Published on: January 30, 2012
by Kevin CoupeSo I’m in Florida, here to attend and moderate a panel entitled “Stomach Wars” at the annual Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Midwinter Executive Conference. On Saturday night, I’m hanging out at the bar of a Bonefish Grill with a marketing guy I know, sipping rum and tonics and eating Bang Bang Shrimp, and I asked Jim what he was working on.
“Priceline for golf tee-times,” he said.
Now, I don’t even play golf, but I got all excited, mostly because it seems like such a great business idea on a number of levels.
1. The concept is easily communicated in just a few words. You hear “Priceline for golf tee-times,” you instantly understand the concept - you can use a free website, PlayGolfPlanet.com, to establish your favorite courses, identify which ones have available tee-times, book a tee-time at a significant discount (because it is, after all, perishable inventory), and even set up twosomes and foursomes.
2. The concept seems easily expandable. Right now, it is available in Orlando and Raleigh, North Carolina, but it seems like a natural for a national, even global roll-out.
3. There would seem to be endless possibilities. I’ve been thinking about it, and it strikes me that there are all sorts of ways to grow this thing. For example, it seems like a natural for a mobile app that would allow someone in any location to use his or her smartphone to find local courses with tee-time availability, and instantly book it (not to mention get directions, rent equipment, and whatever other things golfers need to do).
4. The business seems like one that somebody is going to come along and buy for a lot of money - so good for the guy who started it.
There may be other, similar sites out there endeavoring to do the same thing, but for the purposes of this discussion, that doesn’t really matter. The point is this ... smart, perceptive people are able to see opportunities where other people cannot. Or do not.
In this case, there is the wonderful combination of perishable inventory and technology, together creating an opportunity for relevant and potentially profitable innovation. It struck me as a Big Idea.
And I just thought that was an Eye-Opener.
- KC's View: