Ones to watch: WhoseView.ie
What is it?
WhoseView.ie is a social review based website in Ireland that enables consumers to rate local services including restaurants, bars, beauty salons, hairdressers, butchers, cafes, fashion shops, car dealers etc.
Launched in late July 2009, the site now receives over 120,000 visitors a month who have posted over 14,000 customer reviews. The site covers nine cities in both Ireland and the UK, having launched in the UK in June 2010.
In addition to posting reviews and comments, members can invite friends, share their experiences within their trusted network of friends as well as avail of special offers posted by local businesses. Members are posting, on average, 50 reviews a day on WhoseView.ie. The website offers a guide in helping people find the best in their city, as well as those special offers from the top reviewed places.
Who’s behind it?
WhoseView.ie was founded by Helen McCarthy and developed in conjunction with Tom Hayes of Lightbox Digital. "The concept was developed on realisation that word of mouth recommendations were the main source of all the great places I now recommend in Dublin today" says Helen McCarthy. "This is no surprise when you consider that 76% of people now rely on other people's recommendations when making a purchase decision," says Tom Hayes.
Financial situation?
The site is 100% privately funded, by both the owners as well as private investors. WhoseView.ie is supported by Enterprise Ireland having received Category 1 Funding and mentoring services in 2009.
Future plans?
The goal is to continue to build the member base and reviews, with a target of 200,000 monthly unique visitors and 20,000 reviews set for December 2010. Having launched www.WhoseView.co.uk in June 2010 with close to 190,000 listed businesses, the goal is to grow the UK member base and reviews as quickly as possible.
The WhoseView Iphone app was launched in April 2010, allowing people find the nearest top reviewed local services while on the move. With close to 50,000 local business listings for Dublin, Cork and Galway and a further 190,000 in the UK, users of the app can quickly find the top reviewed services within a 10km radius of their position.
