Posts Tagged ‘yankee swap’

Some Very Useless White Elephant Gifts

Sometimes it just makes perfect sense to do something truly wacky. And what could be more fun than to gather your family or friends together for a white elephant gift exchange with totally useless stuff?

Some people believe that white elephant gifts are supposed to be gag gifts or other less practical items, others use the event to share valuable items.  White elephant gifts can be useless or practical, it is completely up to you.

Of course, we always promote giving gifts that will get the conversation going within the game.  Most of the time it is the banter that makes the party more engaging, so wacky white elephant gifts can make perfect sense.

The following is a list of unique gifts that should help build conversation in your next white elephant party.

The World’s Most Useless Gadgets

There are some inventions that have been created to better the lives of people. Gadgets like the fire alarm device for homes, door bells, mobile phones etc. Then there are these utterly useless gadgets:

The AC T-shirt: This T-shirt comes with an Air Conditioner for those trips across the Kalahari Desert.
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The Flying Alarm Clock: As if we don’t spend enough energy trying to find the snooze button on our normal clocks, this clock will buzz around like a fly that you just want to swat. Buying a new one isn’t cheap so swat gently!
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The Electric Paper Airplane Launcher: Just put your paper plane between the two rotating discs and launch at 30mph. Wonder if you can launch other things like rotten tomatoes.
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The TV in the Armpit: Missing out on your latest soap opera or want to know what is going on at the Cricket World Cup, just switch on the TV conveniently located in your armpit. Hmmm… well you might not be able to watch, you will act like that antenna guy, holding up your arms while your friends can watch.
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Nothing: The perfect gift for anyone. The gift is a perfect orb that comes in a great packaging that does absolutely nothing but just look pretty. Won’t your friend be pleased with his ‘Nothing’.
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The Message Toaster: This is a great gift to give your special someone before you plan on dumping or divorcing them. Just write a message on the top of the toaster and switch it on, when the toast comes out it has the message written on it. Perfect way to break up over breakfast.
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The Nordic Bearded Cap: This is just plain silly. When will someone ever want to put on a cap and pretend to be a Viking named Olaf. This cap comes in four amazing colors with two beard lengths.
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The USB Fragrance Burner for Laptops: This probably was created to help people relax while they work. Available for just $8, I hope the boss doesn’t mind when you get so relaxed that you start snoozing at the job.
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USB Toothbrush: Who in the world would want to brush their teeth by the laptop. I mean cleaning up spilled drinks and food crumbs is hassle enough, can you imagine trying to clean up toothpaste.
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The two-sided shoes: These very unpractical shoes have been designed so that when you sit on the bed or sofa, you don’t have to turn the shoes around. Just insert your feet and you’re off.

Have you seen any silly gifts or gadgets that we haven’t featured here on on gizoo.co.uk? Let us know the silliest gadget you’ve seen in the comments below.

FIND MORE  → White Elephant Gift Ideas

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

White elephant and Yankee Swap demonstrate gift giving gamification.

The act of giving a gift to an office mate is not unique, and nether is the office holiday gift party. What is unique is the way game play enters the equation.  The white elephant gift exchange and the Yankee Swap combine gift giving and a game play into an example of gamification in action.

We found the following information from Office Angels to be a good resource for the understanding of game dynamics within the workplace. We trust that you will find this information helpful.


Workplace Fun

Games and work hardly seem like a good combination, but people have become accustomed to playing games for fun and see them as a form of social interaction. According to David Koutsoukis, we need humor and we need fun, without either we only get glum. The author, in his e-book Workplace Fun Ideas, he puts forth several ideas that center around the concept of happy people being productive people. Research shows that a certain amount of fun in the workplace increases productivity and improves performance. A popular human resource concept is happy employees equal happy customers, which in turn will equal a better bottom line.

