Ecommerce Product Customization: Definition, Benefits, Examples & Shopify Apps

Nikolett Lorincz
September 22, 2025
Ecommerce
6 min read

In 2025, online shopping is all about personalization. Product customization is empowering customers to make purchases that truly reflect their individual style and needs.

No more generic, mass-produced items. Customization allows customers to tailor everything, from colors to designs, creating unique products just for them.

Thanks to technological advancements, businesses can now easily offer these options, giving shoppers the freedom to craft their perfect product according to their customer preferences.

In this article, we’ll explore:

What product customization is
Examples of product customization
The best customization software for 2025

Let’s dive in!

What is product customization?

Product customization is about allowing customers to tweak and tailor products according to their preferences, making them uniquely theirs.

This customization can range from simple options like choosing a different color, size, and material to more complex configurations like adding personalized engravings or uploading custom designs.

The goal is to let customers create products that suit their tastes and needs.

What’s the difference between product personalization and product customization?

While product personalization and product customization are often used interchangeably, they have key differences.

Product personalization adds a unique touch to an existing item—like engraving your name on jewelry or adding initials to a bag. It’s about making something yours without altering its core design.

Product customization, on the other hand, goes a step further. It lets you adjust various elements of a product to fit your specific style or needs.

Choose colors
Select sizes
Pick materials
Modify the design

Customization makes the product more tailored to you, while personalization simply adds that extra personal detail.

What are the benefits of product customization?

By allowing customers to customize your products before purchase you can benefit greatly in the following ways:

Higher profit margins: Offering customization options allows you to charge higher prices. Customers are willing to pay more for products that are tailored to their preferences, boosting sales.
Reduced inventory risk: With product customization, you produce items only after they’re ordered. This means you don’t have excess inventory sitting around, reducing the risk of deadstock.
Competitive edge: Customization sets your online store apart from competitors selling off-the-shelf products. It’s a unique selling point that attracts customers and keeps them coming back.
Increased customer engagement: Customization options make the customer experience more interactive and engaging. Customers spend more time on your online store, exploring different options and creating their perfect product.
Enhanced brand loyalty: When people get products that are exactly what they want, they’re more likely to become loyal customers and brand advocates. This builds long-term customer loyalty and boosts your reputation.

As you can see, there are many benefits of product customization for ecommerce store owners. From increasing profits to building brand loyalty, the advantages are clear.

8 product customization examples

Now let’s take a look at eight popular examples of product customization.

1. Nike

Nike offers a range of customization options for their shoes through their Nike By You program.

Customers can choose from various styles, colors, materials, and even add personalized text or graphics.

This allows individuals to create sneakers that reflect their unique style and preferences.

Whether it’s designing a pair of running shoes with specific colors or adding a personal touch to basketball shoes, Nike By You gives customers the freedom to make their footwear their own.

2. Michael Kors

Michael Kors offers a monogramming service for their bags, enabling customers to personalize their purchase with their initials or a custom message.

Whether it’s a classic tote, a stylish backpack, or a sleek crossbody bag, customers can add a personal touch that makes their bag truly one-of-a-kind.

This customization option not only adds a sense of exclusivity but also makes the bag a meaningful and sentimental accessory. It’s a way for customers to make a fashion statement while carrying a piece that is uniquely theirs.

3. Teespring

Teespring empowers creators by offering the tools to design and sell custom merchandise through ecommerce personalization.

From mugs to hoodies, users can either upload their own designs or create new ones using the platform’s editor.

This ecommerce personalization feature has made Teespring a popular choice for creators and influencers wanting to build their personal brand with unique merchandise.

4. Chilly Bottles

Chilly’s gives customers the option to design their own reusable bottles.

With a variety of color choices for the lid, body, and base, plus the ability to engrave personalized text, users can create a bottle that is as unique as their style.

This customization feature lets customers showcase their individuality while promoting sustainability.

5. Function of Beauty

Function of Beauty offers a personalized haircare experience with their quiz on their ecommerce website.

