Posts Tagged ‘Gift exchange’

White elephant exchange + spin the bottle!

The popular white elephant gift party and the game called spin the bottle can now be joined for some gift sharing fun. This is a great way to add some variety to your group gift parties this year.

 

If you are doing a traditional white elephant party instead of an online gift exchange like AlbinoPhant, then the white elephant spin the bottle game will make your party even more fun than ever.

You will need to set-up the room so that all of the chairs are in a circle and spread apart enough to easily identify a player turns when the bottle is pointing at them.

Remember that unique white elephant gifts are the secret to creating fun conversation during the party. Encourage every one to take some time to shop for something fun.

It is better if you have a hard surface for the bottle to spin upon, so use a table top or do the party on a hard flooring surface.

Just like any white elephant gift exchange, you should gather all of the wrapped items into one spot and get everyone seated.

#1 The game starts with all players in their seats.

#2 Someone spins the bottle until it points at one of the players (re-spin if there is any question as to who it is selecting)

#3 The first person selected by the bottle opens one of the gifts from the wrapped gift pile.

#4 The bottle spins and selects the next player, who can ether open one of the wrapped items, or steal the opened gift.

#5 If a player has a item stolen they can ether open a replacement gift or steal from another players opened gift. (Remember, no direct steal-backs)

#6 The bottle spins again after the stealing and opening have stopped.

#7 If the bottle  lands on a person with an open gift, they have the option of swapping their current opened item with another persons opened gift, or donating it to a player that does not currently have any gift. If they donate, then they must open one of the wrapped gifts from the pile.

#8 Continue play using the bottle as the turn selector, until all the gifts have been opened.

We have included some instructional slides that will help you understand the rules of the white elephant spin the bottle gift exchange game.

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

The Yankee Swap rules build group fun

The white elephant gift exchange is also known as the Yankee Swap in some areas of the country. Both are very engaging social party activities that allow fun gift sharing among friends and family.

Yankee Swap Video

Watch this time elapse video of a group gift exchange party. Thisvideo demonstrates the white elephant gift sharing action that takes place within the party game.

We counted about 25 people in this gift exchange video, that looks like it was hosted in a typical living room. The Yankee Swap rules are the same as the white elephant git exchange, so gifts are opened, stolen and conversation is created. You can get a feel for the fun in the party by watching this in quick-time view.

What is interesting is the social dynamics created as a result of the party. If you watch the last few seconds of the video you will see how conversations and groupings continued even after the clean-up was finished.

Group white elephant gift parties are greatly enhanced by using an engaging game like the Yankee Swap. It is no wonder that this game or its cousin the white elephant gift exchange are the most popular group parties during the holidays.

swap 2010 time lapse from Roy Hodgman on Vimeo.

Using this gift exchange activity will allow your group to share unique and zany gifts without breaking the bank. It is these fun gifts that really add to the conversation and social engagement that will make your party even more memorable.

Our family has enjoyed this style of gift exchange for many years so we have created an online version of this party game. Much of the same dynamics can be mimicked in the AlbinoPhant white elephant party.

Your going to love this party!

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

The 20 best White Elephant gifts for $20

Any good gift exchange host knows that setting a spending limit side-steps some issues at the party. With a $20 spending limit the group will shop and then present gifts that are on par with each other. No one likes the “big-spender” or the “cheap-scape” to steal the show.

In the AlbinoPhant online exchange each gift is revealed virtually before it is actually shipped to each players door. Every gift that is reveal on the game-playing page allows everyone a chance to rate the gift. The gift with the highest score gives the purchaser the bragging rights of being the best shopper for the party.

