Personalized baby blankets aren't new. Do a Google search and you'll be presented with dozens of stores offering blankets with embroidered trims. Many department stores and baby retailers offer the same service.
However, as we're fond of pointing out, everything can be upgraded. Sonya Bebeblankee's suitably cute website (www.fillintheblankie.com) sells eight types of baby blankets, varying in weave, weight and price, and including a "400 Count Blankie" that brings the luxury of 400-count sheets to the infant world.
Their unique selling point? Unlike most competitors, Fill in the Blankie allows buyers to have up to 200 characters embroidered along a blanket's satin edges (the norm is just 20 characters). Instead of being limited to a baby's name and date of birth, customers can pick a poem, write a letter or tell a short story — making for ultra-personalized gifts that can be ordered in a matter of minutes.
The Dallas company's other claim to fame is an extremely quick turnaround: 3 to 7 days instead of weeks. Proving once again that entrepreneurial TLC can turn a staid idea into something fresh, desirable and profitable.
Website: www.fillintheblankie.com
Contact: emailme@sonyabebeblankee.com
Although they promise a fast turnaround, my $106.00 baptism blanket did not arive for the baptism of my godson. It was not even made until the day after the baptism. I was not informed of this until I complained that it did not arive by the promised date. The only thing I was offered as compensation was free express shipping upgrade. But that does not do any good seeing as the baptism already occured. And I had no gift. So now who cares if it arives now or later!
As hard as we all try to do our very best and service our customers to the best of our ability -- we're still human (100% flesh and blood). We do our very best to put processes in place to ensure that no order gets delayed -- and strive to "over- deliver" for each and every one of our customers (whenever the opportunity presents itself). But, in being human - we all come with our faults, shortcomings and "off-days" - for whatever the reason is.
The one thing we always have been and will continue to do -- is to accept and recognize our mistakes and do our very best to make a wrong, as right as possible.
I'm grateful to say that -- that after 4 years of being in business, we continue to receive incredible words of encouragements from great customers that go out of their way to send us emails expressing their appreciation for our "labor of love" - and the ultra personalized baby blankets that are a result from it.
BTW - turns out that disappointed in MN ended up posting this blog entry before even given us a business day's notice to address her concern and respond accordingly. Net, net -- she did receive her blanket on the 10th business day as originally promised -- and we still credited her in full (because we felt bad about this situation -- not because we dropped the ball).
And coincidentally -- we also received a very nice note back from "disappointed in MN" shortly thereafter -- thanking us for the efforts we made to rectify her situation.
To view a running list of testimonials -- the good, the bad and the ugly -- feel free to review additional customer reviews on our blog at: http://www.fillintheblankie.com/blog/
or -- feel free to post them here...
We rely heavily on customer feedback to become better and sharper in all that we do. And welcome feedback from all of our customers.
:)
- Todd (and the rest of the crew at Fill In The Blankie)
I have ordered multiple blankies and have never been disappointed. The quality is gorgeous and they seem to be everyone's favorite gift. My favorites are the sheety blankies because they're on trend and somewhat unexpected. I've had nothing but positive experiences with fillintheblankie.
These blankies are the absolute BEST baby gifts! I first received a blankie when my daughter Cate was born and I have given these ultra personal blankets as gifts ever since. I have also had wonderful experiences with the production staff. They were very gracious and helped me with a self-committed typo!
My best girlfriends and I are now entering the time in our lives where we are having children. As a way to always "bind" our children together we are ordering a customized blanket for each new child. On each of their blankets 2 lines of the same song is embroidered and our hope is that years from now the kids can put their blankets together and have the whole song in its entirety (thankfully the song isn't too long!). We have ordered our second blanket and so far it has exceeded our expectations (quality, service and delivery). I recommend this product to anyone!
