If you automatically turn to Google when trying to find a local hair or beauty salon you could be disappointed with the lack of search results. According to research*, a surprising 61 per cent of Australian businesses in the beauty sector do not have a website and are therefore difficult or impossible to find online.
This is the experience tech entrepreneur Matt Jones had when trying to find a hair salon close to his office in Melbourne. After discovering there was one in the basement of his building, and subsequently being urged by the owner to help create a way for customers to find him, Jones got the final push he needed to start his next venture. Enter Honee, a new online platform that is set to innovate the beauty sector and benefit many small businesses across Australia and beyond.
The concept is simple; Honee is an online directory with incredibly detailed customer information that has the capability to allow instant bookings. The platform will house descriptions of each business, GPS coordinates, accurate store hours, and a suite of photographs inside and out and full service menus and price lists – all of which will make it much more convenient for people to find and engage with local hair and beauty salons, spas and fitness studios.
With a string of successful roles at food and dining tech platforms including Delivery Hero, Quandoo, Asia Pacific and Zomato, it’s not surprising that Jones instantly recognised the need for similar innovation in the beauty sector. He has already moved quickly to secure funding of more than $500,000 from investors and has 4000 businesses across Melbourne covered.
Expansions will continue next year with Sydney set to launch in January, Bali to follow and South East Asia within the next two years.
To view Honee, go to https://www.honee.com.au.
*Research undertaken by Honee.