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New Zealand auction and classifieds site Trade Me has today launched group-buying site Treat Me for residents of Auckland and Wellington. The announcement: > March 15, 2011 – > >
Online marketplace Trade Me launched Treat Me today, a stand-alone > group-buying site that will initially offer deeply discounted deals > in Auckland and Wellington. > > Trade
Me CEO Jon Macdonald said the idea would harness the rising > popularity of web-based group-buying kicked off by Groupon in the > USA back in 2008. > > “Thanks to businesses
like Groupon, coupons and vouchers are back > in style. In New Zealand, several sites have sprung up seeking to > capitalise on this social e-commerce. With the market still in its
> infancy we’re confident Treat Me will appeal to Kiwi advertisers > and buyers as a place to find a great deal.” > > He said Treat Me was a logical addition to Trade Me’s
stable. > “We’ve always been focused on providing Kiwi consumers with more > spending power and helping New Zealand businesses reach additional > customers. Group-buying is about
exactly the same things.” > > Treat Me will benefit from Trade Me’s trusted reputation and broad > member base, but will operate as a separate business unit with a > dedicated
team led by James MacAvoy. > > Treat Me negotiates deals that are only activated when a certain > number of customers sign up to get the offer. Buyers only pay once > the deal
goes live. > > Initially Treat Me will feature heavily discounted deals on a broad > range of services, events and experiences from businesses across > Auckland and Wellington,
but it has plans to expand into other > regions over coming months. > > Mr Macdonald said there were deals in the pipeline from restaurants, > bars, cinemas, pools, zoos,
accommodation and travel providers, day > spas and a bunch of other businesses. “Treat Me’s focus is on > offers from businesses that provide a great service or experience, > rather
than tangible goods.” Source: Trade Me press release