We have assembled 20 great white elephant gift ideas from the AlbinoPhant $20 dollar marketplace. As with all white elephant gift parties or Yankee swaps, the idea is to bring a gift that will get the conversation going and make the event more social. This group of gift ideas demonstrates the variety of items that could be shared in this style of gift exchange. Some will naturally become conversation starters and others will eventually become more desirable than others and will be stolen more often. Regardless, these 20 white elephant gift ideas should get your creative juices flowing…

View some $25 White Elephant Gift Ideas

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MamaC
Head Recreationalist for PartyWeDo

35 great Secret Santa poems

You may not be aware of the fact that poetry and gift exchange events have a long partnership in fun; they have a lot of connections when it comes to these group party events. Whenever a group gets together in creative conversation there usually arises an opportunity for a fun gift exchange poem to be generated.

There are many poems associated with Christmas, Santa Clause or Kris Kringle. We will not catalog them all here, but will instead focus on those associated with the secret Santa exchange and then we will share an old favorite white elephant party poem.

This list of unique gift exchange poems has been collected from books, magazines and the internet, so we hope that you will find something fun to share at your next office, church or family gift swap event.

Secret Santa Poems

The majority of gift exchange poems are used during a secret Santa gift swap events. Poetry is used as a way of sharing hints and suggestions as to the identity of the secret Santa.  The rules of a secret Santa exchange revolve around keeping the identity of the purchaser camouflaged as long as possible, before the time arrives for the gifts to be opened.  Much of the fun generated by the exchange is created through attempting to identify who is sharing the poems while attempting to learn who is sharing the gift.
Some secret Santa events allow people to share several small gifts or trinkets that act as hints and point to what the “big” gift is going to be. Or they may be used as hints as to the identity of the sly Santa who purchased the present. Some poems blend in the first letter of the Santa’s name and then suggest other traits that might help with discovering identity. Online secret Santa applications may find ways to use poems to help increase the conversation and the fun on their sites.

Many poems give a clue as to if the gift is something that you would hear, smell, read, watch or wear. The trickiest Santas use poems that point to the style of gift that is coming in the future with cleaver hints in the poem. Poetry allows creativity and fun to help the party turn into an extended adventure for both the secret Santa and the recipient of the gift.

We will not spend much time on the rules of the secret Santa game on this page, but you can find many different gift exchange rules here on the AlbinoPhant Blog.

This is a gift especially for you,
I’m your Secret Santa, I bet you can’t guess who.
Accept this gift with a smile on your face,
And expect another one soon in it’s place.

Spread holiday cheer to family and friends,
Because the joy of Christmas never ends.
I’m a top secret Santa on a mission to surprise. But here are two clues for your two little eyes: I’m (fill in a clue) and (fill in a clue) and that’s all I can say, ’till you get the last clue on the big reveal day!

A whiffin’, sniffin’ gift,
Especially for you.
It’s from “Secret Santa”
Bet you can’t guess who!

Twas the first day of giving and all through the place
Not a person was lurking not even a trace
So I tiptoed my way to your desk down the hall
And dropped off this gift, Gosh! I’m having a ball!

My elves have been busy making this gift just for you,
They told me you’re special but I already knew.
As your Secret Santa I hope you’ll enjoy,
This heartfelt sentiment and new little toy.

Jingle, jangle, what do I hear?
It’s not a reindeer sleigh–
It must be Secret Santa,
Hurrying on his way.

Santa knows you need some cheer and a lift,
So please accept this card and this little gift.
Just remember that wherever you go,
You have family and friends that love you so.

Here’s a present for you I hope you’re surprised,
I’m your Secret Santa Claus in disguise.
The tradition is fun and done every year,
You’re my first choice because you’re such a dear.

Who’s Secret Santa? Here’s a clue, she likes to ____ and likes you too!

It’s not a house, a car, or a boat. It’s a secret Santa gift with a silly little note!

I’m prancing and dancing all over the place
Because I’ve left you a gift with ‘neary a trace
I’m really quite proud of the way that I’ve been
Able to stay secret – it sure makes me grin!

Winkin’, blinkin, just don’t nod.
This gift is for your eyes.
It’s from Secret Santa too,
By now, that’s no surprise.