Co-authors Dave Gray, Sunni Brown and James Macanufo have written a book titled Gamestorming. The book offers a rather different take on the staid, be serious office policy most people are used to. According to the writers, embracing and understanding the game mechanics yields rich benefits in the work environment.

Gamestorming

Gamestorming has been described as a set of collaboration practices that have been evolving since the 1970s. It centers round ad-hoc organizing of teams to design and develop ideas cohesively as a group. These can be considered a form of game play as individuals are thrown together suddenly to develop an idea. In other words, turn the exercise into a game that makes people happy and produces results.
If we were to ask outright what types of games would be acceptable in the workplace, the common answer would be none. To most people, the word game probably brings to mind visions of solitaire on the office computer. Workplace games have a far greater depth of meaning. They put a structure to the chaos and stress surrounding creative work. By putting people in a group, the game rules become a method of information sharing. It is also a way to distribute the power or control equally among all the members in the group. The old system of hierarchy is abolished as the team gears up to work together, engaging in interaction, idea sharing and unified productivity.
Workplace games should not make people feel pressured to play; rather the focus should be on people engaging in combined activities to see positive results. The skills required to play these sophisticated workplace games include the ability to work together, social skills, visualization, creativity, good listening skills, communication skills and improvisation skills.

How To Make It Work

Success in the workplace relies heavily on communication; without it people end up functioning as islands rather than as a team. Making it a practice to play a few communication games to hone communication skills is fast becoming an accepted practice in many workplaces. Team leaders and managers need to choose games that will help people hone their skills, which in turn will benefit the overall performance of the organization.

There are many games that can be used in the workplace to build a variety of skills, build character, shape thought processes and generally produce employees that are well balanced and happy working for the company.

The motto with any type of workplace games program for employee progression should be based on introducing an element of fun to the workplace environment.

This guide to ‘work place’ games was written in association with Office Angels, leading recruiters for personal assistant and secretarial jobs in the UK

Note: A friend of mine, Chris Brogan did a review of the Gamestorming book.

Image from The Office television show

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PartyWeDo
We are passionate about white elephant gifts and white elephant gift exchange parties. We will do all that we can to make your experience with AlbinoPhant better than you can imagine.

Caroling white elephant gift exchange rules

This is an opportunity to add a little musical fun to your regular white elephant gift party. You will need a CD player with a pause button and some Christmas Carol CD’s (make sure they have words and not instrumentals).

Place the CD player where the host or an appointed “carol-leader” can have access.

#1 Start the white elephant gift exchange as usual, with the presents in the middle of the group and with every player’s name in a hat for drawing.

#2 Draw the first name and start the first musical carol on the CD.

#3 The first player selects an item and opens it for all to see.

#4 The host or carol-leader randomly stops the music.

#5 Play who just opened the white elephant gift must “sing” the next 3 words in the Carol to keep the item.

#6 Any player who knows the words to the carol may stand and “carol for the gift” if the original player is not able to sing the next 3 words. (Host will say who was the first to stand)

#7 If the first person to stand and carol for the white elephant gift sings the next 3 words correctly they can steal the item from the original opener.

#8 All names must be returned to the drawing hat.

#9 Another name is drawn at random

#10 Another wrapped white elephant gift is take from the pile by the next player

#11 The gift is opened while the next Christmas carol is playing

#12 The host waits a moment while the item is displayed and discussed, pushes the pause button.

#13 The player that just opened a gift must sing the next 3 words of the carol in order to keep the item.

#14 If this player is able to carol for the itemthen they have the option of keeping the newly opened item or swapping with any other unopened gift. (see the 3-steal rule)

#15 If that player is unable to sing the words, then the host picks the first person to stand and “carol for the gift”.

#16 Any player who has an open white elephant gift and “carols for a gift” with the correct 3 words can swap for any other open gift.

#17 Whenever the swapping stops, the music starts and the next name is drawn to discover the next person who opens a new gift.

#18 The white elephant game continues until all gifts are opened and all players have an item.

 

Your going to love this party!

