The burgeoning market for group-buying discounted products over the internet has given rise to companies like DARE'n'DEAL, which has recently emerged as the web service of choice among these online consumers. “We launched our project in the beginning of June 2011 and were able to acquire a prominent status in the market at a rapid pace,” said Mostafa Osman, DARE'n'DEAL's marketing manager. DARE 'N' DEAL currently represents 58 percent of the market share. The company's sale of 1022 coupons during the first week of July exceeded that of competitors Cobone, Edealo, Offerna and GoNabit. From hotel accommodations to clothes to medical treatments, DARE'N'DEAL almost surely has what any customer is looking for. The site works by offering various attractive deals on a daily basis, in which one can enjoy anywhere from a 50 to 90 percent reduction of the product price. All a customer has to do is register on the website, and then snap up the deal he or she would like by clicking the “buy” button. The deal, however, will only be activated if the required minimum number of people is met; the number varies from one offer to another. A customer can also encourage his or her friends, colleagues or relatives to experience the great offers via Facebook or email in order to receive a LE 5 DARE'n'DEAL account credit. A recommendation also gives one the chance to get a greater discount on his or her next deal. After paying by cash or credit card, the coupon will be sent to the customer's email to guarantee the privacy of the serial number. Then, the coupon can be printed and shown at the location where the deal is being offered. Osman said that the company has adopted a successful advertising policy that has helped them reach a broad segment of clientele. “We mainly focus on different types of online marketing techniques, including press, advertisements and Facebook, because we are targeting internet users.” According to Osman, the capable team at the company call center's ability to fulfill clients' demands is one of the many reasons that DARE'n'DEAL has brought trust and credibility to its customer relationships. Abdel Latif Olama, the owner of the company, said that the success of websites offering cheap deals can be attributed to Egypt's flagging economy. “Since the revolution, the market has been paralyzed. While traders want to gain profits, people are interested in finding affordable offers that cut down on their expenses.” Remon Ashraf, a newly-enrolled graduate student, echoed this sentiment, claiming that the site's club and hotel offers provide great opportunities for him to enjoy the summer with friends in different places at attractive prices. Ashraf's DARE'n'DEAL credit account has reached LE4500 from his recommendations to acquaintances to create accounts on the site. The idea of purchasing group deals over the internet was originally conceived of by “GroupOn,” an American company that has become famous worldwide, said Osman. After achieving unexpected success in Egypt, DARE'n'DEAL plans to expand its business and launch branches in other Arab countries, including Lebanon, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
