echoage is a new Toronto, On based startup that is trying to change how we think about throwing the age old birthday party.
A friend of mine was complaining the other day that people were bringing 150$ gifts to her son’s birthday. “What is with private school parent’s?” she wondered.
I have no idea what is causing people to buy 150$ gifts for 5 year olds, but if that kind of money is being spent, there is a business to be made.
Using EchoAge you send out an invitation via email to the friends of your child. When the recieve the invitation, they are asked to, instead of bringing a gift to the party, donate some amount of money to a single charity. EchoAge takes the payment online and confirms everything. The total amount of donations are then pooled and it is split up to buy one gift for the child and then the rest is sent to charity, with EchoAge taking a cut in there somewhere.
Here?s how: Guests are invited to an ECHOage birthday party online. Instead of bringing a wrapped and packaged present, guests simply RSVP and give a secure online gift of money. Payments are pooled for the purchase of ONE special gift for the birthday child and to support ONE meaningful cause. The site provides online invitations, thank you notes, awards, allergy alerts and even keeps track of RSVPs and the money your child has raised.
ECHOage arranges everything, so there is no need for guests to drive, shop, wrap or even pick up the phone to make a donation.
With a recent mention in Vanity Fair co-founders Debbie Zinman and Alison Smith off to a great start.
I like this idea but ‘present for kids’ are a funny thing. One a personal scale, I have seen parents say “You can only give one present. If you feel the need for something else please put a deposit in their college saving account”. The net result is that people still bring two presend AND deposit money in the account.
When it comes to presents for kids… people just go crazy!
They could do really well….
I like this idea but 'present for kids' are a funny thing. One a personal scale, I have seen parents say “You can only give one present. If you feel the need for something else please put a deposit in their college saving account”. The net result is that people still bring two presend AND deposit money in the account.
When it comes to presents for kids… people just go crazy!
They could do really well….
I have to agree with Sandy, it seems each year the ante goes up. I think the idea will, work but over time, people will get presents, do the donation and deposit money in the college fund. It's pretty crazy.
I have to agree with Sandy, it seems each year the ante goes up. I think the idea will, work but over time, people will get presents, do the donation and deposit money in the college fund. It’s pretty crazy.
EchoAge – great startup