Comments on: BookFresh Is OpenTable For Everything Else http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/ Startup and Technology News Thu, 26 Nov 2009 22:14:26 -0800 hourly 1 By: Realtime Booking Site BookingBug Creates Smart Affiliate Model http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-3086892 Realtime Booking Site BookingBug Creates Smart Affiliate Model Tue, 10 Nov 2009 12:51:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-3086892 [...] recently profiled competitor Bookfresh but this site only works for small one-man-bands offering minutes/hour based [...] [...] recently profiled competitor Bookfresh but this site only works for small one-man-bands offering minutes/hour based [...]

]]> By: Mark Demicoli http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2889335 Mark Demicoli Thu, 30 Jul 2009 03:24:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2889335 Seth makes a good point. When we embarked on our project (http://www.clickbook.net) several years ago we were extremely bright-eyed (and nieve) about this emerging market, expecting a facebook-esque boom. Not so! We're getting some traction now that the product is becoming feature rich, and also attracting savvy investors (wink). There are a couple of key hurdles for any startup in this space: 1. Get over the idea that scheduling is anything close to simple. You're building an application not a website. 2. The target market is not 15 year old cybernauts. Traditional marketing avenues are key. 3. Classified :) 4. Classified :) Seth makes a good point.

When we embarked on our project (http://www.clickbook.net) several years ago we were extremely bright-eyed (and nieve) about this emerging market, expecting a facebook-esque boom. Not so! We’re getting some traction now that the product is becoming feature rich, and also attracting savvy investors (wink).

There are a couple of key hurdles for any startup in this space:

1. Get over the idea that scheduling is anything close to simple. You’re building an application not a website.

2. The target market is not 15 year old cybernauts. Traditional marketing avenues are key.

3. Classified :)

4. Classified :)

]]> By: BookFresh raises $500K more to help you schedule everything online | Family Learning Center http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2885372 BookFresh raises $500K more to help you schedule everything online | Family Learning Center Tue, 28 Jul 2009 17:26:34 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2885372 [...] I covered BookFresh a year ago, it was known as HourTown, but the company recently came up with a new (and better) moniker, and also announced a partnership with free-website builder [...] [...] I covered BookFresh a year ago, it was known as HourTown, but the company recently came up with a new (and better) moniker, and also announced a partnership with free-website builder [...]

]]> By: Seth Gardenswartz http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2824740 Seth Gardenswartz Fri, 26 Jun 2009 22:27:00 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2824740 This is a tough sell for all but the most simple of scheduled services. Scheduling is not that easy and very specific to different business. The marketplace is littered with examples of attempts and failures. Exhibit A: Microsoft withdrew its Appointment Manager under the old bCentral brand. Massage is a great example. Not every massage can be booked on any open time. A couples massage requires a double room and two therapists. A hair color (as opposed to a cut) requires "gap time" for color to set. Open Table took 10 years and millions of dollars to get traction. They first had to build a proprietary table management system to make sure they got the inventory right. We have been working on our own booking system for spas for quite a while to make sure it really handles the unique challenges of our particular market. I agree with the comment above that picking a distinct market makes better sense. This is a tough sell for all but the most simple of scheduled services. Scheduling is not that easy and very specific to different business. The marketplace is littered with examples of attempts and failures. Exhibit A: Microsoft withdrew its Appointment Manager under the old bCentral brand. Massage is a great example. Not every massage can be booked on any open time. A couples massage requires a double room and two therapists. A hair color (as opposed to a cut) requires “gap time” for color to set. Open Table took 10 years and millions of dollars to get traction. They first had to build a proprietary table management system to make sure they got the inventory right. We have been working on our own booking system for spas for quite a while to make sure it really handles the unique challenges of our particular market. I agree with the comment above that picking a distinct market makes better sense.

]]> By: An Online Scheduling System for Appointments that Everyone Can Use | Innovation Toronto http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2823847 An Online Scheduling System for Appointments that Everyone Can Use | Innovation Toronto Fri, 26 Jun 2009 14:56:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2823847 [...] BookFresh Is OpenTable For Everything Else [...] [...] BookFresh Is OpenTable For Everything Else [...]

