MyPunchblog

This post was written by Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO, @mattdouglas

Well, it’s Groundhog Day (again), and this year is a special one for the Punchbowlers. As usual, Groundhog Day is a company holiday — so we all get the day off. But this year we organized a volunteer day (for the record, completely optional for employees and guilt-free). In the afternoon this Groundhog Day, we’ll be painting a few rooms at a local homeless shelter. We’ve been calling it “Phil’s Philanthropy Day” after the venerable Punxsutawney Phil. After waking up early to watch the grand prognostication, I can’t think of any better way to spend the afternoon.

And that’s not all….

This year I’m very excited to report that Punchbowl announced an official partnership with Groundhog.org and the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club. This is a partnership that makes me happy on a number of levels. First, it’s great exposure for Punchbowl, with an audience that matches our target demographic. And second, it’s been a long-standing goal of mine to find an official way to be involved in the Groundhog Day festivities. Here’s a quick snippet from the blog post I wrote on my start-up CEO blog about this partnership announcement:

For 2010, I wanted to do something special for Groundhog Day– so on a whim, I picked up the phone and called the folks who developed Groundhog.org. I told them that I wanted to partner with the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club and create an eCards site. After a little negotiation, we signed an agreement with Groundhog.org to become the exclusive provider of Groundhog Day eCards. This morning, we made the official Groundhog Day press announcement.

And last but not least, my wife and I are planning our 14th annual Groundhog Day party for this coming Saturday. This year’s theme is Disco, and with the combination of disco party supplies, unique party favors, disco costumes, and a 70s play list, we have planned an awesome party. We’re expecting about 30-35 people this year. Of course, we’ve used MyPunchbowl to plan the entire event from start to finish, and it’s been a great experience.

Groundhog Day is all about community, revelry, and celebration of the ordinary. So whether you take a moment to turn your attention to Gobblers Knob or you send someone a free Groundhog Day eCard, please remember the infamous words of the Punxsutawney Groundhog Club:

“There are many important events in life — and Groundhog Day is not one of them.”

Happy Groundhog Day!

This post written by Stephanie Fader, Marketing & PR Manager

Since MyPunchbowl launched Reasons to Celebrate last July, we’ve been sharing these quirky daily holidays with our followers on Facebook and Twitter. Our friends tell their friends about the day’s reason to celebrate — whether it’s National Coffee Day or National Bubble Bath Day — and before you know it we have fifteen people discussing their favorite pies on our Facebook page (seriously, National Pie Day was this past Saturday, January 23).

I wanted to let you know that we just launched a new FREE widget for your blog so that you can keep your readers in the know about the daily reasons to celebrate. With days like National Cupcake Day, Peanut Butter Lover’s Day, and National Go Barefoot Day, there’s an amusing new reason to celebrate every day of the year.

The widget contains unique tidbits about the day’s Reason to Celebrate and gives your readers the ability to look ahead at upcoming holidays. It is also available in two sizes - check it out on our blog to the right.

Add the Reasons to Celebrate widget to your blog and let us know what you think!

The post was written by Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO, @mattdouglas

Today on my start-up CEO blog, I refute the notion that the number of employees in your start-up is somehow related to your success as a company. If you’ve ever wondered about how a start-up measures success, or are curious about start-ups in general, here’s one perspective that will hopefully give you something to think about. Read more >>

This post was written by Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO, @mattdouglas

As many of you know, before my stint as CEO of MyPunchbowl, I spent 4 years at Adobe in charge of a video-editing product called Premiere. So I’m always amused and amazed by what creative people can do with video. Today was no exception, when I received a video Christmas card. First a disclosure: the video card below was created by my Uncle (actually my wife’s uncle, but we’re close). Andy Marlatt is a comedy writer by trade — he’s written for many BBC comedy shows (no, not the Office, but he claims he knows the guys) and he was the creator of the popular humor blog “SatireWire.” He even wrote a book about the dotcom collapse called Economy of Errors. For the past year of so, he’s been writing songs. He put all of his talents together to produce the video Christmas card below.

Andy has graciously allowed me to re-post the video on the MyPunchbowl blog. His only wish is that anyone who enjoys this video makes a donation to charity. As I mentioned, Andy spends a lot of time working with the British. And you may not know this, but MyPunchbowl is partnered with the British Heart Foundation. So, if you like the video below, consider making a donation to the British Heart Foundation. And add your comments to this blog post. I hope you enjoy this video Christmas card as much as I did (please send this link to others!)

This post was written by Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO, @mattdouglas

As 2009 comes to a close, we wanted to do something special to say thank you for a great year. So here’s the deal: If you haven’t created a MyPunchbowl user account yet, we would like to offer you a FREE Premium upgrade when you create an account  — but you have to sign up before the end of the year. 

Do you know someone who would love a free MyPunchbowl Premium account? Tell them about MyPunchbowl using our handy tell-a-friend page.

Here’s the official media alert with details: 

Punchbowl Software, Inc., developers of the start to finish party planning site MyPunchbowl.com, today announced that anyone who creates a new user account before 11:59pm PST on December 31, 2009 will receive a FREE MyPunchbowl Premium account upgrade. Valued at $29.95 (1 year subscription), Punchbowl will give away up to 10,000 Premium accounts by the end of the year. MyPunchbowl Premium provides users unlimited access to invitation and eCard designs as well as the ability to send advertising-free eCards and invites for one year. “Our site traffic has doubled in the last three months,” said Matt Douglas, CEO of MyPunchbowl. “This is our small way of saying thank you for a fantastic year.”

To claim your FREE Premium account, sign up for MyPunchbowl before the end of 2009. 