 

We suggest that you attempt this unique white elephant gift exchange idea at your next holiday gathering and bring Christmas music into the fun.

If you can’t get everyone together in one place because they all live in other towns, we suggest that you try a fun online white elephant gift party, AlbinoPhant.

For more great party ideas. → Unique white elephant exchanges

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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

White elephant gift swap history and future

If you are a regular visitor to our site, you know the real story of white elephant gifts begins with the Asian kings of Burma and Siam. White elephants were extremely important and valuable creatures in these Asian countries, so receiving a white elephant from the king would be a huge honor and make the receiver the envy of all the land.

Somehow the tradition of valuable gift sharing morphed into a gift exchange game and the result is the now the traditional white elephant gift exchange.

Here is how the game got started:

The white elephant gift exchange or Yankee swap started with the need to increase social engagement at group parties; particularly office gifting events, where additional activities could act as conversation starters. Eventually people learned the high level of fun and banter that were created with the gift swapping game, so it spread to other groups.

In most areas of the US it is called a white elephant gift exchange, but in the Northeastern US it is more commonly called a Yankee swap. Ether way it is a unique gift giving system that continues to be popular.

Offering gifts is an expression of kindness or love among close-knit groups, so gift giving has always been an important part of our social support structure. The issue for businesses and other groups is that hosting a gift exchange party includes the requirement that items be purchased. Many groups had used a secret Santa exchange format and found that there where issues that arose when spending was ether extravagant or cheap.

In an effort to bring gift giving budgets into line and to offer a fun activity during the party, the gift swap game was developed. White elephant exchange hosts select a pricing range and invitees are expected to purchase gifts within that budget.

Another unique characteristic of the rules in a white elephant party is the idea that anyone could go home with any gift. The swap mixed up the gift giving and took the pressure off from individual gift purchasers to buy for a specific person, like they did in the secret Santa format. When it didn’t matter who would eventually get the gift it became easier to shop for a gift that many people might find valuable.

That’s how white elephant gift exchange parties came to be so popular, by cutting down on expenses, reducing shopping stress and adding great fun to any group event.

The white elephant gift exchange party spread, and today it’s a much-loved way of having a good time with family and friends during the holiday season. Everyone brings one gift and leaves with one gift, making it fair, no matter how many unexpected guests show up.

The format of White Elephant parties has changed and evolved over the years, but at its core it has always remained an entertaining way to spend time with loved ones, share gifts, save money, and above all have fun.

The internet has now allowed us the opportunity to move this traditional gift swapping activity onto the web and invite everyone to the party, no matter the distance. AlbinoPhant is the online version of the white elephant gift exchange, with all the same features you have come to expect from the game you play at regular gift swapping events.

The white elephant gift exchange has a long history of success and is continuing to evolve with the times….. You are going to love this party!

 

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

The top White Elephant Gift Exchange game names…

There is a debate as to what is the most popular multi-player holiday game. Many suggest that the White Elephant gift exchange is the title of the most popular game. Others say that it is the Secret Santa gift exchange.  Then there are the many other gift parties that do variations of the gift swap activity and they each have a name and a following of loyal players.

Because we sponsor an online version of the traditional white elephant gift party, we have decided to do some research and get to the bottom of this once and for all.  Our recreation specialists were tasked to discover and list each of the gift exchange game titles, using the internet.   Then we asked the research department to find a way to find a winner and rank the popularity of the different gift parties.

What we found is that there is a bunch of ways that people describe the gift exchange activity and yet many of the rules are the same. You can find all the gift exchange rules.

