BEST SITE OVER 20 STAFF: Lasoo
Several start-ups have achieved success by collecting content for users that otherwise would have required an extensive search. Lasoo founder Paul Marshall noticed sites such as Seek, Realestate.com.au and Carsales.com.au becoming successful by aggregating content, and decided to get on the trend with retail.
Marshall says there was a gap in the market for a retail offering that essentially did all the work a consumer couldn't be bothered with.
"These sites enabled people to quickly search for what they wanted. At that time there was nothing to summarise or aggregate everything they wanted to pay. We just take catalogue data and digitise it, and it allows people to search for everything from groceries to digital cameras."
"We have 34 staff in total, but it's a model where we hopefully won't have too many more on staff. We're also going to grow into other areas such as travel, and even automotive as our traffic grows, but we've found a good niche in general retail."
Lasoo has also been quick to catch up on social marketing, and recently released an iPhone App that emulates all the features available on the site.
Judge Andrew Dalton from Webfirm says the site, which records over one million uniques per month, has achieved success by making it easy for users to find what they want whether on the web or a smartphone.
"A wonderfully executed site all round. The design has impact without clutter and never forgets the importance of browser usability, and the attention to detail with social marketing should be commended."
"The business concept also appears to be original and timely in this economic climate. Overall this site has plenty to offer across the board."
