ADVERTORIAL
'MyDeal.lk' promises merchants, shoppers a win-win
Merchants who are facing challenges in improving sales and enhancing
brand visibility have been offered a zero-risk, cost-effective solution
with the launch of www.mydeal.lk, one of Sri Lanka's latest and fastest
growing 'daily deals' websites.
The MyDeal team: (from left) Managing Director Damitha
Ginigaddarage, CEO Kumar Melvani and Marketing Director
Mehraj Sally. |
Within two weeks of its launch, the website of MyDeal.lk (Pvt) Ltd.
had attracted approximately 12,000 fans on Facebook - which represents
an increase of more than 850 fans daily - and according to Google
statistics is now closing the gap with the market leader in the
category.
Among merchants who are offering deals at present on www.mydeal.lk
are Techno Vision, Nitro Zone and J. F Tours. The website's first deal,
which offered a 50 percent discount on food and beverages at the Coffee
Bean and Tea Leaf, concluded with all vouchers on offer being sold out
in less than a week, MyDeal said.
Deals with food brands, hotels, clothing stores and airlines and for
events and leisure activities are in the pipeline and discounted up to
90 percent, Search Engine Optimisation (SEO) Specialist and Managing
Director of MyDeal, Damitha Ginigaddarage said.
Elaborating on what MyDeal.lk has to offer to merchants, he said: "As
we charge a fee only when a product is sold, www.mydeal.lk is a
zero-risk proposition for merchants. The website is especially suited
for entities such as hotels and restaurants as it offers an excellent
opportunity for merchants to earn revenue on excess inventory or
capacity. Additionally, if an event management company is planning its
next big event in Colombo, we can reach out to a wider audience and have
it sold out."
Illustrating the case of a customer who purchases hotel accommodation
via MyDeal but also spends on food and other activities during his stay,
Ginigaddarage pointed out that apart from tangible benefits, signing up
with www.mydeal.lk could enable merchants to boost sales of auxiliary
products. "A happy and satisfied customer will always come back for more
as well as refer our merchants' businesses to family and friends drawing
new customers who want to be a part of the excitement," he explained.
"MyDeal's appeal also extends to merchants in other sectors as well,
as the website also generates tremendous value by enhancing brand
visibility. Unlike in the case of an expensive advertisement which may
be only seen once in a newspaper or on radio or television by a
consumer, a product featured on www.mydeal.lk is visible continuously
for the duration of the promotional period," he added.
In addition to Damitha Ginigaddarage, the MyDeal team benefits from
the experience and skills of CEO Kumar Melvani, a founder of a popular
online bookstore and a specialist in e-Commerce and Director Marketing -
Mehraj Sally, a Social Media Strategist and Marketeer who has over 20
years of corporate experience including stints at Unilever and 3M.
Besides merchants, www.mydeal.lk substantially benefits shoppers by
enabling them to purchase items ranging from food products to leisure
activities at significant discounts. The vouchers purchased by shoppers
via the MyDeal website or at its office are usually valid for two to
three months, enabling shoppers to redeem them at their convenience.
Unlike some daily deals websites which require a certain minimum
number of purchases for the offer to be valid, an offer on www.mydeal.lk
is valid even for a single purchase. By becoming a fan of MyDeal's
Facebook page (www.facebook.com/MyDeal.lk) shoppers can also win
valuable gifts every month at a special 'monthly deal' given by the
website, which also presents an opportunity for merchants who tie up for
the offer to gain significant mileage in terms of brand visibility.
The MyDeal website employs a system championed by USA's 'Groupon,'
the value of which was estimated at US $ 18 billion in November 2011. A
customer who opts for a deal on www.mydeal.lk has to buy a voucher
online using a credit or debit card of MasterCard or Visa via Sampath
Bank's Secure Internet Payment Gateway. Thereafter, the voucher can be
printed and redeemed at the outlet of the respective merchant. Shoppers
who do not wish to make payments via internet can purchase vouchers from
MyDeal's conveniently located office on Galle Road, Colombo 3 (Opposite
McDonalds) on weekdays between 9 AM and 5 PM. Shoppers can also email
the company and receive instructions on how to make a deposit at any
Sampath Bank branch for their vouchers. Once receipt of payment is
confirmed, MyDeal.lk will email the vouchers to these customers.
HNB unveils three year strategic plan with MTI facilitation
Hatton National Bank (HNB) has completed a three year strategic
planning exercise with the active involvement of the entire corporate
management team, including intense research and analysis to facilitate
the process.
The strategic planning process for HNB was based on MTI's 8S A and
the process was facilitated by MTI Consulting.
Commenting on the importance of the process COO Jonathan Alles said
Given the emerging landscape for financial services in Sri Lanka, both
in terms of opportunities and challenges, this exercise has helped to
sharpen our focus and identify key strategic initiatives.
"MTI has effectively facilitated the process, brought in cross-border
and cross-industry thinking, while challenging our strategic thought
process. We have immensely benefited from MTI's experience and
approach," said HNB MD Rajendra Theagarajah.
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