Sites Like Things Remembered: 12 Personalized Gift Shops Worth Switching To
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About Things Remembered
Founded
1967
USA
Ships to
US
Editor-reviewed
Every recommendation read and refined by hand
Honest tradeoffs
Drawbacks listed, not hidden
No paid placements
Brands cannot pay to be ranked
Things Remembered without the mall kiosk is a different animal, and not in a good way. The whole point of the brand used to be physical: walking into the store between Foot Locker and the food court, handing over a watch or a money clip, watching the engraver feed it into the machine and waiting twenty minutes while you finished your pretzel. That little ritual was the product. The engraving was almost incidental.
After the bankruptcy wiped out the store network, what's left is a website selling engraved barware, baby cups, picture frames, and the same flask-and-Zippo gift sets you'd find anywhere, minus the showroom and the same-day turnaround that made it worth the markup.
The craftsmanship hasn't collapsed. The selection has just narrowed to the safe stuff, and the prices haven't fallen to match a catalog-only operation. You're paying mall money for an experience that no longer includes the mall.
So if the engraved monogram still matters but the store you remember is gone, what actually fills that gap now?
After the bankruptcy wiped out the store network, what's left is a website selling engraved barware, baby cups, picture frames, and the same flask-and-Zippo gift sets you'd find anywhere, minus the showroom and the same-day turnaround that made it worth the markup.
The craftsmanship hasn't collapsed. The selection has just narrowed to the safe stuff, and the prices haven't fallen to match a catalog-only operation. You're paying mall money for an experience that no longer includes the mall.
So if the engraved monogram still matters but the store you remember is gone, what actually fills that gap now?
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12 brands
The 12 Best Alternatives to Things Remembered
1
Etsy
Est. 2005
Brooklyn, New York, USA
$
cheaper
Shoppers who want something one-of-a-kind instead of a catalog SKU
Endless engraved and monogrammed gifts from independent makers, from cutting boards to cufflinks, often hand-personalized rather than machine-stamped.
Pros
- Massive variety of personalization styles and materials
- Direct contact with the maker for custom requests
- Wide price range from $10 trinkets to heirloom pieces
Cons
- Quality and turnaround vary wildly by seller
- No single customer-service safety net
- Shipping times depend on individual shops
Visit Etsy
Full guide: Sites Like Etsy
2
Personalization Mall
Est. 1998
Burr Ridge, Illinois, USA
$
cheaper
Anyone who wants the old TR catalog experience with quicker turnaround
The closest direct heir to the old Things Remembered model: huge catalog of engraved and printed gifts with fast in-house production.
Pros
- Enormous catalog covering weddings to baby gifts
- In-house production with fast turnaround
- Frequent discounts and free-personalization promos
Cons
- Catalog-style designs can feel generic
- Quality is solid but not heirloom-grade
- Website pushes upsells aggressively
3
Things Engraved
Est. 1981
Markham, Ontario, Canada
≈
similar
Canadian shoppers wanting the classic engraved-gift catalog
Canada's near-twin to Things Remembered, offering engraved jewelry, barware, and keepsakes with the same milestone-gift focus.
Pros
- Nearly identical product range to old TR
- Still has some physical store presence in Canada
- Reliable engraving on classic gift categories
Cons
- Primarily serves Canada
- Selection skews traditional
- Pricing similar to TR, no big savings
4
Shutterfly
Est. 1999
Redwood City, California, USA
$
cheaper
Photo gifts like mugs, blankets, and ornaments for anniversaries
Photo-based personalized gifts and keepsakes that cover the same milestone occasions with a print-and-photo twist.
Pros
- Best-in-class photo personalization
- Constant promotions and free-product deals
- Easy design tools for non-designers
Cons
- Photo-focused, not engraving
- Full price is high before discounts
- Quality varies across product lines
Visit Shutterfly
Full guide: Sites Like Shutterfly
5
Zazzle
Est. 2005
Redwood City, California, USA
$
cheaper
Highly custom, design-it-yourself personalized gifts
On-demand personalized goods with deep customization, from engraved pet tags to custom barware and keepsake boxes.
Pros
- Granular control over text, fonts, and layout
- Huge product catalog
- Frequent sitewide discounts
Cons
- Design quality depends on your own taste
- Some items are print-only, not engraved
- Quality varies by manufacturer
6
Mark and Graham
Est. 2012
San Francisco, California, USA
$$$
pricier
Polished monogrammed gifts that look more expensive than TR
Williams-Sonoma's monogram-everything brand, with engraved jewelry, leather goods, and home pieces at a step up in quality.
Pros
- Tasteful, modern monogram styling
- Better materials than catalog engravers
- Free monogramming on many items
Cons
- Pricier than Things Remembered
- Monogram-heavy aesthetic isn't for everyone
- Fewer machine-engraved metal options
7
Uncommon Goods
Est. 1999
Brooklyn, New York, USA
≈
similar
Sentimental, unexpected personalized gifts
B Corp
1% for the Planet
Curated personalized and keepsake gifts with a creative, story-driven slant for the same milestone occasions.
Pros
- Genuinely original gift ideas
- Certified B Corp with maker support
- Strong for anniversaries and weddings
Cons
- Less focus on traditional engraving
- Prices on the higher side
- Popular items sell out
8
Cuyana
Est. 2011
San Francisco, California, USA
$$$
pricier
Upscale monogrammed leather gifts for milestones
Fair Trade
Premium leather goods with monogramming, ideal when the engraved gift you want is a quality bag or accessory, not a flask.
Pros
- High-quality leather that ages well
- Clean monogram embossing
- Fewer-better-things ethos
Cons
- Much pricier than TR
- Narrow product range
- No metal engraving
9
Minted
Est. 2007
San Francisco, California, USA
$$$
pricier
Wedding and anniversary keepsakes with design polish
Designer-led personalized stationery, art, and keepsakes for weddings and anniversaries with a more elevated aesthetic.
Pros
- Independent-designer artwork and stationery
- Strong wedding and milestone selection
- High print and paper quality
Cons
- Pricier than catalog engravers
- Light on metal engraving
- Design-forward, not traditional
10
Swanky Badger
Est. 2016
USA
≈
similar
Groomsmen, wedding party, and proposal gifts
Personalized gifts built around big-occasion moments like weddings, proposals, and groomsmen gifts with engraving options.
Pros
- Occasion-specific gift bundles
- Fun, modern personalization
- Strong for wedding-party gifting
Cons
- Narrower than a full catalog
- Novelty skew on some items
- Pricing varies by bundle
11
Beau-coup
Est. 2003
Sunnyvale, California, USA
$
cheaper
Bulk wedding and party favors with personalization
Personalized favors and keepsakes for weddings, showers, and milestones, covering the same engraved-gift occasions affordably.
Pros
- Affordable bulk personalization
- Good for events and favors
- Wide occasion coverage
Cons
- Less focus on single keepsake gifts
- Quality is favor-grade
- Designs can feel generic
12
GiftTree
Est. 1998
Vancouver, Washington, USA
≈
similar
Polished engraved gift baskets and corporate gifting
Personalized and engraved gift sets for anniversaries, corporate gifting, and milestones, with curated barware and keepsakes.
Pros
- Strong engraved gift-set bundles
- Good for corporate and milestone gifting
- Reliable presentation and packaging
Cons
- Pricing on the higher side per item
- Less à la carte engraving
- Skews toward bundles
Closest to the old Things Remembered catalog
If what you miss is the familiar catalog of engraved barware, baby cups, and frames, Personalization Mall and Things Engraved are the most direct heirs. Personalization Mall has the larger catalog and faster in-house production, often at lower prices than TR charges now. Things Engraved is the better fit for Canadian shoppers and still operates some physical stores, so you can get close to that walk-in engraving experience the mall kiosks used to offer.
Step up in quality and taste
Things Remembered's current range leans safe and catalog-generic. If you want a monogrammed gift that looks like it cost more than it did, Mark and Graham, Cuyana, and Minted all bring real material quality and modern styling. Mark and Graham is the sweet spot for engraved jewelry and leather, Cuyana for heirloom-grade leather goods, and Minted for design-led wedding and anniversary keepsakes.
Best for weddings and milestone events
Many people only used Things Remembered for one big occasion. For wedding parties, proposals, and groomsmen gifts, Swanky Badger builds bundles around exactly those moments. Beau-coup handles bulk favors affordably, and Uncommon Goods is the pick when you want something sentimental and unexpected for an anniversary rather than another engraved tumbler.Which Alternative Is Right for You?
Going for the old experience? Personalization Mall replicates the TR catalog with faster turnaround and lower prices, and it's the safest one-to-one swap. Want something nobody else will have? Etsy puts you in direct contact with independent makers who hand-personalize, while Uncommon Goods curates the creative end. Buying for a milestone? Swanky Badger and Beau-coup are built for weddings and parties. Willing to spend more for quality that outlasts the occasion? Mark and Graham, Cuyana, and Minted all deliver gifts that don't look like they came from a kiosk between the food court and the shoe store. Frequently Asked Questions
QIs Things Remembered still in business after closing its stores?
Yes, Things Remembered still operates as an online-only retailer after its store network closed following the 2019 bankruptcy. The website sells engraved jewelry, barware, frames, and keepsakes, but the same-day in-store engraving that defined the brand is gone, and the current catalog is narrower than it once was.
QWhat is the closest alternative to Things Remembered?
Personalization Mall is the closest match. It offers a large catalog of engraved and printed gifts across weddings, anniversaries, and baby milestones, with fast in-house production and frequently lower prices than Things Remembered charges now. Things Engraved is the closest equivalent for Canadian shoppers.
QWhere can I get engraved gifts cheaper than Things Remembered?
Etsy, Personalization Mall, Zazzle, and Shutterfly all run cheaper than Things Remembered. Etsy is best for unique handmade engraving, Personalization Mall and Zazzle for catalog-style personalization, and Shutterfly for photo-based keepsakes, especially during their frequent promotions.
QWhich site is best for high-quality engraved jewelry and keepsakes?
For quality that outlasts the gift box, Mark and Graham offers tasteful engraved jewelry and leather, Cuyana makes heirloom-grade monogrammed leather goods, and Minted leads on design-forward wedding and anniversary keepsakes. All three use better materials than catalog engravers.
QCan I still get same-day or in-store engraving like the old mall stores?
Things Remembered no longer offers in-store engraving since its mall locations closed. In Canada, Things Engraved still has some physical stores. Otherwise, your best bet for a walk-in engraving experience is a local jeweler or trophy shop, while online options like Personalization Mall offer the fastest turnaround for shipped engraved gifts.
Our Verdict
The Best Things Remembered Alternative For You
Going for the old experience? Personalization Mall replicates the TR catalog with faster turnaround and lower prices, and it's the safest one-to-one swap. Want something nobody else will have? Etsy puts you in direct contact with independent makers who hand-personalize, while Uncommon Goods curates the creative end. Buying for a milestone? Swanky Badger and Beau-coup are built for weddings and parties. Willing to spend more for quality that outlasts the occasion? Mark and Graham, Cuyana, and Minted all deliver gifts that don't look like they came from a kiosk between the food court and the shoe store.