After an exciting year representing one of the best 'searchandising' technologies out there a combination of events have made representation here unviable.  The biggest challenge is simply the small size of the market.  The second is the tremendous competition Australian online retailers face from overseas online offerings who have much more product, a much better and more mature online shopping experience and much lower prices due to a high valued Australian dollar and economies of scale.  The Australian retail sector have been enjoying high margins for a comparatively long time and I believe much of their situation could have been avoided with more forethought and planning.  I believe those that will survive will be those offering a genuinely unique offering or are able to find a way to compete with their off shore counterparts on price, range of product and shopping experience.

Key to this success is a necessary open mindedness required to innovation and technology.  Look at your competitors and the ones who are successful and find out what they are doing.  Carefully consider your buy vs build decisions as time will slip away from you.

regards,

Andrew Olsen