Customers answer questions about their hair goals, and based on their responses, they receive a customized haircare formula tailored specifically to their needs.

This allows for a truly individualized approach to hair wellness.

6. Casetify

Casetify enables users to create custom phone cases with just a few clicks. By selecting the phone model, case type, and layout, customers can upload photos, graphics, or text to design a case that’s entirely their own.

This flexibility allows for a high degree of personalization, ensuring each case is a reflection of the user’s personality.

7. Baublebar

BaubleBar offers trendy and customizable jewelry, such as name necklaces and custom phone cases.

Customers can select from various fonts, metals, and chain lengths for necklaces, or choose colors, text, and styles for phone cases.

With a live preview feature, the customization process becomes fun and easy, ensuring customers feel confident in their designs.

8. dbrand

dbrand specializes in precision-cut vinyl skins for devices like phones, laptops, and gaming consoles.

Customers can mix different textures and colors to create a unique design that also offers protection.

The Build Your Own tool provides a real-time preview, making it an enjoyable and seamless customization experience, particularly for tech enthusiasts.

Best product customization software for Shopify stores

The below list of apps are all valid options for your Shopify Store, your choice really depends on the needs of your business so we can’t help there.

1. SC Product Options

SC Product Options, formerly known as Bold Product Options, is a versatile variant option app designed to enhance product customization on your Shopify store.

With limitless options and variant images, customers can tailor products to their liking. Whether it’s color swatches, text boxes, or file upload fields, SC Product Options has you covered.

Elevate your Shopify store experience with this comprehensive product customizer.

Pricing: Free plan available. 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $14.99/month.

2. Customify

With Customify’s Product Customizer App, Shopify ecommerce brands can unlock new potentials by integrating print-on-demand services and offering personalized products.

This app boosts conversions and sales by allowing customers to create unique items with custom designs and personalized text.

Empower your customers to express their creativity effortlessly while crafting products that reflect their style and personality.

Pricing: Free plan available. 14-day free trial. Paid plans start at $10/month.

3. Zakeke

Zakeke offers an all-in-one solution for Shopify stores, combining visual customization, 3D product configuration, and virtual try-on features.

Customers can design unique custom products, view them in 3D and augmented reality, and even virtually try them on.

Streamline order processes with Web-to-Print automation and live quoting. Integrating with print-on-demand platforms and offering in-store design options, Zakeke boosts sales and customer satisfaction.

Pricing: From $19.90/month. 14-day free trial.

4. Inkybay

Inkybay offers outstanding customization experiences for Shopify store customers.

With its visual product personalizer, product configurator, tiered pricing, and advanced product options, customers can easily create and visualize their perfect products. Manage inventory for an unlimited number of configurable and customizable products.

Inkybay is the perfect product builder for selling any custom products and obtaining print-ready files.

Pricing: From $19.99/month. 21-day free trial.

FAQ

How do customization options improve customer satisfaction and boost sales?

Offering tailored customization options enhances the customer experience by aligning products with individual preferences, leading to increased customer satisfaction. This, in turn, can boost sales and strengthen customer loyalty.

How can customizable products create a competitive advantage and enhance brand loyalty?

By providing customers with unique, customized products, businesses can differentiate themselves in the market. This personalized approach improves the customer journey and fosters brand loyalty, helping companies build a strong competitive advantage.

What are the challenges of offering product customization?

Challenges include managing complex inventory, ensuring quality control, and handling longer production times.

Wrapping up

Online product customization is reshaping the ecommerce landscape. From empowering customers to express their individuality to providing e-commerce business owners with tools to boost sales and engagement, the impact of selling customized products is undeniable.

Leveraging the right product customizer software, such as SC Product Options, Customify, Zakeke, or Inkybay, can take your Shopify store to new heights.

By embracing this trend and offering personalized experiences, e-commerce businesses can stay ahead of the curve and deliver exceptional value to their customers.

So why wait? Dive into the world of product customization today and unlock the full potential of your ecommerce store.

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