Technology Industry Veteran with Operations Focus Brings Expertise to Gift Exchange Website and App
Oakland, CA, Aug. 5, 2020 – Technology industry veteran Ittai Shiu has joined Elfster, a free gift exchange website and app, as General Manager. In this role, Ittai will oversee all operations based in the company’s Oakland, CA headquarters, reporting to Founder and CEO Peter Imburg.
“As we approach Elfster’s twentieth anniversary in 2021, our team and operation as a whole continues to grow as we welcome more than 17 million users from more than 50 countries each year to the site,” said Imburg. “Ittai brings a wealth of knowledge in both operations and the technology industry to us, and during this unprecedented time in history where we’ve seen an unparalleled amount of goodwill and kindness being paid forward, it’s more important than ever that we can support this growth of users, exchanges and retail partners.”
Elfster was designed to increase wish fulfillment by making Christmas, holiday and everyday gift giving exchanges easier with its Secret Santa Generator, wish list functionality, highly-curated gift guides and online activities. The sites users gift products ranging from home goods to books, clothing to fitness gear and handmade crafts to beauty products, from partner retailers including Amazon, Nordstrom, R.E.I., Etsy, lululemon, Sephora, Anthropologie, Fanatics, Zappos and more. Imburg launched the company in 2001 after his wife and sister realized how complicated it was to coordinate a cross-country Secret Santa exchange.
“As I hit the ground running in my new role, it’s been incredibly heartwarming and encouraging to witness the amount of goodwill that’s been spread through Elfster during a very difficult time in the U.S. and around the world,” said Shiu. “After seeing a 300% increase in gift exchanges over the Spring months just after the pandemic hit, it’s clear that the need for people to connect and express generosity between friends and family will never go away, even if the way this happens evolves. I’m excited to be working with such a talented team to help ramp up our operations and to help support and encourage this kindness around the globe.”
Shiu brings more than 20 years of experience to Elfster, with a focus ranging from technology to marketing, client services to AdTech, and start-ups to operations. Most recently, he served as a Startup Advisor and Business Consultant in the San Francisco Bay area. Previously, he held senior level roles at VDX.tv, AdoTube and Exponential, among others. Shiu is a graduate of University of California, Santa Barbara.
About Elfster
Elfster is a free gift exchange website and App designed to increase wish fulfillment by making Christmas, holiday and everyday gift giving exchanges easier with its Secret Santa Generator, wish list functionality, highly-curated gift guides and online activities. The site welcomes more than 17 million users from more than 50 countries annually gifting products ranging from home goods to books, clothing to fitness gear and handmade crafts to beauty products, from partner retailers including Amazon, Nordstrom, R.E.I., Etsy, lululemon, Sephora, Anthropologie, Fanatics, Zappos and more. Founder and CEO Peter Imburg launched the Oakland, California-based company in 2001 after his wife and sister realized how complicated it was to coordinate a cross-country Secret Santa exchange.