]]> By: Dan Ruthers http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2823739 Dan Ruthers Fri, 26 Jun 2009 13:56:45 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2823739 ... and this is big news... how? Hourtown has been around for at least a couple of years, with apparently not much traction. Will just a name change with no new features make a big difference? Like Hourtown, other web services in this space, featured on Techcrunch more than a year ago (Genbook and Libersy for instance, which is still in private beta after... forever) do not seem to have had developments in a long time, and already smell of deadpool or oxygen therapy. There must be something in this market not working as expected (or hoped for). Good luck! … and this is big news… how?
Hourtown has been around for at least a couple of years, with apparently not much traction.
Will just a name change with no new features make a big difference? Like Hourtown, other web services in this space, featured on Techcrunch more than a year ago (Genbook and Libersy for instance, which is still in private beta after… forever) do not seem to have had developments in a long time, and already smell of deadpool or oxygen therapy.
There must be something in this market not working as expected (or hoped for). Good luck!

]]> By: James from FaceySpacey.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2822373 James from FaceySpacey.com Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:36:20 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2822373 it was a bad example, but the point is that for this sort of software must be extremely feature packed to get a large market share, or businesses simply can't use it. it was a bad example, but the point is that for this sort of software must be extremely feature packed to get a large market share, or businesses simply can’t use it.

]]> By: James from FaceySpacey.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2822369 James from FaceySpacey.com Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:34:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2822369 Chances are BookFresh is only good for one person businesses just like HourTown was. It's not good for businesses that maybe have 8 tennis courts, 20 rackets to rent, and 4 trainers that are booked in either increments of 30 minutes or 60 minutes whenever the customer can find an opening, with group lessons being on Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5pm. Hour Town only does the more fixed "lessons" with simple staffing scenarios. This space is wide open, but it might be best off for scheduling services tackling one niche at at time, since needs from niche to niche are so different. Chances are BookFresh is only good for one person businesses just like HourTown was. It’s not good for businesses that maybe have 8 tennis courts, 20 rackets to rent, and 4 trainers that are booked in either increments of 30 minutes or 60 minutes whenever the customer can find an opening, with group lessons being on Tuesday and Thursday from 3-5pm. Hour Town only does the more fixed “lessons” with simple staffing scenarios.

This space is wide open, but it might be best off for scheduling services tackling one niche at at time, since needs from niche to niche are so different.

]]> By: James from FaceySpacey.com http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2822360 James from FaceySpacey.com Thu, 25 Jun 2009 22:31:05 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2822360 It's hard because the business that would actually pay for it function in so many unique ways. The result is that such a system must be extremely complex "inside" but be presented intuitively to the businesses that use it. Try Escapeer.com. Escapeer offers a ton of flexibility for real businesses in all sorts of niches. It’s hard because the business that would actually pay for it function in so many unique ways. The result is that such a system must be extremely complex “inside” but be presented intuitively to the businesses that use it.

Try Escapeer.com. Escapeer offers a ton of flexibility for real businesses in all sorts of niches.

]]> By: Johny Miric http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2822188 Johny Miric Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:52:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2822188 Thx Matt, I will give your service serious try. I might see the biggest problem could be quite limited sync with iCal, gcal... For clients is fine to book treatment here and there over the web but for me who has to use it every day it makes more sense to have proper desktop application with full features from the web. Thx Matt,

I will give your service serious try. I might see the biggest problem could be quite limited sync with iCal, gcal… For clients is fine to book treatment here and there over the web but for me who has to use it every day it makes more sense to have proper desktop application with full features from the web.

]]> By: Jessie http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2822144 Jessie Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:35:33 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2822144 What's the connection between the founder and Opentable? What’s the connection between the founder and Opentable?

]]> By: Bob Hiler http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2822102 Bob Hiler Thu, 25 Jun 2009 20:17:35 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2822102 I set up <a href="http://acuityscheduling.com/" rel="nofollow">AcuityScheduling</a> for a friend's website. It's free for a single user (you pay if you need multiple users). You can just IFRAME their page on your page, so integration is painless. AcuityScheduling seems to have all of BookFresh's features? I set up AcuityScheduling for a friend’s website. It’s free for a single user (you pay if you need multiple users). You can just IFRAME their page on your page, so integration is painless. AcuityScheduling seems to have all of BookFresh’s features?

]]> By: Laura G http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821960 Laura G Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:14:27 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821960 I am sure they have a generic notes field which would suffice for these types of situations. As a side note I have never had to specify my type of hair before booking an appointment but I see your point. I am sure they have a generic notes field which would suffice for these types of situations. As a side note I have never had to specify my type of hair before booking an appointment but I see your point.

]]> By: John S http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821826 John S Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:17:53 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821826 Not necessarily. Not necessarily.

