall & Home Décor: Many people shy away from giving art as a gift because it is personal and subjective. But so are the best gifts! Pick your recipients’ photo memory and have it printed on a Canvas Gallery Wrap (from $69.99) to create beautiful, stylish wall art they can enjoy for years. Or print a personalized image on a Photo Tile or Photo Plaque (from $9.99) for customized home décor. Create a special wall hanging with a mosaic of images or pick a single photo.
• Priceless Photo Treasures: Memories are one of the greatest gifts we can give anyone. By adding special photos to a variety of products like jewellery boxes, aprons, t-shirts, Crystals, and more, you’re giving more than a gift; you’re giving someone the opportunity to reflect on priceless memories.
Photos and text can be included on each item. View the complete catalogue online. From $6.99.
Moments Photographic Albums: As the end of 2014 approaches, it’s the perfect time to collect all the photo memories of the passing year and turn them into a Photobook gift for a loved one.The London Drugs Home Edition software allows you to individually select images straight from your computer, Smart Phone or social media accounts and then create customized themed backgrounds, intriguing page layouts and add special touches with personalized text. You can also further simplify the book creation process by selecting the Fast Track option, which lays out an entire photo book within minutes. Make it a holiday tradition!
London Drugs Moments Photobooks are available in coffee table books or photographic albums. Albums start at $44.99. Coffee table books start at $9.99 for softcover – $34.99 for hardcover.
Okay so here is what I think about my experience with the London Drugs Photolab this year……
Ordering is quite simply. If you are ordering mugs, crystals, ornaments and other such items, you easily do so with an upload of your photo and a few clicks right on the London Drugs website.
If you are ordering a photobook of any type, then you do need to download the London Drugs Home Edition software. The software puts the program on your computer with an icon on your desktop. You can save the progress of your photobook as you go along and I really like that.
The London Drugs Home Edition Software is really easy to use. My biggest suggestion would be to decide on the photos that you wish to use ahead of time and make them into a separate album on your computer, ready to access. If you have the photos you want to use all ready to go in one place, it will make finding them a lot easier when in the software and having to upload them.
Photobooks take a little longer than a lot of the other items available. The photobooks and specialty items need to be sent out to be made and then sent to the store that you are picking your items up at. Having said that, the items were still made and ready for pick up quite quickly. I placed my order on November 24th and these items were available for pick up December 2nd.
For other items such as ornaments, mugs, prints, enlargements, and such are all printed in the store lab, so they are ready in lightning speed time. We are talking within 2 days that these type of products are ready for you to be picked up. I placed an order on November 24th and on November 26th, I was receiving an email that the items were already for me to pick up. WOW!
If you are placing an order for various products, you might have to place separate orders, like I did. Many of my items were able to go on the same order. The items I needed to use the London Drugs Home Editions Software to order had to go through on a separate order from those that I could just upload a photo on the website and order. I am totally okay with having to do the separate orders.
Okay so here is one thing that I have to provide feedback to London Drugs about……
I had received an email saying that my one 2 day turnaround order was ready. Within a couple of hours of receiving the email, I missed a phone call and thus, received a voice-mail message. The message stated that the email was an error as one of the items, which is a specialty item and part of the order, was not ready and would take another couple of days.
The problem with the message was that the person stated in it what the specific items were. Luckily I was the only one that heard the voice-mail message or else a few presents would not have been a surprise this year.
So to the London Drugs photo lab employees, I would recommend that if you have to leave a message for someone, do not mention the items ordered in the message. You could be wrecking a surprise if the wrong person hears your message.
You are probably noticing that I am not mentioning the specific items that I had made this year. Well, it is because I do not want to wreck the surprise if the recipients decide to read this. I can say that they are absolutely beautiful. In my opinion, the London Drugs photolab items are affordable, amazing quality, there is a ton of selection for products, and the production of the items were amazingly fast. Overall it was an excellent experience and I know that I will be ordering again from the London Drugs Photolab.
Here is a look at all of the categories of products that you can get at the London Drugs Photolab.
If you are looking for a special gift that you know will be loved, then I recommend that you take a look at all the wonderful items that you can order through the London Drugs Photolab. I really love the items that I ordered and I know that the recipients will as well. The end of re-gifting has definitely arrived with London Drugs Photolab.
I can’t go this entire review without at least letting you see at least a photo that I used for some of the items I ordered. So here is a sneak peek at one of the photos. This photo makes me so proud of my Little One every time I see it. It reminds me of her hard work, her improvement, and her smiles when she plays hockey.
You can find our more about London Drugs and their Photolab here:
London Drugs Website
London Drugs Photolab Catalogue
London Drugs Photolab Home Edition Software
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Disclosure: MomMomOnTheGo was provided product for the purpose of conducting this review. As always, MomMomOnTheGo only supports companies, products, and services that she loves.