This special gift is just for you,
I hope you’ll enjoy it the whole year through.
As Christmas approaches you’ll find out who,
Your Secret Santa is and who’s fond of you.

Who could my Santa be? A he or a she? Open the gift, and a hint you will see.

Yummy, yummy, tummy tingling.
A tasty, tempting treat.
Won’t you be surprised
When we finally meet!

Here’s a present for you I hope you’re surprised,
I’m your Secret Santa Claus in disguise.
The tradition is fun and done every year,
You’re my first choice because you’re such a dear.

Who is secret Santa? Her first name ends with “y”. She’s agile and intelligent. And she likes to bring pie.

Who is secret Santa? His name begins with “h”. He’s always working overtime, but doesn’t stay late.

In through the door I flew like a flash
Set down your gift, I hope it’s a smash!
Then with a twinkle and gleam in my eye
I quickly disappeared before you could spy
I can’t let you see me I have to be quick
You don’t know my name ’cause I’m your secret St. Nick!

You may not like the gift that’s inside, but please remember to act surprised.

If you hear someone yell though they aren’t in your sight
“Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night!”
You’re not hearing things and it’s not a trick
It’s really just me, your secret St. Nick

Santa’s been busy making your gift. Hope it gives your Christmas spirit a lift.

This final gift–for the sense of touch–
Might be a bit surprising.
I’m sure you know just who I am,
Without realizing.

I’m a secret Santa. This gift contains a hint. Please pretend you like it ’cause the money has been spent.

Jingle, jangle, what do I hear?
It’s not a reindeer sleigh–
It must be Secret Santa,
Hurrying on his way.

Here is a treat I hope you find sweet. I’m keeping the best gift until we meet.

I’m giggling and laughing and shouting with glee
I’ve left you another gift
But you still haven’t seen me!

Who is secret Santa? Her name contains an “i”. She loves to make photocopies but can’t tell you why.

A whiffin’, sniffin’ gift,
Especially for you.
It’s from “Secret Santa”
Bet you can’t guess who!

Santa’s been working nearly a year to craft you a gift that brings you great cheer.

What to my wondering eyes did appear
An opportunity to drop off this gift
For someone quite dear…

This is a gift especially for you,
I’m your Secret Santa, I bet you can’t guess who.

Accept this gift with a smile on your face,
And expect another one soon in it’s place.
Spread holiday cheer to family and friends,
Because the joy of Christmas never ends.

On day number 3 I snuck past the door
With a clever disguise to even the score
For I’m your Secret Santa and I can’t let your eyes
Rest on my face and spoil the surprise!

Filling Your Stocking With Chocolate Belongings.

This special gift is just for you,
I hope you’ll enjoy it the whole year through.
As Christmas approaches you’ll find out who,
Your Secret Santa is and who’s fond of you.

We would like to thank Sugardoodle for this great poem that can be adapted for most gift exchange events that involve drawing random numbers. Use this white elephant gift poem to living up your next white elephant gift exchange or Yankee Swap. Now let’s get a party started a share some poetry!

1. Lucky you, you’re # 1

You get to start all the fun.

So grab a gift and grab it quick.

Cause you’re the one who gets first pick.

2. Number 2 you’re on the way.

It’s time for you to have your say.

Get your gift and when you’re done,

Swap it off with number 1.

3. Number 3 its plain to see.

It’s your turn to pick which gift `twill be.

And when your choosing job is through,

Swap with 1 and then with 2.

4. Number 4 must use your head.

So grab a gift that has some red.

If it doesn’t suit you to a `T’,

You may swap with 2 or 3.

5. Jump to it 5, don’t drag your feet.

Take your gift back to your seat.

Wonder of wonders, it’s yours for a spell.

But what comes next, you can never tell.

6. Number 6 it’s your time to go.

Grab a gift and don’t be slow.

Now put on a smile so they won’t be sore,

Cause you must swap with #4.

