Building on the budding coupon culture across the nation, another collective buying web site has hit the Cincinnati market.
WouldURather is a locally owned site that launched in late May offering five dueling deals each week.
WouldURather, founded by Cincinnati area entrepreneurs, is similar to collective buying site Chicago-based
Groupon that operates in more than 50 major cities in the U.S. and Canada.
The site will feature deals on local products, services and events. Like Groupon, WouldURather offers deep discounts if a certain number of buyers purchase the deal resulting in a "tipping point" that makes the deal beneficial for a business. WouldURather offers a choice of two deals each day at different price points. For example, a recent day offered a $39 car wash for $19 and a $129 car detail for $59 from
AutoKing Mobile Car Wash.
"We have a luxury deal and more affordable deal, which will make it more attractive to a greater number of people," said sales and business manager Jason Riveiro.
The company was founded by Caitlin Wilkerson, a former communication manager for a local marketing research company and Pablo Arellano Jr., a former Assistant Brand Manager for P& G's Clairol. The company has five employees; plans are to expand into Columbus, Indianapolis, Lexington, Louisville and Pittsburgh in the next six months.
Site features includes a section where potential buyers can recommend and vote on deals they'd like to see. WouldURather also mixes the profit and nonprofit worlds in its business model. Though WouldURather is a for-profit company, 100 percent of its profits from May went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure of Greater Cincinnati. Going forward the company will give a percentage of its profits to local nonprofits, Riveiro said.
So is Cincinnati ready for yet another collective buying site?
"We think some of our unique features (like donating to non-profits and offering two deals a day), will help us stand apart," Riveiro said.
Writer: Feoshia Henderson
Source: WouldURather sales and business manager Jason Riveiro
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