NoUglySweaters.net is a free network, allowing family members and friends to easily
create, maintain and share gift wish lists with each other.
How it Started
For birthdays and Christmas, my family always purchased gifts without
really knowing what the others wanted or needed (well...after we stopped writing
lists to Santa. :) ). Every year, I found it harder and harder to know what everyone
wanted. I remember one year I kept a piece of paper with me so I could instantly
write down gift ideas as they came up. This was tedious, and I found myself hanging
onto every word uttered by my family and friends so I could surprise them with a
"perfect" and "thoughtful" gift.
When I met my husband, I was introduced to his
family's way of exchanging Christmas gifts. At the end of October, each person wrote
down their name plus a list of items they wanted, and placed it into a bowl. Then, everyone drew
a name (different than their own, obviously), and that was the person they were
to purchase Christmas gifts for. I remember thinking…."This is great!" I know exactly
what to get! I immediately introduced this concept to my side of the family, which
seemed to work well (though a few people still liked the "old" way of guessing what
to buy better).
A few years later, I had an idea to create a website where members could create online wish lists
for free! This had numerous benefits:
- It was free!
- No longer had to write lists each year.
- Could link to online stores.
- Lists were available from year to year.
- Lists were easy to maintain.
- People could see what was purchased for others.
- Lists were easy to email.
I immediately started thinking of ways to build the site, and began the process
of documenting and planning the design.
In 2008, I set a goal of creating a simple network that makes creating, maintaining and viewing
wish lists easy, fun and free!
If you have any suggestions on how to make the site better, please feel free to
contact me! Hopefully NoUglySweaters.net will save you from receiving or purchasing
the dreaded, ugly sweater at your next gift-exchanging event! :)
Cheers!
NUS Administrator
|