Viing pioneered the concept of 'Group Gifting', a term rarely used back in 2015, when we launched Viing. We set out to revolutionise the way groups collected money and our mission was to 'Bring Group 'Group Gifting into the 21st Century' and replace the archaic whip-round envelope. Fast forward nearly 10 years and I think the days of those brown envelopes may be numbered. However, what has been particularly interesting and perhaps more unexpected is the way in which online collection pots and group gifting platforms have changed the demographic of 'The Organiser'. You don't need to be super organised (please see image of woman with meticulously labelled storage jars) to organise a card and collection anymore.
Age and Gender Diversity: Group gifting was once often led by specific people, usually female family members or colleagues, especially for traditional office collections and family gatherings. Now, user-friendly platforms enable younger individuals, older generations, and more men to take on the role of organiser. Simplified logistics for creating a collection pot online, managing contributions, and sending an online ecard and collection make the process accessible for anyone, regardless of prior experience or comfort level with coordinating gifts.
Geographic Reach: Digital platforms eliminate geographic barriers, so organisers no longer have to be physically near recipients or contributors. This flexibility allows people across cities and countries to participate in group gifts, whether for remote team members, expat communities, or globally dispersed families.
Organisational Roles: Traditionally, those already skilled in planning, like office admins, often managed office collections. But online platforms make it simple for anyone to initiate and manage group gifts, regardless of prior experience or official organising role. We even see a lot people in senior management roles arranging a card and collection for a member of their team, because it's no longer the time-consuming task that would usually get delegated to someone else.
Community Building: Digital tools encourage participation from a broad range of people in group gifts, fostering inclusivity and making it easy for people who wouldn’t usually interact to collaborate. Contributing to a group gift or office collection and signing an online ecard enhances a sense of connection and shared purpose. Businesses are seeing value in the little things and recognising that they can make a big difference to moral and employee retention.
This shift has democratised organising, making it accessible to more diverse groups, encouraging broad participation, and helping everyone join in the celebration. This can only be a great thing and should be encouraged both in and outside of the workplace.
Arrange an online card and collection for someone special here