7. Is a lucky number it seems,

You choose a gift that has some green.

Poke it, and shake it until you get back.

Now trade with someone wearing black.

8. Number 8 its up to you.

To get a gift that has some blue.

Now go quietly to your place.

Or trade with someone with a smiling face.

9. Nine, we haven’t forgotten you.

So choose your gift and don’t be blue.

Consider well and when all is said.

Trade with someone wearing red.

10. Number 10 come to the front.

For yours you shouldn’t have to hunt.

Now hurry back and look alive.

For you get to swap with #5.

11. Your turn 11 is finally here.

Pick a gift and hold it near.

Back at your seat look both ways.

If your choice was right then it may stay.

12. Number 12 jump to it sir/girl.

Make your choice, and with a whirl

Glance around to see who’s where.

Swap with whomever’s got the darkest hair.

13. Well, now, what do you know.

It’s finally 13′s turn to go.

There you go, you’re doing fine.

Now swap with 3 or 6 or 9.

14. Number 14 it’s your turn to shine.

So find a gift and don’t you pine.

Somewhere you really have a friend.

You get to trade with number 10.

15. Number 15 how do you do?

There should be a fit up there for you.

So pick one out without delay.

Now trade with someone wearing gray.

16. Number 16 your patience is great.

Go get a gift and don’t be late.

When your return, spin around.

And switch with someone wearing brown.

17. 17 your choice is here.

Find a box and hold it near.

When you return and look behind.

Swap with 11 if you don’t mind.

18. Number 18 boogie to the tree.

Choose the largest gift you see.

Admire it well, then turn with a wink.

And swap with someone wearing pink.

19. Now #19, do as you’re told.

Find a gift which has some gold.

When you’ve chosen we must be fair,

Trade with whoever has the blondest hair.

20. Number 20 how patiently you’ve waited.

Go get a gift before it’s outdated.

Shake it a bit and look around the floor.

Swap it with someone who’s five feet four.

21. 21 it’s time for fun.

For swapping time has just begun.

After trading with 4 and 9.

Swap with two even numbers–That’s fine.

22. 22 it’s time to make your way.

Get a gift that’s pretty and gay.

Now get ready to use your bean.

You must swap with 8 and 14.

23. 23 your turn has come.

Choose your gift with a lithe hum.

Look it over and when you’re through.

You may swap with a number having 2.

24. Number 24 have you been bored?

Well, we’d like to show you you’re adored.

So choose a box, see what you get.

Now you may trade with a brunette.

25. Let’s go 25, look alive.

Pick a gift of any size.

Show the gang that you’re O.K.

And swap with anyone you say.

26. It’s time for 26 to mix.

Get a gift if just for kicks.

For you’re to trade, if you have the knack.

With anyone whose shoes aren’t black.

27. Number 27 how lucky you are.

You’ve seen all the gifts chosen so far.

If a pretty box catches your eye.

Grab it, make a trade, and don’t be shy.

28. Hop up 28, don’t drag your feet.

Study your gift as you reach your seat.

Now grin a bit and smile some more.

Trade with 22, then 24.

29. Number 29 you must wake up.

Run up there as spry as a pup.

Make your choice, isn’t this keen?

But you must swap with 17.

30. Number 30 your wait was long.

But when we’re through you’ll sing a song.

Just look them over from small to large.

See a favorite? Then forward charge!

31. Number 31, how about that?

On your chair so long you’ve sat.

But get a gift, it’s not too late.

And trade with 30, 20, and 8.

32. O.K. 32, jump up quick,

And snatch your prize.

Then trade with the person

With the bluest eyes.

33. Well 33 it’s here at last.

You may break your giftless fast.

Gaze around at all the lasses.

Trade with someone wearing glasses.

34. 34, can there be more?

This poetry may be a bore.

Find your gift and look around.

Swap with the youngest member found.

35. 35, it is really true?

That 34′s rhymes now are through.

Well, choose your gift, now you see.