]]> By: John S http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821820 John S Thu, 25 Jun 2009 18:15:12 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821820 It's hard to do because it has to work with your front-office. It’s hard to do because it has to work with your front-office.

]]> By: Tyler Wright http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821642 Tyler Wright Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:07:32 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821642 The logo slays The logo slays

]]> By: There is no Web 2.0 bubble - and real estate technology ain’t what it used to be | 1000Watt Consulting http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821626 There is no Web 2.0 bubble - and real estate technology ain’t what it used to be | 1000Watt Consulting Thu, 25 Jun 2009 17:01:25 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821626 [...] launched today. It’s an appointment-gathering application built primarily for small businesses: Plumbers, [...] [...] launched today. It’s an appointment-gathering application built primarily for small businesses: Plumbers, [...]

]]> By: James http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821567 James Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:42:02 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821567 this won't work for everything. let's say a salon wanted to use this, you'd have to customize for everything including what kind of hair you have... what color your hair is and the length. a human coming in or calling and speaking to another human is faster. this won’t work for everything. let’s say a salon wanted to use this, you’d have to customize for everything including what kind of hair you have… what color your hair is and the length. a human coming in or calling and speaking to another human is faster.

]]> By: CG http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821556 CG Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:38:03 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821556 Looks like a great service ... too bad they limit the number of pages you can view on their site. I always get the following message after a few clicks. "You have exceeded the allowed page load frequency." If I clear my cookies I can view more. Why would anyone implement that? FAIL. Looks like a great service … too bad they limit the number of pages you can view on their site. I always get the following message after a few clicks. “You have exceeded the allowed page load frequency.” If I clear my cookies I can view more. Why would anyone implement that? FAIL.

]]> By: Ethan http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821531 Ethan Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:21:16 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821531 We've been providing lesson/appointment booking services for a few years now. Its good to see its still a fresh market. http://bookalesson.com Best of luck to you guys! We’ve been providing lesson/appointment booking services for a few years now. Its good to see its still a fresh market.

http://bookalesson.com

Best of luck to you guys!

]]> By: Andy http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821526 Andy Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:18:58 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821526 One size fits all is over simplification of the problem One size fits all is over simplification of the problem

]]> By: matt http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821492 matt Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:01:49 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821492 Hi Johny, We do offer localization, but we're not all that popular in Germany (yet). I'll push out German localization for you later today, once the dust settles. Thanks! Matt Hi Johny,

We do offer localization, but we’re not all that popular in Germany (yet). I’ll push out German localization for you later today, once the dust settles.

Thanks!
Matt

]]> By: LMH http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821480 LMH Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:54:38 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821480 I use Schedulicity for my private Yoga lesson appointments. Schedulicity comes with an email marketing platform I use for monthly announcements, promotions and newsletters, and a detailed client database that I keep track of payments and the balance of their appointments. It's pretty rad online software that I manage from my iPhone while standing on my head. http://www.schedulicity.com/info I use Schedulicity for my private Yoga lesson appointments. Schedulicity comes with an email marketing platform I use for monthly announcements, promotions and newsletters, and a detailed client database that I keep track of payments and the balance of their appointments. It’s pretty rad online software that I manage from my iPhone while standing on my head.

http://www.sche...licity.com/info

]]> By: Patton http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821468 Patton Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:49:22 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821468 I'm glad to see more tools for the SMB market. Merchants need all the help they can get! I recently signed up for a location-based shopping service from Spreezio that I think is game changing. As their demo says, they are "Priceline on steroids" and they do restaurant reservations...and maybe more. They are in private beta so Techcrunch probably hasn't heard of them. I’m glad to see more tools for the SMB market. Merchants need all the help they can get! I recently signed up for a location-based shopping service from Spreezio that I think is game changing.

As their demo says, they are “Priceline on steroids” and they do restaurant reservations…and maybe more. They are in private beta so Techcrunch probably hasn’t heard of them.

]]> By: Mark http://www.techcrunch.com/2009/06/24/bookfresh-is-opentable-for-everything-else/comment-page-1/#comment-2821442 Mark Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:30:48 +0000 http://www.techcrunch.com/?p=76591#comment-2821442 When I try to sell people ideas like this, they just say "Well, I have google calendar, and I can embed that on my site." A shopping cart for appointments... it's never been done for some odd reason. Or, it's never been done in a big way. When I try to sell people ideas like this, they just say “Well, I have google calendar, and I can embed that on my site.”

A shopping cart for appointments… it’s never been done for some odd reason. Or, it’s never been done in a big way.

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