Privy Offers New, Targeted Approach to Merchant Deals

Business Wire

Tuesday, April 3rd 2012

With Privy, Small Businesses Benefit From Running Customized and Controlled Promotions Directly From Their Own Online Properties

Entrepreneur Ben Jabbawy today announced the launch of Privy, a Boston-based start-up that’s changing the way small businesses benefit from web traffic and social media. Privy allows small business owners anywhere in the United States to create and manage their own deals that target highly qualified consumers – the business’ own website visitors, Facebook fans, and Twitter followers. This way, business owners can more effectively convert their online audience into paying customers who will frequent the business more often and share the deal with others.

Privy has helped more than 30 clients sell over $40,000 in promotions in its beta period and is now poised for rapid expansion.

With Privy, small businesses can finally close the online marketing loop and turn “followers” into actual customers. Businesses can launch and track promotions from their own website, social media channels, and email databases to boost conversion rates, increase customer loyalty, and optimize both over time. Privy’s clients access a simple, web-based dashboard where they create and change deals, download the email addresses of new leads, and view analytics to inform future deals. It only takes a few clicks to launch an offer with Privy. Consumers then purchase the deals online and redeem the offerings in-store using their mobile device or printed coupon.

Jabbawy, 26, founded Privy because he loves small businesses and recognized a way to help them succeed. “I like to take advantage of deals and discounts as much as anyone, especially at businesses I love,” said Jabbawy. “What makes Privy different is that it’s a marketing and promotions model that actually makes sense for merchants both financially and in terms of building a happy and loyal customer base. So far, our clients have seen incredible results and can finally demonstrate the value of previous investments in social media, websites and other online marketing initiatives.”

One such client is Melissa Ferriman, owner of Crazy Doughs Pizza, a small chain based in New England. “When we partnered with Privy, we finally felt like we could run a deal on our own terms,” said Ferriman. “The Privy model felt more secure, and we liked the personalization of being able to offer the deal through our own website, Facebook page and online channels rather than through a third party. Our customers were happy, too. The conversion rate on our first deal was amazing – over 15 percent!”

Additional benefits for Privy clients include:

Merchants don’t pay any upfront charges or monthly fees.
Privy manages all online payment transactions, saving its clients headaches and web development fees that would be required to manage e-commerce on their own.
Only 15% of paid-for transactions goes back to Privy, 15-25% less than many other deal companies’ fees.
Businesses get contact information for all new customers brought in by their deals for remarketing purposes.

For more information, please visit www.getprivy.com. For company and related news updates, follow Privy on Twitter @getprivy or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GetPrivy. The company’s blog can be found at http://blog.getprivy.com/.

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