Microsoft and PBL yesterday launched Cudo.com.au, yet another Groupon clone in an already crowded Australian market filled with the likes of JumpOnit, Ouffer, Spreets, OurDeal and Scoupon run by Catchoftheday.
Groupon clones like Cudo.com.au have sprung up like weeds in Australia since the start of the year, we have already covered JumpOnIt’s launch in July as well as OurDeal’s launch into new territories and Catchoftheday spinoff Scoupon. Until now all of these Groupon clones have been run by small nimble start-up businesses or in the case of Catchoftheday as a spin off of an already successful daily deals business model, this is the first time a big corporate has decided to muscle in on this growing market.
Cudo is a joint venture between Microsoft, PBL Media and ninemsn and hopes to leverage the size and marketing resources of the three companies to carve out a profitable niche in an overcrowded market. Initially Cudo.com.au will launch in Sydney and Melbourne with daily deals, in addition to national weekly deals, with Cudo to launch in Brisbane in October followed by other capital cities and key regional hubs such as Newcastle and the Gold Coast.
Existing Groupon clones in Australia face an all out assault from Cudo.com.au with Cudo launching a major multi-channel advertising campaign, including TV, print and online media nationwide, with the majority appearing across the PBL Media properties of Channel Nine, ACP and ninemsn.
Billy Tucker, CEO, said Cudo.com.au and its parent organisations provide a unique competitive advantage for the new site, giving it significant reach at launch thanks to integration across the PBL Media network:
“This reach and the continued commitment we have from our partners puts us in an enviable position and at a competitive advantage when it comes to securing the best value and lowest price offers for our customers.”
