These days there seems to be a wish list for everything. Nearly every online retailer I frequent (Amazon, Madewell, Nordstrom) has an easily clickable button for me to oh-so-conveniently add an item to my “wish list” instead of simply bypassing it altogether.

I shake my head as I admit it, but my wish list lists are embarrassingly long at each of the stores in my online shopping mall. And for what? To hold my “maybe” items in a safe place?

It wasn’t long ago when the term “wish list” meant one thing and one thing only to me: Christmas. Once upon a time, I got one chance once a year to create this SUPER IMPORTANT list and I didn’t have the luxury of messing it up with some “maybes.” I waited all year for the thick Sears catalog to hit my doorstep from which I would pick my dream toys.

While Sears reintroduced its once-famed catalog a few years ago, it barely caught on in today’s market dominated by millennials. The nostalgia was nice but the big-box department store seemed just too outdated to bounce back via that holiday book even with its effort to make it digital.

This year I was thrilled to see Amazon’s Ultimate Wish List hit my mailbox, mostly because I couldn’t wait to show it to my kids. Complete with a removable numbered list that encourages you to write down your wants, stickers to tag your favorite gifts and other little tips and surprises throughout, this wish book, created by everyone’s favorite retailer, somehow made looking at a catalog full of toys that you don’t actually have, fun. The perk for mom and dad? There’s a “How to shop” page right up front detailing how you can easily “Add to Cart,” “Scan & Shop” by using codes and/or purchase by asking Alexa.

It’s a brilliant thing, really, what Amazon did. They took an old concept and made it exciting again in a way that only an innovative, forward-thinking company can do: by making it better. This obviously had us thinking about how we can apply this same concept to our work. Whether it be a grand opening, anniversary party or unveiling a new idea, below are three ways you can make sure you get the most out of it.

• Make it relevant – Will your concept satisfy a need in today’s world? Perhaps you’re offering a digital spin on an old idea. Or maybe you just want to hark back to the good ole days where every party didn’t require a hashtag, and offer a “digital detox” event. Either way, make sure it addresses a need or concern prominent in today’s times.
• Make it simple – We never get tired of applying the KISS acronym. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel here, just make it faster/prettier/bigger. Keep in mind that good ideas never really go bad, they just need to be tweaked with simple, updated details.
• Make it fun – At the end of the day, girls (and guys) just want to have fun. Offering an interactive activity or anything that allows people to put their own spin on the situation offers people an opportunity for creativity and memorable moments.

Check out other ways we up the wow-factor for our clients.