Other names for White Elephant Gift Parties

Yankee Swap

Scottish Gift Exchange

Chinese Gift Exchange

Chinese Christmas

Chinese Auction

Thieving Elves

Dirty Santa

Dirty Secret Santa

Thieving Secret Santa

The Present Game

Rob Your Neighbor

Dirty Christmas

Pollyanna Swap

Cajun Christmas

Devil’s Santa

Backward Auction

California Swap

Steal-a-Thon

Snatchy Christmas Rat

Gift Grab

Cutthroat Christmas

Nasty Christmas

Parcel Pass

Redneck Santa

White Elephant Gift Exchange

Rob a Santa

Grinch Exchange

Left Right Exchange

Scotch Auction

The Grinch Game

Eskimo bingo

NOTE:  If you know of other names, please add them in the comment box at the bottom of this page and we will add them to our listing and do the ranking.

After we had the list of White Elephant exchange party titles, we assigned the research staff to find a way to rank the names on a list, from most played to the least played…

That left them scratching their heads….  The problem is that these are played in homes, churches and offices everywhere, and so who do you, ask?

 

They used Google!

They used a Google Keyword Research Tool to discover how many people made a search for each of these titles within the last 12-months.  The idea is that if people are searching for the word, they must be searching for the party, right?  Well, right or wrong it is how we have ranked these gift exchange parties. We recorded the Global Average Monthly Search results for each of the gift exchange titles and got a ranking.

So here are the results of this highly scientific study of the most comprehensive list of White Elephant Gift Exchange game names…

NOTE: Some search results had less than 20 and did not record on the Google tool.

Secret Santa = 135,000 per month average searches
White Elephant Gift Exchange = 18,100
Yankee Swap = 9,900 (Popular in the NE)
Parcel Pass = 9,900 (Popular in England)
Chinese Auction Game = 9,900
The Grinch Game = 2,900
Chinese Gift Exchange = 2,900
Pass the Present = 1,600
Left Right Gift Exchange = 1,300
Dirty Santa game = 880
Nasty Christmas = 720
Rob Your Neighbor = 320
Chinese Christmas Game = 320
Redneck Santa = 320
Pollyanna Gift Exchange = 320
Dirty Christmas Game = 140
Gift Grab Game = 110
Dirty Secret Santa = 91
Grinch Exchange = 73
Thieving Secret Santa = 58
Thieving Elves = 46
Eskimo bingo = 46
Pirate Gift Exchange = 28
Backward Auction = 22
Scottish Gift Exchange = Did not record
Cajun Christmas Swap = Did not record
Devil’s Santa = Did not record
California Gift Swap = Did not record
Steal-a-Thon Game = Did not record
Cutthroat Christmas = Did not record
Rob a Santa Game = Did not record
Scotch Auction game = Did not record
Snatchy Christmas Rat = Did not record

The winner is Secret Santa with 135,000 average monthly searches, with the White Elephant Gift Exchange coming in second at 18,100 searches..  To be completely accurate, the Secret Santa activity is not really a game, but an activity mostly used to share gifts with individuals in a larger group.  Many of the others on these lists involve a gift exchanging party game. It should also be noted that the Chinese Auction Game is usually used as a fund-raising event for charities, but it did get 9,900 average searches in our study.  The Parcel Pass game is very popular in England and the Yankee Swap is a very well known replacement for the white elephant gift party in the Northeastern US..

We hope that this exercise in gift exchange party research will be helpful as you attempt to find great ways to share gifts with family and friends.  We think that you should try some of these out and then let us know how they went. We would also invite you to try out an Online White Elephant Party call AlbinoPhant. Our family has played this gift exchange party for several years and it perfect for groups that live too far apart to gather in one place, so they gather on the internet and share gifts and fun.

Our recreation experts have begun the process of compiling all of the rules, ideas and suggestions for each of these gift parties you see on this list. We will catalog them HERE as we get them organized, so you are welcome to return often and find out more about the white elephant gift exchange and its many fun cousins….

If you would like some other information on these titles we have linked to sites that are sharing more details.

