Gift Pool

Gift Pool makes group gifts painless. One person organises — say, “Jane's Birthday” — everyone else just clicks a link in their email, pledges an amount, and sends their share. When the pot is full, the organiser buys the present and everyone gets a thank-you with a photo of the gift.

Gift Pool tracks who has pledged and paid — the money itself moves directly between you (bank transfer, PayPal, cash), so there are no fees and nobody else holds your money.

🎁 If you're organising a gift

1. Create an account and a Gift Pool. Log in (register first if you're new — it just needs an email address), tap New Gift Pool, and give it a title, the date of the occasion, a target amount, and — important — how people should pay you (e.g. your bank details or PayPal, with a reference).
2. Add gift ideas. List the presents you're considering with prices and shop links, so everyone can see where the money is going.
3. Invite people by email. Type or paste any number of email addresses and add a personal note. Each person receives their own private link — they don't need an account or password. You can re-send or remove invitations at any time.
4. Watch the pledges come in. Your dashboard shows a live progress bar: how much is pledged, how much has actually arrived, and who still hasn't answered. You get an email each time someone pledges, and another when the target is reached.
5. Confirm money as it arrives. When a contributor sends their share they mark it paid; once it lands in your account, press Money received against their name. Only confirmed money counts towards unlocking the next step.
6. Close the collection and buy the gift. Once confirmed contributions cover the target, the Request payment & close collection button unlocks. Press it, go shopping, and mark which gift idea you chose.
7. Thank everyone. Upload a photo of the gift and write a message — every contributor automatically receives a thank-you email with the picture.

💌 If you've been invited to contribute

1. Open the link in your invitation email. That's it — no account, no password. The page shows the occasion, the gift ideas, and how the collection is going. (The link is personal to you, so don't forward it.)
2. Pledge an amount. A fair share is suggested — the remaining amount split between everyone still to answer — but you choose whatever suits you. You can change it later, or politely opt out with one tap.
3. Send the money and tap “I've sent it”. The organiser's payment details appear once you've pledged. Pay them directly, then mark it sent so they know to look out for it.
4. Enjoy the thank-you. When the gift is bought you'll get an email with a photo of what your money helped buy.

📱 Put it on your phone's home screen

Gift Pool works like an app — no app store needed:

• iPhone / iPad: open lormark.co.uk/giftpool in Safari, tap the Share button, then Add to Home Screen.
• Android: open it in Chrome, tap the ⋮ menu, then Add to Home screen (or Install app).

You'll get the pink gift-box icon, and it opens straight into your pools.

Common questions

Do the people I invite need an account?

No. Their emailed link is their key. If they happen to have a Lormark account and are logged in, their contribution is linked to it automatically.

Does Gift Pool handle the money?

No — it tracks promises and payments, but money always moves directly between contributors and the organiser using the payment details the organiser provides. No fees, no middleman.

Can contributors see each other's amounts?

Contributors see the overall progress bar, not individual amounts. Only the organiser sees who pledged what.

What if someone can't contribute?

There's a one-tap “Sorry, I can't contribute this time” option, so nobody is left chasing.

Can I run more than one pool at a time?

Yes — your dashboard lists every pool you've created, each with its own contributors and progress.

What if plans change?

The organiser can cancel a pool at any time; contributors keep their links and see that no contribution is needed.