This post was written by Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO, @mattdouglas

I’ve written a new blog post on my start-up CEO blog. I hope you’ll take a few minutes to read my latest start-up musings.

Here’s an excerpt: “Every time I come across a new startup, I ask myself a fundamental question: are there lots of people in the world that are looking for this solution or is the startup trying to create demand?” Read more of my blog post “Sell Umbrellas, Not Rain” >>

This post written by Stephanie Fader, Marketing & PR Manager

Do you believe Christmas is this week? If you’re like me (and most people), you probably still have a few more gifts to buy. Most likely for those people on your list that are the hardest to shop for!

If you’re still trying to find the perfect gift - and don’t want to fight the masses at the stores - we have a terrific, unique gift idea for you. Over a thousand actually…

Earlier this year we introduced MyPunchbowl Experiences, an extraordinary selection of experience gifts that engage the recipient’s personality and passions. Ranging from indoor skydiving, first flight lesson, helicopter tour to model for a day, wine making, glass blowing, or a private safari, the possibilities, like the memories they create are endless.

With so many experiences from which to choose in categories such as Wine & Gourmet, Sport & Adventure, and Arts & Culture, there is something for every age and every budget.

To celebrate the holidays, we’re excited to offer $20 off any MyPunchbowl Experience purchase of $100 or more. Use the code “QUICK” at checkout. Browse experiences now.

Make sure to choose the Email or Print It Now delivery options - you’ll have a really cool, unique gift in time for Christmas that fits perfectly inside a cute card!

Happy shopping!

This post written by Stephanie Fader, Marketing & PR Manager

It’s early December and according to my calendar it’s about time to send holiday cards to friends and family, or at least start thinking about it. Fortunately, MyPunchbowl gives you two great options to create customized holiday greetings this year.

Launched just over a year ago, our free eCards have become hugely popular for sending personalized holiday greetings. Once you browse the holiday designs and find a card you like, you can customize it a number of ways. You can change the background colors, add a family photo and/or video, type a note on the card, and even include a longer text update next to the card.

Send your holiday eCards to everyone on your list immediately or schedule the card to deliver at a later date/time (on Christmas Eve, perhaps?). You can also share eCards on Facebook and Twitter which is helpful when you don’t have everyone’s email addresses. Here are some of our holiday eCards:

If you still prefer to send your holiday greeting cards in the mail, we have an option for you as well: custom printed holiday cards from the MyPunchbowl Custom Print Shop. Choose from hundreds of designs then create your custom printed holiday cards by adding a photo and special message.

Want your printed cards quickly? You can receive them in as few as three days! Browse printed holiday card designs now.

With hundreds of free eCards and custom printed holiday cards, we hope making your holiday cards this year is fun (and easy)!

Happy holidays!

This post was written by Matt Douglas, Founder & CEO. Follow him on Twitter @mattdouglas

I’m very excited to announce that MyPunchbowl has acquired I’m In! — a site for local vendors. With the acquisition of I’m in! MyPunchbowl has entered the local party planning market. Our new local vendor portal enables our users to find vendors for their parties and events. To check it out, visit our new local vendors portal.

We’ll be sending out a press release in the morning, but TechCrunch broke the story this evening.

Here is the official announcement: 

Punchbowl Software, Inc., developers of the start to finish party planning site MyPunchbowl.com, today announced the acquisition of I’m In! (imin.com), through a transaction with GroupGo LLC. I’m In! previously operated as a site for group travel and local trip ideas. Financial terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

Using assets of I’m In!, MyPunchbowl today launches a comprehensive local vendor portal for the party planning market. The new MyPunchbowl local vendor portal includes over one million vendors that are suitable for parties and events. Vendor categories include Artists, Attire, Bakeries, Balloons, Bands, Caterers, Churches & Synagogues, DJs, Entertainers, Event Planners, Event Staffing & Services, Florists, Musicians, Photographers, Rentals & Equipment, Transportation, and Venues & Locations.

“Our new local vendor portal enables small businesses to connect directly with consumers who are actively planning events,” said Matt Douglas, CEO, Punchbowl Software. “The acquisition of I’m in! has accelerated our entry into the local party planning market.”

The local vendor portal also includes the ability to search for party venues and locations. As hosts plan events on MyPunchbowl, they can now search for a venue for their party in the new venue finder. Hosts enter their location and choose from twelve venue categories including birthday party venues for kids & adults, restaurants, and baby shower venues. After a venue is selected, hosts can populate the location and address directly onto their online invitation.

MyPunchbowl also now offers featured listings for venues. Featured locations receive priority placement on the venue finder. Retail venues and chains that service the party planning market can contact MyPunchbowl to get a featured listing.

Visit the MyPunchbowl local vendor portal to search vendors for your next event.

This post written by Stephanie Fader, Marketing & PR Manager

A few months back MyPunchbowl launched a new personalized party product on our site – MyPunchbowl Personalized Soda. Personalized soda comes in many classic flavors such as Root Beer and Cream Soda, among others. To personalize your soda, choose your flavor, upload your own photo for the front of the label, then add a personalized message for the back of the label. Pretty cool, right? Check out the soda that our CEO, Matt Douglas created.

For the holidays, our partners at Jones Soda have made some special holiday-inspired flavors available for you to customize for your holiday parties. Evergreen Apple, Snowdrift Soda, Reindeer Root Beer, and Holiday Cheer are the new flavors for this holiday season (just look for the holly icon at the top of the bottle to identify holiday flavors!).

MyPunchbowl Personalized Soda makes a great addition to any party but with these holiday flavors you can definitely add a little something special to your Christmas or holiday party this year. Order your personalized soda soon as these special holiday flavors are only available for a limited time!