Denver-based coupon social network SoBiz10 expands into Wichita – Wichita Business Journal (blog)
A former Kansan who founded a coupon website and social network has expanded his business into Wichita and Lawrence.
SoBiz10, founded by Marion Mariathasan, allows participants to buy coupons for local businesses. For instance, the current Wichita deal lets participants pay $39.95 for $80 worth of computer virus removal services at CompuTech.
The customers and businesses also can connect on the SoBiz10 social network, and the site includes a directory of local businesses.
SoBiz10 connects with 10 local nonprofits (so far, Wichita’s Mayflower Clinic and KETCH are the only ones involved here) in each city as well. When customers buy a deal, they can pick a nonprofit and SoBiz10 will make a small donation.
The company launched in Denver in January 2010, and Mariathasan says that after working with 45,000 companies and publishing 50 deals there, he’s looking to grow the business. Nearby Kansas, where he grew up and attended college, was an obvious next step.
The Lawrence site launched last month, and the Wichita site started Feb. 9.
SoBiz10 is growing as a number of other coupon websites are gaining in popularity. For instance, Groupon launched in Wichita in May 2010, Wichita Funds for Schools was founded in September, and Papa John’s executive Terry Newman founded a site called HomeRunSavings.com last month.
But Mariathasan says the social aspects of SoBiz10 make it different.
One example is that when customers buy a deal, they connect on the SoBiz10 social network with the business. That means the business later can contact the customer if it launches a different promotion.
Mariathasan says his company also keeps its focus local.
“We come in, we hire people locally, work with universities to bring in interns, ... partner with local nonprofits,” he says. “We immerse ourselves in that community.”
He says the company, which has a total staff of about 20, has hired three people in Wichita.
Staff members are working remotely, but he says SoBiz10 would like to establish a small Wichita office soon. It’s looking for a copy writer and sales staff and eventually is likely to have seven or eight Wichita employees, he says.
Mariathasan says he plans to keep growing the company. SoBiz10 is set to launch in Manhattan, Kan., and Columbia, Mo., soon.
Many of the planned locations, including Lawrence, Manhattan and Columbia, are relatively small cities with major universities. That’s part of the strategy, Mariathasan says.
“College kids tend to use social media, and they’re looking for better deals because they’re strapped for cash,” he says.
A video SoBiz10 created to explain the service to businesses is available here.
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