# Using Shopify Giveaways to Collect Customer Unboxing Videos By ReelWin Team · Last updated October 8, 2026 A practical guide to collecting authentic customer unboxing videos through a Shopify giveaway, from defining the entry request to reviewing submissions and rewarding winners. ## Key takeaways - Ask for one clear video action: customers opening and reacting to an order. - Use a branded submission portal so video entries are organized under the right contest. - Set the prize, dates, rules, pages, and emails before promoting the giveaway. - Review, download, and select winning UGC from one contest dashboard. A Shopify giveaway can turn the excitement around a delivered order into a repeatable source of customer-created video. The key is to make the request specific: ask customers to record themselves opening their purchase, show the product as it comes out of the package, and share their genuine first reaction. Then give them a simple, branded place to submit that video. ReelWin is built for Shopify merchants that want to run UGC video and photo contests, collect submissions through a branded contest portal, and manage the giveaway from setup through winner selection. The process below explains how to collect customer unboxing videos with a Shopify giveaway without relying on scattered messages, manual file collection, or an unstructured entry process. ## 1. Define an unboxing entry that customers can complete easily Start with the exact content you want to receive. “Send us a video” is broad and can lead to entries that do not show the product experience you hoped to capture. Instead, write a short prompt that describes the moment to film and what a successful entry includes. Keep the request approachable so customers can participate with the device they already use. - Ask entrants to film the package opening and their first look at the product. - Request an authentic reaction or a few words about what they notice first. - State whether the video should include the product in use, if that is important for your campaign. - Make clear that the entry is for a giveaway contest and direct customers to the contest submission page. - Include the contest rules in the setup so participants understand the giveaway terms before entering. This focused brief helps create a more consistent set of submissions while leaving room for each customer’s real perspective. Authenticity matters: an unboxing video works because it captures a customer’s own experience rather than a brand-scripted message. ## 2. Build the Shopify giveaway around the right incentive and timeline Create the contest in ReelWin’s guided setup wizard. Configure the prize, start and end dates, contest pages, email messages, and rules as part of the same setup process. Select a reward that gives customers a reason to take the time to record and submit their unboxing video, while keeping the entry task proportional to the prize. A straightforward contest period also gives you a clear window for promoting the opportunity and reviewing the resulting UGC. 1. Create a new UGC contest and name it for the unboxing campaign. 2. Choose the giveaway prize and establish the contest dates. 3. Customize the branded submission page with the unboxing prompt and entry instructions. 4. Add your contest rules during setup. 5. Customize the entry confirmation and winner email templates so entrants receive clear follow-up communication. Keeping the contest details together makes the giveaway easier to manage. Rather than assembling a separate form, inbox workflow, and winner-notification process, ReelWin stores submissions and automatically sends entry confirmation and winner emails using the templates you customize. ## 3. Promote the submission portal where customers will see it Customers can only enter after they know the giveaway exists and understand where to submit. Promote the contest after its setup is complete, using the channels available in ReelWin: a shareable contest link, Shopify theme blocks, and customizable email campaigns. Match the message to the channel, but preserve the same core instruction: film your unboxing, submit it through the branded portal, and enter for the chance to win. - Place a theme block on relevant store pages so shoppers and recent buyers can find the giveaway. - Use the shareable link in your campaign promotion to send customers directly to the contest submission portal. - Create a customizable email campaign that explains the prize, deadline, and requested unboxing video. - Repeat the required video action in every promotion so customers know exactly what to submit. - Keep the destination consistent: each promotion should point participants toward the contest’s branded submission experience. Promotion is most effective when the contest feels simple to act on. Customers should not need to ask where to upload their video or what happens after they enter. A clear portal and automatic confirmation remove uncertainty at the point of submission. ## 4. Review entries, select winners, and organize the UGC for use As entries arrive, use the ReelWin dashboard to review them within the contest they belong to. Each contest has its own organized submissions, which helps when you run more than one campaign or collect both videos and photos. Evaluate entries against the prompt and your contest rules, then choose winners from the same dashboard. 1. Open the contest dashboard and review submitted unboxing videos. 2. Check that entries meet the requirements you set for the giveaway. 3. Compare eligible submissions and pick the winner or winners. 4. Use the configured winner email template to notify selected entrants. 5. Download the UGC media you want to retain for your social channels, ads, or store. This final stage is where the giveaway becomes a usable UGC collection process. You are not only selecting a recipient for the reward; you are building an organized set of authentic customer unboxing videos that can support future brand content. ## Key takeaways - A strong unboxing giveaway begins with a specific, easy-to-follow video prompt. - ReelWin lets Shopify merchants configure contest prizes, dates, pages, emails, and rules in a guided workflow. - Branded submission portals give customers a direct path to upload their videos and keep entries organized by contest. - Shareable links, theme blocks, and customizable email campaigns help bring customers to the giveaway. - The dashboard centralizes entry review, media downloads, winner selection, and contest management. ## Frequently asked questions ### What should I ask customers to include in an unboxing video giveaway entry? Ask them to record the package opening, show the product as they take it out, and share an honest first reaction. Add any additional requirement that matters to your campaign, such as showing the product in use, directly on the contest submission page. ### Can a Shopify giveaway collect both unboxing videos and photos? Yes. ReelWin is designed to collect customer UGC videos and photos through branded contest submission portals. ### How are giveaway entries managed after customers submit them? ReelWin stores submissions and organizes entries by contest. From one dashboard, merchants can review entries, download UGC media, and pick winners. ### How do customers know their unboxing video entry was received? ReelWin automatically sends entry confirmation emails. Merchants can customize the email templates used for entry confirmations and winner notifications. ### How can I promote an unboxing video contest on my Shopify store? Use ReelWin’s shareable links, Shopify theme blocks, and customizable email campaigns to direct customers to the branded contest submission portal. **Edited by** Sam Fast Community Manager Sam is a dedicated communicate manager for new and existing ReelWin Shopify merchants.