Just click on the title.
Yankee Swap:
Scottish Gift Exchange:
Chinese Gift Exchange:
Chinese Christmas:
Chinese Auction:
Thieving Elves
Dirty Santa:
Dirty Secret Santa:
Thieving Secret Santa:
The Present Game:
Rob Your Neighbor:
Dirty Christmas
Pollyanna Swap:
Cajun Christmas:
Backward Auction
Snatchy Christmas Rat:
California Swap
Steal-a-Thon
Gift Grab:
Cutthroat Christmas:
Nasty Christmas
Parcel Pass:
Redneck Santa
White Elephant Gift Exchange
Rob a Santa
Grinch Exchange:

Left Right Exchange:

Scotch Auction

The Grinch Game
Devil’s Santa:
Eskimo bingo:

Do you know of any other variations?  Please leave us a comment and share your ideas…

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

You have been invited to attend an online gift party like no other.

Your host has used a special offer code (1234) to begin a “test-drive” party that allows you to experience a gift exchange without spending any money…

Like a real test drive!

Here are the step by step instructions on how to get the invitation, RSVP, find a gift (virtually), get it wrapped and then join the party.

It is really easy, once you have done it one time!

Step #1 (these screen shots seem to display better in Firefox than on Explorer browsers, sorry)

Step #2

Step #3

Step #4

Step #5

Step 6

Step 7

Step 8

Step 9

Final Step: HAVE A GREAT TIME.. You are going to love this party!

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

Today marks the start of Hanukkah, a symbolic religious tradition for Jewish families around the world. A candle is lit each night for eight days; A present is shared every day, and they play traditional games.

Other faiths are preparing for the tradition of sharing gifts on each of the 12 days leading up to December. 25th.

Still more are shopping and wrapping presents in preparation for one of the largest single gift opening days of the year; Christmas day.

Gift giving in the holiday season has become a tradition for those with or without religious connection. It seems that retailers start this seasonal “rush to buy”,  earlier every year.  Many  use traditional party activities to distribute these gifts.

All based upon a Tradition of giving…

Even with the recent popularity of virtual gifts, the traditional gift is still a REAL one. The gift card, which has become extremely popular, even carries the promise of something real, rather than a silly image on a computer screen.

Gifts have become an important part of the traditions which support our family and friends during various life milestones or seasons. We take the gift selection, presentation and delivery very serious, because it is part of our traditions.

“Giving gifts to family and friends is a way to show our love for them. Our gifts don’t have to be lavish or expensive. In fact, the best gifts are often simple and inexpensive.” Suggests Writer and Editor Lillie Ammann.

Billions of dollars churn through the world economy as we both give and receive these real expressions of support. We are also aware that this spending is not limited to the final quarter of the year, as the gifting tradition includes many holidays, birthdays, weddings, baby births and more.

The tradition of opening, touching and experiencing a real gift can never be replaced by a virtual item from any social game. Nor will the virtual gift ever find its place within any popular traditions.

PartyWeDo is leading the movement to help social networks facilitate the tradition of sharing real gifts with family and friends. The online party blends a virtual connection for dispersed families, with the convenience of eCommerce and efficient shipping.

This fun gift sharing system will never completely replace the warmth and reward of presenting a gift in person, but it will allow some of the tradition to extend to those who can’t be home for the holidays.

May your season be bright and your hearts full of the tradition of giving…

Thanks to Refinery 29 for the image

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

Bruce and Sarah Christensen are new Facebook developers, and they have delivered an online version of the white elephant gift exchange or Yankee Swap for families and friends this holiday season.

The white elephant party is called AlbinoPhant, and the Christensen’s have been testing this online game with their grown children for the past 3-years.

“When our youngest got married and left the nest, we started sharing our gifts through playing this game, and we loved the party atmosphere and fun conversations this allowed us” stated Sarah, the mother of five and grand mother of seven.

The AlbinoPhant party is a mimic of the traditional White Elephant gift swaps that are common among social groups during the holidays. The Facebook game provides real shopping markets from Amazon for selecting and purchasing a gift for the event. Players virtually wrap the image of the selected gift and then the party is ready to start.

