Before you pick what goes on your registry, you have to choose a store to host your registry. Sometimes picking a store seems harder than choosing the right stroller. Here are some things to remember when selecting the right store to build your registry.
First of all, think about your shower’s guest list. Where do they live? Are they willing to travel? It is important to choose a store that your guests will easily be able to get to. A registry won’t do any good if the people who are shopping don’t even have access to it. You also want to take your guests’ budgets into consideration. You may love the selection at that classy little boutique, but will your guests be able to afford anything on the registry? On the other hand, if you have some big spenders on your list, they might not want to shop at their local discount store for that perfect layette set. Accommodate the largest group as much as possible without completely compromising your taste. Another solution: start two registries. Register for basics at the discount store and your favorites at the higher end store. Guests can then choose which store they want to shop at. The only downside is if everyone flocks to one store or the other and you end up missing quite a few items that you need.
Consider the store’s return policy. Chances are you will receive duplicates or will change your mind about an item once you get it home. If your registry is hosted at a store with a difficult return policy, you might be out of luck!
How big of a selection does the store have? Many stores carry baby items, but not all of these carry everything you will need. Make sure the store has more than just cute clothes, toys and nursery décor.
Can you edit your registry online? If so, this is a big perk for when certain items are discontinued or recalled, or if you just change your mind about what you want. You don’t want to have to go back to the store every time you need to change, remove or add an item.
If you can’t choose a store, or if it isn’t practical, you can also create a global registry online, like MyRegistry.com. These online registries are tied to multiple stores, so guests can look at one centralized registry, but have the option of shopping at any of the available stores.