Kelowna News

It started with a simple question.

“Daddy, how does Santa decide which gifts to give everyone?”

With that question posed by his daughter in mind, a Kelowna man set about designing a board game about a frustrating experience that everyone faces…gift giving.

Nick Kellet has invented a board game which is being very well received around the world.

“It occurred to me that everyone suffers the pain of trying to decide exactly what to get their friends and family. I did a little research and found that no one has made a game out of that concept, so I did,” says Kellet.

After nearly two years of product testing, Kellet took his idea to Madhouse Creative for help in branding it and preparing for its launch. Kellet's game, ‘GiftTrap,’ made its world debut in October 2006.

“Since launch, we have sold over 10,000 copies of the game worldwide. We have distributors in France, England, Germany, the US and Canada of course.”

He says the game recently won a prestigious award.

“It was named ’Best Party Game of the Year,’ by Games Magazine, which is a huge deal.”

Kellet says ‘GiftTrap’ is mainly about learning more about your friends and family.

“The basic concept is giving good gifts. Every player gets some ‘gifts’ that they have to decide who to give to. You can only give each gift to one person. So, who gets the diamond ring? Who gets the sweater? Would you be happy if your spouse gave you a gift certificate to a day spa or a round of golf? Or would you rather get a new release DVD?” Winning the game is irrelevant, the conversations it starts are the point.”

He says the game can be played by the entire family.

“When we were doing our product testing, we had kids as young as five playing with their parents. Of course, they may need a little help, but it’s something that everyone can enjoy.”

‘GiftTrap’ will also be sold in Chapters bookstores across Canada sometime before Christmas.

Link: GiftTrap website