we love the idea of giving people what they want

welcome to pleasy! we're so glad you're here.

pleasy is a gifting app intended to resolve the information asymmetry in gift giving and create better outcomes for both givers and recipients. we believe everyone wants to give good gifts, and if we're honest with ourselves, we'd probably love to give great ones.

but that's a tall order for lots of reasons. many times people buy things they themselves appreciate, or what they assume the recipient would like, without really knowing or having a clue what their interests or preferences are. sometimes you just don't have the opportunity to truly connect with them in a meaningful way (but still want to show your appreciation), like in the case of kids' teachers. the challenges i encountered buying my kids' teachers' gifts inspired pleasy.

i knew the most efficient solution was giftcards. as usual, despite knowing i needed to complete this chore for weeks, i waited until days out and found myself at the trader joe's checkout where my counter was serendipitously situated next to the gift card wall. i purchased nearly $300 worth of gift cards, and when i asked how i can confirm they used them, the clerk gave me a blank smile. but he leaned in. understanding my dilemma, my french clerk fastiduously recorded the numbers of each separate gift card so i could confirm their use later. i never did.

while this type of information is useful, it's nowhere near as helpful as knowing your recipient's preferences, or better yet, actual things they want, stores they love, or favorite restaurants and causes.

we aren't trying to kill the element of surprise. some people like surprises. some people don't. i like surprises with qualification: i like surprises if i like the surprise. but more often than not, surprises fall flat so it's just safer to say i'm not a fan.

but we are trying to kill the element of waste. wasted time, wasted energy, wasted money, wasted guilt, wasted product, wasted natural resources, wasted stress, etc. gifting should be an opportunity to learn more about your intended recipient and finding a joyful way to show your appreciation and love.

but modern gifting feels like anything but--and seems more like a dull chore, where if we're mildly organized we ask "does little joey still like paw patrol?" a few weeks in advance of his birthday or we just google "4 year old boy birthday gifts" in amazon if we're off the ball. how joyless.

wouldn't it be nice to see little joey's wishlist and all the mario plushes he's added and how he describes himself and his interests? and if you prefer a sureshot, you simply buy an item off his list. but if you prefer to add your own personal touch, you can use his self-described preferences to guide your search in the right direction (but don't forget the gift receipt!).

we love the idea of giving people what they want. we're betting you do, too.