Nicisms

Why would I be building out a solution for the emerging markets if I were in group-buying? Simple. Because nobody else is.

Everybody is looking at high-end, high-margin and relatively low volume.

Groupon itself is avoiding the emerging market mobile play because the don’t have a clue about the mobile web, feature phones or emerging markets and how they use smartphones (if they do at all).

Apparently Groupon just released an Android App in Germany. Why would they not be pushing Android apps in to the emerging markets too? Android is selling like hotcakes in Africa and the rest of the developing world.

If I were sitting in India and I ran Snapdeals.com I would create a mobile web version, then a java version, then an Android version of the Snapdeal experience.

The other major thing that needs to change (that no one is doing) is catering for the mass-market with mid-level deals instead of Spa treatments and the likes. What about deals from places like Shoprite, Walmart, Massmart companies, Pick ‘n Pay and those companies?

Maybe there is a problem with the margins, volumes and numbers on smaller and cheaper deals but for my money, if you make that work, you’re golden.

Richard Mulholland decided that we needed to learn how to surf and that we should all pull in to Eden on the Bay and get lessons from Michelle at Stoked Surf School.

I have, had, a fear of the oceans that’s been with me for 25 years. This weekend that fear was conquered.

Here are some photos:

With out a doubt the weekend that just passed was the best weekend of activity I’ve had in Cape Town. The weather played nice, the ocean played nice, the surf teacher taught us how to surf and look good (ish) while doing it and I had good mates to rip me off and cheer when I feel. What could be better?