Etsy is not just a single marketplace, but a collection of marketplaces that cater to different niches and communities. By acquiring and integrating new marketplaces, such as Reverb for musical instruments and Depop for fashion, Etsy is pursuing a growth strategy that leverages its core competencies and network effects. In this article, digital strategy consultant Jeff Towson analyzes the rationale and challenges of Etsy’s marketplace expansion strategy.
Category Archives: Growth: Core vs. Adjacency
How China and AI Will Impact Arm Holdings (4 of 4) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
Discover the pivotal role of China’s evolving tech landscape and the rapid strides in AI technology, unraveling the intricate dynamics that promise to reshape ARM Holdings’ trajectory. Gain a comprehensive understanding of the strategic implications arising from these influences and how they navigate ARM’s future prospects in an ever-evolving global tech landscape.
What Grab Can Learn from Amazon About Growth – and Not From Meta (Tech Strategy – Podcast 143)
In this episode of the Tech Strategy podcast, Jeff Towson discusses what Grab can learn from Amazon about growth and not from Meta. He explains how Amazon’s focus on customer experience and innovation has helped it grow into one of the world’s largest companies and how Grab can apply these lessons to its own business. Towson also talks about the potential benefits and risks of Grab’s growth strategy and how it could impact the future of ride-hailing and delivery services.
Grab Has 5 Compelling Growth Initiatives (4 of 4) (Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
Grab recently held its 2002 Investor Day. They summarized their 1H results for 2022 and went through their current strategy, which is mostly about getting to operating profits. In my assessment, their push to operating profitability is mostly about 3 things: Growing revenue. Increasing efficiency (i.e., decreasing costs), especially in delivery. COO Alex Hungate’s presentation […]
Don’t Underestimate Growth Plus the Digital Operating Basics (Tech Strategy – Podcast 122)
In this podcast, Jeffrey Towson discusses the importance of growth and digital operating basics for sustainable success in the tech industry. He argues that most sustainable growth is based on 1-2 strong cores that continually adapt, and that companies should focus on investing in R&D, tech, and infrastructure to improve their user experience and operating efficiency.
How to Assess the Growth of Sea Limited / Shopee / Garena (Asia Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
In the past 3-4 months, Sea Limited stock price has fallen from $350 to $90 per share. That is interesting. The business model is as formidable as ever. It benefits from compelling long-term consumer spending growth trends in both SE Asia and Latin America. And, unlike Alibaba, Sea Limited is in +9 countries and is […]
Snowflake’s Big Growth and Competition Questions (3 of 3)(Tech Strategy – Daily Article)
In Part 1 and Part 2, I laid out a framework for Snowflake’s “data ecosystem” business model. I described it as +3 complementary platform business models with +4 network effects. And I think that explains most of what the company is doing right now. However, I also recently listened to an interview with CEO Frank […]
Core vs. Adjacency Growth in Digital Businesses (Tech Strategy – Podcast 104)
Most all sustainable growth is based on 1-2 strong cores. A profitable core is centered on the strongest position in terms of loyal customers, competitive advantage, unique skills, and ability to earn profits. To assess an adjacency move, consider the following factors: 1) how tightly the adjacency is tied to a strong core; 2) the attractiveness of the adjacency market; and 3) the ability to capture economic leadership in that market.