Softbank-backed Dingdong and Tencent-backed Missfresh have both gone public, to minimal investor enthusiasm. Both companies were launched: To solve the difficulties of selling perishable and difficult to transport groceries online. To tackle some of the pain points for both Chinese families and farmers. To capture a massive opportunity. And to get to operating profitability. They […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the rise of “digital sin stocks” such as Skillz and Electronic Arts. He explores the factors that have contributed to their success, such as the growth of mobile gaming and the increasing popularity of esports. He also discusses the risks that investors face when investing in these types of companies, such as the potential for regulation and the addictive nature of their products.
When you look for big competitive advantages on the cost side, it is usually about economies of scale – when a company with a larger volume has a lower per unit cost. Or, to be more precise, when a company has… …lower per unit costs based on a higher volume of production or throughput being […]
The Didi financials are finally out. And they are an interesting mix of good and bad. Didi has market dominance and tech leadership in the largest market for shared mobility. But it is also chronically unprofitable. For investors, this could be a fantastic opportunity. Because Didi’s ongoing losses will scare off investors and likely lower […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses why Didi Chuxing, the dominant ride-hailing company in China, is still unprofitable. He explores the factors that have contributed to its dominance, such as its scale and its network effects, and he discusses the challenges that it faces in becoming profitable. For example, he discusses how Didi has to invest heavily in research and development, and how it has to compete with other ride-hailing companies that are also losing money.
Digital transformation and disruption are usually about attacking the cost structures of established business models. Software companies have long used digital economics to devastate traditional companies. When Marc Andreesen says “software eats the world”, he is mostly talking about costs. But as soon as you talk costs, everyone jumps to “economies of scale”. These are […]
I look for four types of competitive advantages on the revenue and demand side: Share of the Consumer Mind, Share of the Producer Mind and Customer / User Activity and Buying Behavior. Which contains lots of sub-types such as buying habits, branding and emotional attachment. And not just for consumers and B2B customers. But also […]
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the concept of “criticality” as a type of switching cost. He specifically talks about Wabco, one of Warren Buffett’s companies that has fairly powerful B2B criticality. Wabco is a supplier of braking systems for trucks and buses, and its products are critical to the operation of these vehicles. As a result, customers are reluctant to switch to other suppliers, even if Wabco’s prices are higher. This gives Wabco a strong competitive advantage.
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the competitive landscape in smart IoT logistics, comparing the strategies of JD Logistics and DHL. He argues that JD Logistics has a number of advantages, including its large network of warehouses and delivery drivers, its data-driven approach to logistics, and its focus on customer experience. He concludes that JD Logistics is well-positioned to win the race to become the leading provider of smart IoT logistics services in Asia.
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the rise of Shein, a Chinese fast fashion retailer that has become one of the most popular online apparel brands in the world. He argues that Shein’s success is due to its low prices, its use of algorithms to design and market its products, and its rapid shipping times. He concludes that Shein is a disruptive force in the fashion industry and that its success could have implications for other retailers.