Some products are not complete without input from the customer. Stores that collect it after the order over WhatsApp lose a day per order, and sometimes lose the order.
When do you need a custom field?
- A customisable product: engraved name, thread colour, gift message.
- A date-bound product: event date, preferred delivery time.
- A product needing a measurement that is not in the standard options.
- A product requiring a file from the customer: artwork, photo, logo.
Make the field specific, not vague
"Text to engrave (up to 12 characters, Arabic or English)" beats "Notes" by a wide margin. A vague field returns vague answers that need follow-up.
Be precise about required versus optional
Every extra required field raises the chance of cart abandonment. Make required only what the order genuinely cannot be fulfilled without.
State the effect on returns
Customised products are usually non-returnable. Write that beside the field itself, not only on the policy page, so the customer knows before paying rather than after.