What to WishGift?!?

  The hardest part about having a WishGift, is knowing what to register.  Once that decision is made, contributing and purchasing the WishGifted item is simple and effortless.

  For the past year, we've had amazing gifts registered!  We've had items registered for 1-year-olds to 40-year-olds and everything from toys, to lessons, to gift certificates have been given as gifts.  Guests don't spend more and everyone comes together to give something amazing!

  With the holiday season quickly approaching, thought it'd be fun to share some of my favourite WishGifted items!


*Product links have been added for your convenience.  Wishgift.ca allows any gift to be registered from any store and is independent from all stores linked in this blog.

Outdoor WishGifts:

 

Little Tikes Endless Adventures Playground

Bayberry Outdoor Playhouse

Kidwise Castle Bounce House

Electronic WishGifts:

LeapFrog LeapPad 2

X-Box Kinect

Nintendo Wii

Little Boy WishGifts:

 

Melissa & Doug 60 piece Block Set

Hockey Night in Canada Mini Steel Set (with extras)

Melissa & Doug Workbench

Little Girl WishGifts:

 

Disney Princess 12 piece Dress-Up kit

KidCraft Majestic Mansion

American Girl Dolls: McKenna Doll & Book

 Ride-On WishGifts:

Classic Pickup Truck

Fisher-Price Power Wheels Harley-Davidson

Disney Princess Bicycle

 

Activity WishGifts:

 

  

Like the idea of giving-together towards a group-gift?  Follow my blog and join me on my Social Networking sites to share gifts ideas and inspire.

 

 

 

User Testimonial

R. Hargreaves, 1971

Credit: http://www.antisocialshop.com/skate/2010/03/page/3/

 

When it comes to new users using WishGift to register a gift, I love getting feedback.  Parents often relate to the problem of their children having too many toys and like the idea of a group-gift, while some parents like the idea, but hesitate cause they think their child will be upset by not receiving as many gifts.  Whatever the thought, I enjoy getting the discussion started and welcome feedback or comments.

  

Most recently, a mom registered a swingset for her daughter's first birthday.  Below is an excerpt of her thoughts after using the site.

"Hi,

 I just wanted to thank-you for creating WishGift!  
We really have soooo many toys already and hand me down clothes
 that there was really very little we needed as gifts.  
Having our guests chip in towards a swingset just made so much sense...."

In this mom's case, the gift registered was quite pricey and although the full amount wasn't covered, she received all the funds and went on to say

"We will be making up the difference 
but don't mind cause we will soon have a beautiful swingset 
for the kids to play with for a good 10 years at least! 
 Thanks again WishGift!"  
Steph L.

Thanks for giving us a try and thanks for the user testimonial Steph L.!

If you like the idea of simplifying gift giving and receiving, please connect with us through social media. I'd love to hear from you!

 

 

Sport WishGifts

Photo Credit: Lounge Park/Getty Images; from Redbook

For some, Saturday is the chance to sleep-in.  It's the preferred day of the week with no alarms, no lunches to be made and no rushing.  It's just a day to unwind and relax.  If your Saturday morning resembles this, clearly you don't have children.  A typical Saturday morning with children involves an early wake-up, a speedy breakfast and a mad dash to either hockey practice, swimming lessons, gymnastics practice, dance lessons...  (and if you're not doing this on Saturday, chances are this your typical Sunday).

It's no secret that exposing children to activities and a healthy lifestyle is crucial in developing long-term healthy habits.  It's good for their development and self-esteem AND they have the energy to spare.  Despite the endless list of positives, Canadian parents invest an average of $1,658 per year on their kids’ sports activities (Peters, D- http://www.ratesupermarket.ca/blog/kids-sports-the-true-cost-to-canadian-families/).  This includes the cost of the activity, the equipment, gas and food.

One of my favourite things about using WishGift for a child's birthday present is being able to register beyond toys and sport lessons is a perfect alternative!  To date, WishGift has been used to group-gift gymnastics lessons, karate lessons, skiing lessons and skating lessons with Dynowear equipment.  We know that guests are often looking for gift-ideas so registering lessons and/or equipment for your child's favourite sport makes the perfect group-gift.

So the next time you're wondering why you don't have money to spare, consider creating a WishGift for your child's perfect gift.
 

3rd birthday WishGift included:

skating lessons, skates, helmet 

and protective pants and gloves from 

Dynowear

WishGift.ca: The ProMist of Registries

Have you ever cleaned your floors with a Vileda ProMist?  As a working mom of toddlers, it's my go-to, quick tool to clean my floors.  Sure mops are great, but in my fast-paced lifestyle, I want something quick.  Furthermore, I'm in love with the convenience, style and most of all, freedom to choose my preferred cleaner.

Like the ProMist, WishGift.ca is a tool built on convenience.  It's my "modern day" form of a registry.  By registering a gift through WishGift, I eliminate limiting my options to a stores' inventory and save time by not having to scan the items.  For my guests, I eliminate gift guess-work and shopping.  And since everything's done online, it really is the quickest, simplest and smoothest gift-giving transaction.

WishGift is based on group-giving.  The idea is that a gift is registered as an option that guests can contribute towards.  To receive online contributions, Paypal is used however guests can pledge to contribute an amount by cash or cheque and the funds are given on the day of the event.  With the funds received, the gift is purchased.  Furthermore, since guests spend different amounts on gifts, WishGift allows any amount to be contributed.  We don't "suggest" a gift amount and respect that all dominations received is a valued gift.