You trade with two numbers having 3.

36. 36 your waits been endless.

But now you know that you’re not friendless.

Look around and “case the scene”.

Then swap with someone wearing green.

37. 37 the end is near.

But have a gift, and never fear.

Now let’s shake up the early ones, like 7.

Trade with odd numbers through 11.

38. 38, it’s your choosing time.

Please make it better than this rhyme.

When you have it, look around.

And trade with those from out of town.

39. 39, go to the tree.

Choose the smallest gift you see.

If you wish to make a trade.

Find the largest that was made.

40. 39′s turn is finally past.

It’s number 40′s turn at last.

Find your gift and make a date,

To swap with #38.

41. 41 are you still awake?

Go get a gift for heaven’s sake.

Pick it up nice and quick.

Then trade with numbers having six.

42. Guess whose turn has come up now.

42, please take a bow.

Choose your gift, isn’t it keen.

Now trade with 15 and 19.

43. Oh my goodness, it’s getting late.

43, let’s see your fate.

Go get yours, sakes alive.

You have to trade with 25.

44. On we go to 44.

There must be at least one more.

Take your pick, are you in heaven?

Alas, you’ll swap with 27.

45. 45, it’s time for you.

Guess what it is you have to do.

Trade with 28, then 29.

Now you can say, “This one is mine!”

46. Skip on over 46.

Time for you to stir and mix.

Make your choice and then connive,

To swap with #35.

47. 47, we’re now to you.

There’s a gift for you there, too.

Isn’t this a lot of fun?

Now trade with 40, then 41.

48. 48, there’s not much left.

Still we won’t leave you bereft.

Maybe you’ll choose an old, rare wine.

Would you like to swap with 39?

49. 49, are your eyes still open?

Are you sitting there just hopin’?

Trot on up, what’s your fate?

Then trade with number 48.

50. We’ll wrap this up with #50.

We bet what’s left is really nifty.

However, one last swap is due.

With the gal who’s sitting left of you.

We hope that these Secret Santa gift exchange poems will inspire you to share more gift experiences with your family and friends. We love to focus on white elephant gifts as a part of our secret Santa events. If you would like to try the AlbinoPhant white elephant gift party online click HERE

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

Gift exchange rules

The gift exchange party is the most common way to share unique white elephant gifts among groups of family and friends. These events are held during various holiday celebrations and for office parties, family and class reunions.

The most common and popular gift exchange is the Secret Santa gift swap game. It is primarily used to exchange gifts directly from one person to another.  This activity is akin to the standard name draw exchange that many groups use to establish the rules of gift purchasing among groups during important life events. But before we move into the rules of Secret Santa we will start with the most common rules of all gift exchange games, parties or events:

The Name Draw or Drawing Name Exchange

The name draw style gift exchange is used as a means to save money among members of various sized groups. Rather than purchasing a present for everyone, the name draw system randomly parses out the gift purchasing responsibly evenly between each member of the group.  This helps with the gift giving budget because each person only purchase one gift for one person in the group.

The main rule of the name draw is that all members of the groups put their name into a common holding area.  This holding devise could be a hat, or a box, or a bucket.  Newer online versions of the name draw exchange uses an electronic mimic of the hat using special randomizing name drawing software.  Instead of names written on slips of paper, the group adds the names electronically on a website. Here is a fun site the shows a virtual hand going into the hat and pulling out a name.  The online party version of these name draw systems can really be described as a fun generator for any name draw exchange.

There are several online name draw sites that will help simplify your name drawing and simple gift exchanging events. Here are some links to those that we found in a quick Google search for Name Drawing, Secret Santa Name Generator and Random Name Draw Generator:

Name drawing .com

Draw names .com

Virtual name draw .com

Sneaky santa .com

Boggol drawing names .com

Boogspace secret santa name picker .com

You can use many of these simple and free online tools to randomly select the names for your name drawing events and never draw names from a hat again. No matter what name holding devise that you use, the rules for the gift exchange remain the same; one name drawn for each potential gift to be shared, so that everyone gets a gift.

