Sook is the No.1 local-shopping tool in North America. It's used by 10,000+ people every day to browse & buy from independent businesses in 125+ cities
A local-shopping extension has emerged as a leading platform without investing in advertising, receiving endorsements from major publications like a prominent American newspaper and various media outlets. Since its launch, the platform has facilitated over $350,000 in purchase actions for local businesses. It has organically expanded its user base to 18,000 accounts, with over 11,500 active users and 2,500 small businesses participating across 125 cities. In comparison, competing services have incurred substantial costs, spending over $125 per user account acquisition. In the broader industry context, similar tools have recently secured funding between $3 million and $30 million in early financing rounds.
The platform's revenue so far has primarily been generated from sending sponsored emails over a short period of 2-3 months, despite operational costs covering an entire year. This suggests significant monetization opportunities if email campaigns can be sustained year-round.
The operational aim was straightforward: to integrate local products seamlessly into consumers' online shopping habits. It currently operates with automated updates, only requiring the maintenance of server payments to continue functioning.
Prospective buyers see several opportunities with this platform: sending targeted marketing emails to users, expanding the service into new international markets through licensing, charging fees for small business inclusion, implementing a share-of-sale model for products discovered via the platform, and analyzing consumer behavior to uncover shopping trends.
Flippa’s platform is free for buyers. Here are our tips for first-time buyers:
Before making an offer
1. Look for verified sellers. Sellers should verify their email, phone, and government ID. When a seller has completed all verifications, we identify them with a checkmark like this:
2. Review financials. Financials are seller-provided inputs. Always ask for verified financials. Ask for a tax return or request access to their dashboard. if it’s an ecommerce store get a transaction report.
3. Review traffic. Sellers can grant you access to Google Analytics. Ask for read-only access to verify site traffic.
4. Schedule a call. Communication is key. The best way to find out more is to speak directly with the seller. For your protection, keep all communication within Flippa.
5. Make the offer on Flippa. We’re here to help. Flippa does not charge buyers and by making an offer on Flippa you’ll get access to our post-sales support team.
1. Agreements & Contracts.
Connect with a US-based lawyer or purchase asset-specific template legal documents via Flippa Legal.
2. Conduct Due Diligence.
You can conduct this yourself or use our trusted network of industry-leading due diligence partners. They can provide in-depth analysis, identify hidden risks, and independently assess the value of the business. Learn More