Home Smart 100 2011 spareticket.com.au (SMART 100)

spareticket.com.au (SMART 100)

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The following SMART 100 profile and the information it contains is a duplication of content submitted by the applicant during the entry process. As a function of entry, applicants were required to declare that all details are factually correct, do not infringe on another’s intellectual property and are not unlawful, threatening, defamatory, invasive of privacy, obscene, or otherwise objectionable. Some profiles have been edited for reasons of space and clarity. More about the SMART 100.

spareticket.com.au

This innovation initially came to life when…

I had friends who travelled often for business and would find themselves suddenly in a city with nothing to do and no one to do it with. As you often purchase event tickets months out from events, it is difficult for the business traveller or last-minute purchaser. Also, it can be very lonely to attend events on your ..own. I decided to build a site where people could meet and connect with others, without the “online dating” stigma attached. And it would provide an opportunity for people to offload or buy last-minute tickets without having to deal with scalpers.

WHAT & HOW

The purpose of this innovation is to…

…provide a free online event connection platform for people to buy and sell tickets at or below cost or by choosing “challenge” options. Members can connect with other event lovers to buy tickets, offload tickets, make friends or organise dates.

It does this by…

Members choose usernames and list their ticket details at cost or below. Buyers search for events by name, location, cost, date or event type and buy tickets direct from sellers or contact them through an on-site purpose-built private message system. Buyer and seller details remain private until payment and exchange arrangements are finalised through cash, challenge or Paypal system.

PURPOSE & BENEFITS

This innovation improves on what came before because…

…it is unlike classified sites, as it provides opportunities to make real connections. It is like a cross between Facebook and eBay but does not allow scalping and permits only five tickets to be listed at a time to reduce the appeal to scalpers. It also restricts tickets from being listed above their purchase price, and has a “challenge” option.

Its various benefits to the customer/end-user include…

Customers no longer have to pay overinflated prices for event tickets. Customers are also able to make last-minute purchases and not lose money on tickets they can’t use. Also, if they are cash-strapped they can buy through the “challenge” option.

COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE

In the past, this problem was solved by…

…listing tickets in print or online classified or auction sites, selling or auctioning tickets to the highest bidder, which meant ticket prices became over-inflated. Also, there was the difficulty using some sites in getting the money from ticket buyers. Also, people would have to scour several different sites for tickets whereas SpareTicket.com.au is a dedicated event ticket site.

Its predecessors/competitors include…

…eBay, print classifieds, online classifieds, word of mouth, and immediate social networks through SMS and Facebook.

TARGET MARKET

It is made for…

…people 18 or older and includes all generations with last-minute ticket buyers and sellers; people who have changed their plans and can no longer attend events; business and holiday travellers; people who want to connect with like-minded friends or romantic partners; event lovers who are on a budget; lovers of concerts, music, sport, theatre, comedy and other live and staged performance.

DISTRIBUTION STRATEGY

It is available for sale through…

www.spareticket.com.au. Any person can search for tickets available, but to list or buy tickets you need to be over 18. Membership, buying and selling is free but there is a small Paypal transaction charge, if that payment option is chosen.

Our marketing strategy is to…

We launched in December 2010 and used some print advertising, but we have primarily focussed on social media and PR to spread the word. We have a Facebook page, Twitter account and e-newsletters which promote event-related information and give up-to-the-minute information on tickets available and wanted. Our branding uses “our little birdy” who tells members what’s on in all mediums.

SUPPORTING IMAGES

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