Best part of WishGift is the freedom to choose!  My husband taught me that the best gift is buying someone something they wouldn't get themselves.  Although, that's true, they probably haven't bought it themselves because it's too expensive.  There are so many great gifts for children, some not even toys, but they often come with a high price tag.  WishGift allows for anything to be contributed towards leaving options like sport lessons, music lessons, instruments, RESPs etc.  We know that guests probably won't come empty handed so just imagine what can be purchased if everyone chipped in to a super special item...and that's a WishGift!

**So if I had a trendding blog with lots of readers this is where I'd offer the "Chance to Win a FREE ProMist" but since I'm new to blogging,  the best I can offer is a link to Vileda's $5.00 off coupon.  Hope you enjoy!!

http://www.vileda.ca/en/vileda/promotions.aspx

Yup...We're Free!

  
  There's not much in life that's free.  Maybe that's why I'm often asked, re-asked and then asked again if we really are 100% free!  I'm pleased to say that "YUP, we are!"

  Making WishGift.ca a free service was at the forefront of my decision making.  My mission with the site was to create a service that communicates a gift-option to make gift-giving simpler and convenient for guests and recipients.  I want to encourage the giving of great gifts and promote items that will be enjoyed for a long-time. Charging a user fee or withholding a percentage of ones' contributions would only discourage the use of the site. 

We're really quite simple:

1- You register the gift
2- You get the funds (either through Paypal or from guests at the event)
3- You buy the gift

  So relax, register, and enjoy a great gift for your special someone!  We're not gonna take your money! 

 

**Please note: When receiving contributions though Paypal, Paypal standard usage fees apply.

Perfect gift for my tot!

Tomorrow is my son's 2nd birthday party!  Like most moms, birthdays have me planning, decorating and reflecting on how quickly time passes.  Afterall, it certainly doesn't feel like it's been a whole year since we celebrated Scott's 1st birthday!

Last year's party was such a hit at Quinn Farm that we decided to host his party there once again.  The kids loved the tractor ride, playing and picking pumpkins in the patch, decorating their pumpkins, visiting the animals... and I loved not having to clean up!

 

Of course, as is with any birthday, there are always gifts involved.  This year, more than ever, I feel great knowing that I made my guests' lives a little simpler and registered a gift.  I don't know what it was this past week, but it seemed like everyone was super busy with work, school and just day-to-day life.  I'm pretty sure that many of my guests would not have had the time to shop for Scott's gift and I feel relieved knowing that I made their lives a little less hectic.

Scott made choosing his WishGift a little easier this year.  My husband Danny and I were in a little dispute as to what Scott would love.  After witnessing the same passion with tools as his dad, we both agreed that he'd love a Melissa and Doug Workbench however I thought it'd be great to compliment the workbench with a Handy Manny Talkin' Tools Set while Danny thought Scott would love a Melissa and Doug Solid Wood Stacking Blocks set.  That same night, Scott proudly showed off a tower he constructed from his sister's dollhouse furniture and stacking blocks were registered!



We ordered the two items from a wonderful, family-run toy store called the Cape Breton Baby Company.  I chose their site over other large retailers due to their customer service and competitive pricing with shipping.  We got the parcel within a week of placing the order and just in time for tomorrow's party.  Can't wait for everyone to see the awesome gifts they contributed towards and Scotty's reaction when he sees things he can build and smash down!!

Doomed to Fail? Moms who work!

Tracy and I are both new to starting a business.  We don't have backgrounds in tech or business, we didn't major in marketing or advertising and we had never heard of terms like "startup" or "mompreneur" prior to launching WishGift.  We're two mom, who recognized the stresses with gift-giving and have set out to fix it.

Over the summer, I had the opportunity to attend the International Startup Festival in Montreal.  The 3-day event was my very first welcome to the tech industry and it was terrifying!  So many brilliant ideas, confident individuals effortlessly talking about their business, prizes being awarded, media opportunities...  I couldn't have thrown myself in more unknown waters BUT I didn't drown!  I made wonderful contacts and received invaluable advice that has really helped guide the growth of our site (Thank-you "Women in Tech" tent; Yes Montreal and Montreal Girl Geeks).

The one daunting phrase is how difficult and time consuming beginning a Startup is.  Every speaker I've heard has touched on this point, and although probably so, I can't help but wonder if being a working mom of 2 children under 5, puts WishGift in the automatic fail bracket.

I truly love WishGift and the problems it solves.  I love how we're making any gift accessible!  I love how a parent can think of their child's passion, and register any gift for them.   Hockey gear, traditonally categorized as pricey, becomes affordable when WishGifted for a child's birthday.  On the flipside, I'm grateful when my friends register a gift because finding time to shop and knowing what to get is often a challenge.  WishGift provides a simple option for guests when they're looking for ideas and still allows for traditional gifts to be given.

It is for these reasons, that I have every intention of continuing my commitment and desire to build the site.  I'm happy that 4 of my friends' children received swingsets as birthday presents.  I love that my daughter has been dressing up as a Disney princess every night since her 4th birthday (a $200 gift).  I'm thrilled that a little boy is beginning hockey lessons and received all the gear he needed.  I enjoy receiving email messages from people, whom I don't know, who registered and received a stroller and baby gear for their baby shower.  And seeing messages like the one below, puts me over the moon.

"Thanks for setting up this high tech way of shopping for your gift. I love it! 

 Wishing you a healthy birth, and much happiness to you and 

 your family on this happy occasion of new life." 2012

Seeing great gifts being given and received makes me feel good and gives me the drive to push the site forward.  So although a Startup may be "hard", "time-consuming" and "difficult", I've never been one to shy away from obstacles.  And I don't intend on shying away now!