Buzzmove.com. the new price comparison website for the UK moving industry, has just announced a $650,000 (£395,000) investment brokered by Telefónica, the owner of O2. The new investment will allow the company to roll out the service, trialled in London over the last nine months, nationwide.
The investment, by private entrepreneurs, comes on the back of Buzzmove’s completion of a trial period through Telefónica’s global start-up accelerator programme, Wayra. The trial involved around 20 companies in the London area using the service and helping Buzzmove refine the offering. “The companies were very patient and helped us to add improvements as we went along,” said Becky Downing, Buzzmove’s CEO and founder. “This new funding will now allow us to roll out the service nationwide.”
Buzzmove is free for moving companies to join, there are no fees to pay or annual subscriptions. The system requires participating companies to enter basic pricing information onto the company’s website from which a complex algorithm calculates exact prices for domestic moves and provides a price comparison from which customers may choose. The company also claims that quality information is also made available to customers so that buying decisions are not based upon price alone. Movers then receive a booked job from the system and are then at liberty to arrange for a surveyor to attend to verify the quotation if necessary.
“It’s not lead generation,” explained Becky. “Movers registered on our site receive booked jobs only.” Buzzmove makes its money by taking a commission from each job booked.
To ensure that every company listed on Buzzmove is appropriately vetted and accredited, the company has entered into an exclusive partnership with BAR. The opportunity is, therefore, currently only open to BAR (British Association of Removers) members. Any BAR company wishing to register should go to www.buzzmove.com, scroll to the bottom of the landing page and follow the link.
Photo: Becky Downing speaking at The Mover Conference 2013