“The game is just like the real party in many ways. The gifts are opened on the web page, there is gift stealing among the players and all the fun conversation that a group shares in a standard party”, explained Bruce Christensen.

Like a regular gift exchange, the AlbinoPhant party selects players at random to open gifts and then displays them on a common playing page. There is a comment box which allows players to share banter and poke fun at each other during the activity. There is the option to add YouTube videos and other images into the conversation. All of this is accessed by individuals as they play on their computers, from anywhere in the country.

Sarah continued, “Our family is scattered from New Hampshire to California, so this online party saves all of us the travel cost to attend family events, while still allowing real fun and personal connection with each other”.

The AlbinoPhant party is a Facebook application and takes full advantage of the social networking tools available. The host uses Facebook’s network to send the invitations and then the Facebook sharing system allows party conversations to spill out onto the web.

“We built the application to be as close to the traditional party as possible, so that families and friends would feel comfortable with the game. We use trusted brands, like Amazon and PayPal, and when the party is completed gifts are delivered using standard shipping companies”, added Bruce

This online party is a real gift exchange, so players use ecommerce to purchase the presents for the party. Then after the party is finished, these real gifts are sent out to each player’s doorstep. This party breaks new ground for Facebook, where virtual gifts have been the norm, and adds a new partnership between online retailers and social networks.
AlbinoPhant is now available thru the internet for family and friends to share gifts, steal gifts and banter together just like they have done for years, and McMinnville is this white elephant’s delivery room.

The Facebook application link is: http://apps.facebook.com/albinophant/

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists

The social networks can now be used for friendly larceny, with the launch of an online white elephant gift exchange party called AlbinoPhant.

This Facebook application allows family and friends the opportunity to party together in a virtual gift exchange, just like they would if gathered together in one location. They exchange real gifts, share friendly banter and enjoy the holiday spirit, through the online party.

Gift exchange parties are social events that focus on sharing gifts with family and friends and then “stealing” gifts from one another in an organized party game.

www.albinophant.com brings people together to participate in the party on a common game-play page, where wrapped gifts are displayed, opened, stolen and where comments are shared. This application facilitates gift giving among those who would be sharing gifts with each other anyway. AlbinoPhant just provides a fun, conversational and social way to pass out the gifts.

Traditional white elephant parties build lively conversation and great stories around the gifts as they are opened. With the enhanced sharing tools on the web, the online version allows more expressive conversation than ever before. The AlbinoPhant comment stream allows party participants the opportunity to post YouTube videos and images to assist in making the exchange party a real fun game. There are even opportunities to share some of the conversation outside of the party in other social networks, allowing the party atmosphere to spill over in other corners of the web.

The online white elephant party uses a combination of eCommerce and social networking tools to build the party system. AlbinoPhant is a gift purchasing and sharing facilitator, displaying hundreds of Amazon items in level pricing markets for convenient shopping. The host and each party participant use these single pricing markets ($15 to $50) to select gifts for the party. This leveling feature is used to keep the gift spending closer to equal among all of the players, reducing the “big-spender/cheap-skate” issues.

When all of the gifts are virtually wrapped, opened, discussed, stolen and re-stolen, the game ends. The application’s management system then sorts out who gets which real gift and sees that each present is delivered to the correct address.

The online gift exchange is a labor of love by the Christensen family, who are new to Facebook application development. The Christensen’s have tested the online gift swap party with their scattered family members for several years. They hired a team of Facebook developers and other web professionals to take their simple family party exchange and turn it into a fully operational Facebook application. Now they are eager to share this fun exchange, AlbinoPhant, with others.

This holiday season the networks will play host to thousands of gift thieves and promote friendly banter to liven up holiday parties. What is more social than a lively party?

To see press release go to http://myprgenie.com/3333

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PartyWeDo
The AlbinoPhant Creators
Your Party 2.0 Specialists