The deals business makes you go through a beautiful ride everyday! It’s so close to the customers – every step and action of yours is public. Margin of error is…well..zero!
So we had this deal, that I thought was interesting. It runs today in Delhi – doorstep beauty service by VLCC – you know the typical women works – facial, waxing, Bleach, hair spa etc etc!
So here I was – oh wow – all these nice elements from a good brand, at a great price and what more – at one’s doorstep.
The deal failed!
Hit by massive depression, I go back home and quiz my mom, sis and wife! Here is the reason:
Going to a nice salon, is an escape from home! The idea of getting these treatments done while their daily routine is happening alongside, isn’t a dream you can sell!
I love this industry. You learn something new everyday!
Any reason why you think this failed?
Ok,
I am actually surprised that it would fail. because, this is pretty common where I stay with my mother and wife indulging in this. the comfort of getting all this done in home is pretty soothing to them actually. ( they also choose salon, but choosing one over the other is a whim actually and a thought “hmm… thats a new salon, let me try that”
The reason why I think the deal failed is because, the ladies who come home, are the ones who charge less, (without the VLCC brand) and prehaps have a loyal customers. I really doubt any woman would allow strangers again and again to come home. (assuming the ladies from VLCC change from one time to another. )
there is a tag that says : groupon, so am assuming that it was on your groupon site. So the reason it might have failed is because the women who need this may not be logging into groupon, or even internet.
in my opinion its not the idea thats bad, but how the same would be communicated to the target customer. :-)
Oh – so thats another perspective! Obviously there will be both sides of the story, question is which one dominates!
But thanks for your view! The test now is to try the same thing with a lower price point! :)
glad you appreciated it!
One way to make it work could have been to offer any complimentary low cost service like threading etc / limited edition VLCC product. All this without compromising on the actual price of the beauty service.
So there are a couple of things whose analysis might help.
a) How many people did the deal reach?
Mayank makes a good point when he says that the message might not have reached the Target Customer. So if you can get some number there through analytics that might help.
b) Is escaping from home a universal reason for women who are your TG?
The sample size that you took into consideration is relevant but too small. It would be good if you can have a 2-3 member team of young people who can do this research after each deal. They shouldn’t only look at deals which went wrong but also look at deals which went right and analyse why.
The mentality that this is a service best done in saloons is why it failed.
If I get this home then, I gotta give more money, the saloon lady can’t bring all the equipment that I can get in her shop, and it being my first time, I’d rather wait and get reviews about it.
Selling this dream is a very good idea. The challenge is, you need to change people’s mentality that the saloon lady who comes home for this work will do a fine job and not just a kaam-chalau work. Also, this should start as a standard service, and then become a premier service once it gets acceptance from the customers. Although, I completely understand that it is a premier service from the beginning.
Hello Ankur
I’m new to your website and have very less (read almost no) knowledge of Crazeal.com’s business model,I think irrespective of the fact that we might not have a mentality for accepting such kind of services at home, The idea can still be sold, some of the key elements that might help this succeed:
> This campaign will be running in 13 cities because CRAZEAL.com operates in 13 so local VLCC centre’s in all 13 services can have a mini campaign at their respective centeres which announces that they are at the customer’s doorsteps..some tachy slogans save petrol, save commute time and all can definitely get some eyeballs which can kick of this element.
> This campaign should be targetted on specific days such as women’s day, Mother’s day and a pleothera of indian festivals like karwaChauth, Diwali when females dont have the time to go and indulge but still want to put in their best face :)
>This campaign should target specific corporates as well example IT/ITES where we have women in equal proportions wherein CRAZEAl.com can bring in a bulk offer for VLCC, I’m sure VLCC would want that kind of clientele.
Wish you godspeed with this campaign :)
Regards
Ankur Chopra
few months back I had bought a similar deal for my friend. She simply refused to use the service , saying that its never safe to get these things done by strangers.
Do you think this could be one of the reasons for the deal to fail(this time around)?
What action standards has this failed on?
It’s same as the difference between going to a well branded restaurant (e.g. McDonalds, Pizza Hut, Haldiram franchise) to eat something …. and asking them for home delivery….
My reasoning is… If I am paying 100-150 bucks to eat a dish which costs 20-30 bucks at unorganized retailers, they why don’t I go there and have it… and bring some change to my daily mundane routine by counting it as an outing with family.
Hi Ankur
VLCC beauty treatments might not work for reasons made obvious by your mom, but I believe deals on personal fitness training at home could be a big hit! Many ladies are not very comfortable going to the gym and asking for help from trainers. Training can be brought home where many inhibitions can be overcome. Use of basic gym equipment can do wonders for the business and the clients. North America has some very successful working models of this business.
the deal did not fail because of teh doorstep servcie,uts because VLCC as a brand is not enticing to women.
For me.. VLCC wouldnt have worked because
1. Im going to be letting someone strange into my house, especially if I live alone. I wont want to be getting beauty treatments done in front of my father in law if I live in a joint family.
2. I booked for say a wax and suddenly i feel like I want a hair spa, will she carry all her hair spa products too?
3. What if I dont like the woman whos doing my wax? and I need to complain or request for another lady to service me?
4. I wouldnt wanna clean up my bed or my sofa or table or kitchen after shes used them all.. neither do I want to be washing my towels
5. I will prefer to go to the salon so I have more options of nail color.. :)