By Larry Claasen
ONEDAYONLY.CO.ZA has come a long way since its founders, Christian Oberhofer and Maurits Vermeulen, formed the business in a garage 14 years ago. Today, the daily deal site handles 250 to 350 deals per day and employs over 300 staff members across three different locations.
The platform has transformed into a substantial operation that stands out from traditional e-commerce sites. Unlike most platforms, OneDayOnly.co.za offers deals that are limited in quantity and available for just 24 hours, creating urgency and exclusivity for shoppers.
A platform for emerging businesses
One key to OneDayOnly’s success is its strong relationship with suppliers, many of which are small businesses that have never sold online before. T
he platform provides these emerging businesses with an opportunity to test their products on a large scale. With a newsletter reaching 3,5-million subscribers, OneDayOnly offers suppliers access to a vast audience that can significantly boost product visibility.
Kate Barnes, business development manager at OneDayOnly.co.za, explains that while selling on the platform is a valuable opportunity, it requires careful planning. Prospective suppliers must understand stock requirements and know how to present their products effectively to ensure a smooth onboarding process.
“When small businesses come to us, they’ve never worked on an e-commerce platform. We certainly hold their hands and ensure they’ve got all the correct information. They can set up their business properly through our business.” Barnes says.
Success stories
The platform has helped many startups grow into successful businesses. For example, The Harvest Table, a producer of collagen powder, and Sleep Monk, a mattress provider launched during the COVID-19 pandemic, have both found success through OneDayOnly.
Sleep Monk founder, Thabo Serame, shares how OneDayOnly helped his business grow during the pandemic.
“Having started my business during the pandemic, just as the e-commerce boom was beginning, people were still sceptical about shopping online. OneDayOnly.co.za gave us the backing we needed to build trust and significantly expand our market,” says Serame.
By leveraging OneDayOnly’s extensive social media reach and customer database, Sleep Monk gained the exposure it desperately needed to thrive.
Only quality products allowed
When it comes to selling goods on OneDayOnly.co.za, however, the site is picky about what it sells. Barnes says the site is not a marketplace but rather a “highly curated platform.”
This means that when a prospective supplier wants to sell something through the site, it ensures that the quality is up to scratch.
“You know, the quality is great. It’s one of the things we like to pride ourselves on. We encourage suppliers to make sure that their quality is consistent when they send us products.”
Assisting with promotion
The platform also works with suppliers to shape the promotional material.
“As a platform, the customer shops with their eyes. So we have to make sure that when they’re scrolling through the page, a deal really stands out to them.”
Barnes says businesses might not have a good description of the product. However, it has teams that are excellent at analysing the product and understanding what features stand out and would be a selling point for customers.
“We’ve also got great copywriters who will add a nice description.”