The Secret Santa Gift Exchange or Secret Kris Kringle

The next level up from the family name draw is an group gift exchange activity known as the Secret Santa Exchange or in some other parts of the world, the Kris Kringle Gift Exchange. As we mentioned before, the Secret Santa is the most used style of gift exchange in the world.

The main difference between a standard name draw gift exchange and a Secret Santa exchange is the idea of secrecy. In a Secret Santa event the members of the group draw names just like any name draw activity, but you don’t share who you are purchasing an item for. The internet also provides a few online secret Santa organizer sites that can help put the party together. We have listed a few of them here for you to explore:

Secret Santa Organizer .com

Elfster Secret Santa .com

Secret Santa .com

Sly Santa .com

Secret Gift .com

Evite Secret Santa

Kris Kringle gift exchange

NOTE: the Kris Kringle gift exchange is popular in the UK and Australia.

The secret Santa gift exchange follows the same rules as the regular name draw, so there is one item per each person in the group. The parings are selected randomly from all members of a group and there is still the expectation that each person will purchase and deliver a gift to another person. The unique rule in a secret Santa event is that the random name selection is secretive.  There are version of the secret Santa that involve providing clues as to how the shoppers are, with guessing and questioning opportunities provided to ad to the fun.  Some secret Santa exchanges use the rule that no item can be shared until a certain date and time. This is usually a rule when the gift exchange is a part of a group party of other event.

Gift Exchange games that involve random gift swapping

The most complicated set of rules for gift exchange activities are associated with gift swapping parties.  The most common of these swap or “stealing” parties is the White Elephant gift exchange party, but there are at least 22 other party games that use the same basic rules. Here is a list of the various titles of gift swapping parties:

Yankee Swap

Scottish Gift Exchange

Chinese Gift Exchange

Chinese Christmas

Thieving Elves

Dirty Santa

Thieving Secret Santa

Rob Your Neighbor

Dirty Christmas

Pollyanna Swap

Cajun Christmas

Devil’s Santa

California Swap

Steal-a-Thon

Snatchy Christmas Rat

Gift Grab

Cutthroat Christmas

Nasty Christmas

Redneck Santa

Rob a Santa

Grinch Exchange

The Grinch Game

No matter the name, the rules follow a basic format and require each members attendance at a group event or party activity. There is even an online white elephant gift party called AlbinoPhant, that also uses these same basic rules of play:

White Elephant Gift Exchange common rules

The rules for a white elephant gift game are pretty standard. All invitees to the party must purchase a gift for sharing. The item should be something that all would find interesting or unique, because nobody knows which gift will eventually be going home with which person. Unusual gifts are great for these gift swap parties because they really help get the conversation going and make the party more interesting.

Gifts at the White Elephant party are required to be wrapped so that the contents will be a surprise when it is opened. There should be no identifying marks on the item so that the purchaser remains anonymous to the other attendees at the gift exchange event.

The game begins with a random name draw for all those in attendance, in order to select the first player.  From this point the game allows gifts to be opened and to be “stolen” , which is the term used to describe the gift swapping rule of the game.  Any item that is opened can be stolen on any players turn. Another basic rule concerning stealing is a restriction that stops any player from stealing-back a gift that was just stolen from them.  The final common rule of the game is that once a item has been held by 3 people it is “frozen” from the stealing process for the rest of the game. This rule does not apply in the case of a white elephant gift exchange game titled Commando, where stealing is allowed up until the end of the game, no matter how many times the item goes around the room.

One final rule that is common in these white elephant style events is the “first shall be last” rule.  This rule says that the first person that opens a gift is given the last chance to exchange any item that is not frozen.  This rule is used to reduce the possibility of the first person missing out on all of the action, if nobody every steals their gift.  There is a school of thought that suggests that this rule is lame, so you can make the decision to use it or not.

