This paper analyzes Ready Flowers, an Australian online floristry company, as a case study in technology-driven business strategy. Drawing on Jack Trout's concept of positioning and data from Google Analytics, the paper explores how Ready Flowers established itself as "your local florist" without owning inventory, storefronts, or delivery infrastructure. It examines the company's suburb-level customer targeting through Google AdWords, its network of 2,000 partner florists across Australia and New Zealand, and the mutual benefits its model creates for consumers and suppliers alike. The paper argues that Ready Flowers' success stems from aligning perception-based positioning with a lean, technology-enabled business model.
Ready Flowers, founded by Thomas Hagerty, is a strong example of a technology-based company. Its service uses technology to locate local florists in Australia, New Zealand, and — in the near future — Hong Kong, in order to fulfill online orders (Fenton-Jones, 2009).
In the introduction to The New Positioning: The Latest on the World's #1 Business Strategy, Jack Trout defines positioning as "not what you do to the product, but what you do to the mind" (Trout & Rivkin, 1996). After analyzing data from Google Analytics, Ready Flowers learned that most consumers begin their search with local florists. Drawing on this insight, the company positioned itself as "your local florist" — a statement that works at the level of consumer perception and serves both its customer base and its network of floral suppliers.
The consumer is largely unaware that they are dealing with a central marketing company, because a neighborhood florist fulfills their purchase. Meanwhile, Ready Flowers' network of 2,000 florists benefits from gaining a new marketing channel that increases their sales at low cost.
"AdWords geo-targeting and localized landing pages explained"
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