Latest group buying entrant targets small business deals

A new group buying start-up, BizzBuzz.com.au, has launched today with the aim of standing out in an increasingly saturated market by offering products and services aimed at small businesses.

The site, created by entrepreneur Marcus Layton, has launched with an introductory coupon that offers 60 days of access to Shoeboxed.com.au, a service that categorises and displays copies of receipts, aiding small businesses’ accounting.

The deal, which will be free for BizzBuzz visitors today, will be followed by an offer on business card print. Layton says that he has deals in place for the next month with providers of marketing services, video production and promotional tools.

Layton claims that the site is Australia’s first group buying site to exclusively target small businesses, although he was previously in discussions with a precursor to BizzBuzz – Anthill’s AntMart service.

Layton, who previously started corporate dry cleaning business Pinstripe.com.au, says that he already has 2,000 people signed up to BizzBuzz and aims to have 40,000 sign-ups within the next six months.

“There are two million-plus businesses in Australia and nearly all of them are SMEs,” he says. “The cash savings that these businesses need are big – they are very cost conscious. I have aims for this site beyond just a deals site – I want to guide small businesses to the best deals and help them.”

“I’ve contacted small business owners in online networks and the feedback has been overwhelming. There’s a need for this service and there’s certainly a gap in the group buying market for it.”

“The quality of the deals is paramount. We want cutting edge deals that also have a broad appeal. We want to provide products and services that small businesses actually need.”