There you have it… The most common rules of the Gift Exchange, from simple name draws to complicated gift stealing exchanges.  You can find very complete details of the rules for each of the exchange activities here on this site.

If you have any thoughts, additions, corrections or suggestions, please add them here in the comment box.

Have a great time at your group gift exchange party and remember to play by the rules!

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

Share

Another giant in online retailing is moving closer to the online party concept. Ebay announced a new group gift giving application for sharing gifts.

Retailers understand that gift giving in the US is a 100-billion dollar market, and that families and friends support each other in groups. Millions of groups gather every week to celebrate birthdays, weddings, baby births and more. Right now we do the gathering in homes and businesses, but in the future we will do more gathering and giving online.

Ebay is taking a step in the right direction with this gift purchasing idea. The cost of gifting and the increased expense of travel makes online solutions to sharing practical.

Ebay is finding ways to join these groups together in an online group activity that centers on gift giving. You get the social interaction and the added personal reward of being supportive to someone you care about.

It is a party that we do when we want to join in gift sharing. Now Ebay is suggesting ways to link with others in the shopping experience. Ebay has always been a good source for white elephant gifts so taking the next step makes perfect sense.

All of this gift sharing, gift shopping and gift exchanging with online tools will someday make the delivery of gifts to distant groups be like giving UPS drivers a party hat…

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

Share

UPS delivers over 5 billion packages a year….FedEx adds a bit over a billion per year and the U.S. Postal Service employs almost as many people as WalMart, to deliver packages.

The actual number of packages moved by these parcel delivery giants and their smaller cousins is probably in the 6-Billion packages a year range.

Parcel delivery services have been the fastest-growing transportation segment in the United States over the past two decades. This market has more than doubled its share of the nation’s transportation budget since 1980 and now carries at least 10% of each day’s gross domestic product in the United States.

The package delivery business may be huge and growing, but it is still dull and unimaginative!

A recent paper distributed by the Association for Postal Commerce revealed that there are two main uses for package delivery in the US:

Business to Business and Business to Consumer.

From the APC study, we find that Business to Business (B2B) represents 83% of all Overnight Parcel Deliveries and 68% of all Ground Parcel Deliveries. It is OK for these deliveries to be dull, because efficient and speed trump emotion in this delivery category.

The Business to Consumer (B2C) numbers are a bit different, with Overnight at 17% and Ground at 32%. These packages move from a business that has a more consumer-centered mind-set. Emotion is the rule of the day in retail, and many of these deliveries were initiated by individuals to meet their personal needs, or as a gift for someone else. The B2C shipment involves people who are personally invested in a good delivery result. Good results are especially critical in the delivery of a gift.

To prove the personal emotional tie to the B2C delivery category… Just miss the delivery date of a customer’s gift for a grandson’s birthday, and then watch how the customer service line lights-up!

The B2C parcel delivery category represents what Amazon, Overstock or Target and WalMart do with their products when they ship. Before shipment, these retailers do everything possible to keep the customers engaged, so that they will return to purchase from them often.

So, if they are working very hard to keep each customer happily involved during most of the purchasing process, why do they allow the final part of the delivery process to be so uneventful? Answer: they haven’t thought imaginatively…

The solution to continued engagement during the shipping process is to provide memorable experiences ahead of the actual delivery at the doorstep. You know… Something fun between the time of purchase and the time that the UPS guy arrives.

EXAMPLE:
Let’s assume that Grandma purchased a Lego Batman set for her grandson, and that Amazon had a plan to keep everyone engaged beyond just the point of purchase.

Now let’s pretend that Amazon/Grandma sent a email note to the grandson, via his parents, suggesting that Batman was coming to visit his house very soon. Do you think that the grandson would become engaged in the process of delivery? Curiosity is a powerful emotion.