This is the 2nd time I have ordered a blanket for a christening, and both times, I have been very happy with the results. It's the perfect gift! This time, it is for my nephew, and the company sent me an email telling me they had run out of the blanket I had ordered. Instead of making me wait, they automatically provided me with an upgrade, at no charge, as they knew it was for the upcoming event, and they didn't want me to not have the gift ready. What customer service.
I am going to make this my standard baby gift!
I just received my order and let me tell you . . . the blanket is beautiful! I had spent weeks researching different ideas for a baptism gift and was hopeful when I stumbled upon fillintheblankie.com. My standards are always very high and had my reservations but everything from the beautiful blanket material, the white satin edging, the baby blue stitching to the gorgeous bow in which the blanket was wrapped is absolutely exquisite. I would highly recommend this idea if you are looking for something that the child can use and at the same time have something to save as an heirloom.
I have ordered a similar blanket idea from a great company sew-adorable.com. I have always been very happy with their customer service and quality, also. (Just offering - in case anyone is looking for additional ideas)
I ordered the most expensive blanket on the site with customized text, as the company professes to be able to do. I wanted to create a family heirloom to be used for now and future generations. Despite very compassionate help from a sincere employee, the blanket could not be completed as I ordered. I gave up and requested a refund. I was treated extremely rudely and told that under no circumstances would I receive a refund, even though I have not received the product that I paid for. I can say nothing nice about this company's work or their ethics toward customer satisfaction. How a company can insist that a customer must pay for something not ordered is beyond reason. I wish I had listened to others before I dealt with this company.
I have bought these for both my grandchildren and have even been buying them for friend's grandchildren. For the labor, beautiful presentation and thoughtfulness of this gift I think it is a great value. I have ordered 10+ blankets from this company and each and everyone has been wonderful. I definitely think they are "family heirloom" material and well represented on the web. I love that everyone tells a story and is unique.
I, too, was very excited when I happened upon this web site last fall. I ordered a blanket for my Godson's baptism, and the staff was more than helpful with my phone calls asking weird questions such as "how soft is SOFT?". I will say when I received the blanket, I was disappointed to see that the embroidery was pretty clearly on the wrong side of the blanket. I called them up promptly and they offered to redo the same blanket, or offer me half off a new upgraded blanket. I couldn't expect much more in customer service, and I was very satisfied. I just asked my friend how it's held up, and she said it's his favorite blanket, gets washed all the time, and still looks brand new. I love this store!
I had a terrific experience with www.fillintheblankie.com - My blanket came quickly and was beautiful. I ordered the Herringbone in Blue for my nephew. I love that I could put so much information on it. I really think my brother and his wife adored it because they ordered one for a friend. The turn around for my order was pretty quick, but, even if I had to wait- it would have been worth it.
What a gem of a gift! I ordered one for my neighbor's new baby and it was terrific! Really cute . I added a frog and the way it came packaged was just adorable.
I can not believe how gorgeous the christening blanket I ordered for my daughter was. I absolutely recommend www.fillintheblankie.com. It was a keepsake that we will treasure always. I thought the site was really good and the product we received was wonderful.
I thought that this baby gift was a great product for the $. The idea that you could personalize all four sides and get it in less than 2 weeks is terrific. I was very pleased with the blanket I ordered.
We got one of these for our sons baptism and it was the perfect! it was the perfect memento for his christening and was especially meaningful because of all the information we could put on it. It was beautifully done.We even included a special blessing and crosses with the personalization.
Last week I received two different blankies I had ordered as gifts, one for a baptism and the other for my best friend's baby shower and again I was absolutely stunned at how beautiful they are. They are absolutely gorgeous. I placed my first order with you earlier this year as I needed a nice gift for another baptism and was looking for something that would be put to good use but could also be treasured as a keepsake. You have become my absolute stock gift for every occasion!
These are such an adorable gift. We ordered one for our 2nd daughter and I was just blown away. We were able to fir all the information about her birth around the edges. It looked like something my grandmother would have made for her. I was so thrilled we ordered one for our 4 year old. She loves it and we do to.