California MomEntrepreneur Helps Local Merchants With Her eGifting Solution
Today’s featured mompreneur rockstar is Donna Novitsky, Â the co-founder and CEO of Yiftee.
Gift giving has always been an important in my personal and Nicci Designs. And because my business activity is mostly conducted through internet having the ability to send a  thank you gift to a client who lives thousands of miles away has been something that I am thankful for. Continue reading below to learn how Donna has made gift giving not only an easy task for you but also makes the marketing task a breeze for merchants all over.
Welcome to Mompreneur Media Donna! Please tell us about yourself
Well, depending on how you count them, Yiftee.com is my 3rd or 19th startup. I’ve been working in high tech since the mid-’80s and have been fortunate to be a part of the entrepreneurial scene since then. I’ve started and built companies, worked in venture capital and I teach marketing and entrepreneurship to engineers at Stanford University. I also have a husband and two teenagers so I try to stay involved in their school and athletic activities.​
Where did the inspiration for Yiftee.com come from?
The inspiration for Yiftee  is to help the local merchants that form the backbones of communities to compete in a world where customers increasingly want to shop conveniently from their mobile phones and the web. Without a simple, cost effective solution, “Main Street” will continue to lose share to internet vendors and big box retailers, much to the detriment of local communities. Customers want to “shop local,” but they need a convenient way to do it.
Who is Yiftee.com for?
Yiftee.com is for everyone! It’s the perfect eG​ifting solution. The advantage to gift givers, be they businesses or consumers, is that in a couple of minutes you can find a unique local shop or restaurant almost anywhere in the US, buy a thoughtful gift and send it instantly via email, text or Facebook. The process is risk-free to the gift giver. If the gift is not redeemed in 90 days, the money is returned to the gift giver and the sender has a complete record of all transactions.
How does Yiftee.com work?
Yiftee.com  lets consumers and businesses send thoughtful, unexpected gifts to friends, family and colleagues quickly via email, text and Facebook®. Recipients pick up their gifts using their smart phones at their favorite local restaurants and shops, driving profitable business to those merchants.
How can Yiftee benefit merchants?
Yiftee.com helps local merchants compete in a world where customers increasingly want to shop conveniently from their mobile phones and the web. These merchants are the backbone of communities and without a simple, cost effective web and mobile sales channel, “main street” will continue to lose share to internet vendors and big box retailers, much to the detriment of local communities. Any merchant can apply to be featured at Yiftee.com – there is no cost, no commitment, no special technology and no discounting required. In return, merchants gain additional sales, foot traffic, and eGifting capability.
Please provide 1 tip that helps a mom entrepreneur with choosing the perfect gift for her clients or customers.
Well, we like consumables. You can’t go wrong with things as simple as a latte to say “thanks” or a personal “try the ​cherry cheesecake at the Towne Bakery – it’s my favorite!” With Yiftee.com, the recipient has the option to exchange it or donate the value to charity, so you have assurance they can get something they like. It’s truly the thought that counts.
 1 thing you do for yourself to unwind from it all?
That’s easy. I hike with my girlfriends and my sister. My friends and the trees are my sanity.​
Share a book or a website you like to browse just for fun
I’m in a “bookclub” with a group of friends but honestly, it’s about the dinner and camaraderie more than the books!​ We have read some great ones though, like “The Other Boleyn Girl.” I like historical fiction where they take you other places and other times.​
Donna Novitsky Co-Founder & CEO of Yiftee.com
Yiftee.com is an exciting new award winning mobile app, web service, and API (Application Programming Interface) that lets consumers and businesses send thoughtful,
unexpected gifts to anyone quickly via email, text, Facebook®, and Twitter®. Recipients pick up their Yiftee gifts using their smartphone at their favorite local restaurants and shops, driving profitable business to those merchants. Merchants gain additional sales, weband foot traffic, eGifting capability like big retailers, plus a free mobile/web sales channel. Yiftee is headquartered in Menlo Park, CA.
Connect With Yiftee
Website: Yiftee.com
Twitter: @Yiftee
Facebook: Facebook.com/Yiftee
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