Then two days later, another email is sent to the parents, suggesting that they print off an attached note from “Batman” informing their son how special he is and how much his grandmother talks about him and loves him. The boy is engaged, the parents are participating, grandma is involved, and the delivery is anticipated. When the UPS guy arrives and the box is opened, all the memories of the experience flood in…

Imagine if Batman followed-up with a message a few days later saying: “I hope that you enjoy your new Lego set, Love Grandma and Batman”

Emotional ties and lasting memories among family and friends can be enhanced, even in a the middle of a process that is usually dull and unimaginative.

What would you do to make Business to Consumer parcel delivery more fun?

Our family uses an online gift exchange party that is modeled after the traditional white elephant gift exchange. We have found that we are more connected and engaged in the gift giving process, even from a distance.

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

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I got a tip from Itamar Kestenbaum, a social media expert, that Twitter was being used to send real gifts between users.

Mashable ran the story of five Twitter applications that provide ways to share real gifts through network connections.

As I looked over the report, I was struck with the very limited gift selections. We would hope that selections might increase over time, or maybe the author was just looking at a sampling of the gift offers and they really do have more items on the shelves.

To illustrate what I am saying, here are some of the quotes from the article, where a product was mentioned:

“Love Hearts and strawberry lip gloss the current most popular items…”
“…if you’re looking to send a Twitter contact a Whoopee cushion, or a badge that reads “boob inspector” then this is your new go-to place”.
“…with books and movies catering to any get-well soon scenario, flowers and food great for thank yous, and comedy tees”.
“…mostly cookies and a few geek-themed phone cases and jewelry”.
“…as well as some sexy underwear”.

As I examined these sites, I found them to be mostly a way around getting the delivery address directly from the user.

Whatever the case, we appreciate the trend toward actual gift commerce coming from social networks. We know that Facebook, Twitter and other networks can facilitate the sharing of real items and will eventually be the go-to locations for gift giving.

We are happy to be involved in the leading edge of this emerging market.

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

Steps to Hosting a Successful Online White Elephant Party…

white elephant party hosting tips –

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King Thibaw
The Royal Thibaw, Golden-footed Lord of the White Elephant, Master of a Thousand Gold Umbrellas, Owner of the Royal Peacocks, Lord of the Sea and of the World, Whose face is like the Sun.

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Amazon runs huge product warehouses. In fact, there are now 24 of these massive distribution centers world-wide, stocking everything from CDs to bicycle tires.

The online retailer moves 3-times as much product through these warehouses than it’s next closes competitor.

Over 40% of the products that move through the supply system are sold by merchants other than Amazon itself. There are over 1.3 million suppliers who provide the products that are for sale on Amazon.com and through these other merchants.

When consumers  rank the trusted technology companies for privacy, they usually put Amazon in the top 5.

In 2009 PartyWeDo was looking for an e-commerce partner for the gift party application, AlbinoPhant. The natural choice was Amazon.

Amazon works great for a gift merchandising application because of their massive selection and top-notch customer service.

The gift exchange system uses a level pricing system for each custom AlbinoPhant marketplace. Each host selects the level at which their invitees will spend for the gift and the AlbinoPhant software sorts through the Amazon Warehouse to display products in that pricing category.

PartyWeDo hired the Utah based e-commerce software firm Gyrofly, to build the special interface that would allow each party guest to pay one price and cover the cost of the gift, the shipping and the fun.

The resulting markets are filled with thousands of gifts that can be used to share in the fun of a Yankee Swap or White Elephant Gift Exchange.

When any gift is selected from one of the AlinoPhant markets, it is identified by a unique number. This number allows us to use the image of the gift during the game play period and also ship the correct item from the Amazon warehouse to the correct players doorstep.

This system allows the virtual world of the internet to marry seamlessly with the real world of gift shopping and delivery.

All of these marvelous technologies and efficient shipping systems allow family and friends to purchase gifts, share them online and then receive a present at their home.

Thank you Amazon, for joining the party!

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists