The Gifts Project

The Gifts Project, a product of Appchee Applications Ltd., was established in 2011 by founders Matan Ganani, Erez Dickman, and Ron Gura. The company emerged from the personal experiences of its founders, particularly Ron Gura, who, after working at eBay, recognized the logistical and financial challenges of collective gift-giving among friends and colleagues. This insight led to the creation of a social e-commerce platform designed to simplify the process of group gifting.

The firm provides a white-label software solution for online retailers and e-commerce websites. Its business model is centered on integrating a group gifting feature directly into a retailer's existing checkout process. This allows a shopper to initiate a group gift for a specific product, invite friends to contribute financially, and manage the collection of funds seamlessly. The service is designed to increase retailers' average order value, attract new customers through social sharing, and reduce cart abandonment rates. The company generates revenue by taking a percentage of the transactions processed through its platform.

The Gifts Project's platform facilitates a collaborative shopping experience. When a customer decides to start a group gift, they can create a dedicated gift page, invite friends via social networks or email, and track contributions. Friends can then chip in using various payment methods. This system addresses the common issue of a single person having to front the entire cost of a gift and then chase others for reimbursement. In a significant milestone, The Gifts Project was acquired by eBay in 2011, shortly after its inception, and was subsequently integrated into PayPal's operations.

Keywords: group gifting, social commerce, e-commerce solution, white-label software, online retail, collective buying, payment platform, fintech, gift registry, collaborative shopping