Facebook opens Gifts up for ‘tens of millions,’ adds Fab, Brookstone, & more as partners

NEW YORK CITY — Facebook has opened up its “Gifts” program, which lets users send and receive real-world presents, to “tens of millions in the United States,” the company said Thursday evening at a private event.

The company also used the event tonight to add Fab, Brookstone, Dean & Deluca, BabyGap, L’Occitane, Lindt, Random House, and others to its roster of partners that you can get Gifts from.

Facebook launched Gifts with a limited group of users back in late September. The idea is simple: Facebook knows your “likes,” so it’s able to recommend high-quality and hand-picked items you might get a kick out of. You just put in your credit card info and send a gift to a friend. That person confirms the gift, puts in their address, and the gift is headed his or her way.

Gifts was tested a bit a few weeks ago when Facebook collected charitable contributions for victims of Hurricane Sandy though the service. Facebook partnered with organizations such as the American Red Cross, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and others to make Gifts work for a good cause.

Not surprisingly, Gifts could be a big money maker for Facebook, which has struggled to monetize its 1 billion users.

Facebook made the announcement for Gifts tonight at a private event held (appropriately) at iconic New York toy store FAO Schwarz. Facebook’s Lee Linden, the mind behind Gifts was on hand to announce the news.

Take a look at the screen shots below to get a better idea of how the Gifts program works.

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Two-foil gifts photo via iravgustin/Shutterstock