VANCOUVER, British Columbia — London Drugs has launched a new Photolab website that enables customers to log into and access images from Facebook, Flickr, Google+ and Picasa social media accounts and create a variety of photo products.
The western Canada drug chain said Wednesday that customized photo items available through the new Photolab site include personalized Christmas ornaments, photo books and a wide range of photo gifts, such as puzzles, ceramic tiles, jewelry boxes, aprons, T-shirts, pillow cases and mugs.
"We’re giving our customers more meaningful ways to preserve memories from their digital photo albums on social media accounts. Customized photo items and hardcover photo books really bring captured moments to life and make for ideal gifts," Wynne Powell, president and chief executive officer of London Drugs, said in a statement.
Citing a recent survey by BMO/Bank of Montreal, London Drugs noted that a rising number of Canadians are going online for holiday gift shopping. Of the 1,500 Canadian consumers polled in the study, 46% said they plan to do holiday gift shopping on the Internet this year, up from 41% a year ago.
"Approximately 80% of Canadians shop online. Consequently, retailers are increasingly providing incentives and easy access for shoppers who want the added convenience of making a purchase online," commented Cathy Pin, vice president at BMO Commercial Banking, when the survey results were announced late last month.
London Drugs said the growing Internet shopping trend is becoming a holiday tradition as shoppers are realizing there’s a less time-consuming way to select meaningful gifts: by ordering customizable gifts online. "A customized photo gift adds a layer of thoughtfulness and it can commemorate a milestone, special event or preserve a fond memory," Powell stated.
Personalized Christmas ornaments and photo gifts ordered through the London Drugs Photolab site start at $6.99 (Canadian). Photo book options, which require customers to download London Drugs Home Edition software, include photographic albums (starting at $34.00) and coffee table books (ranging from $9.99 for softcover to $34.99 for hardcover).
London Drugs operates 75 stores in over 35 major markets across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.
