Gumtree Out, Post-a-Note In

Gumtree Out, Post-a-Note In

Gumtree, one of the UK’s largest websites, has decided to shut down its New Zealand operations as of March. The website allowed users to buy and sell goods for free, which flew directly in the face of Trademe, New Zealand’s largest online marketplace.

In a vague letter, Gumtree informed its users that it will be focusing its efforts in other countries. The closure comes at an interesting time, as New Zealand’s own free buy and sell site, www.Postanote.co.nz, not only gains in popularity, but actually predicted Gumtree’s closure in January.

“I doubt we had anything to do with Gumtree’s closing, but I will say we are pretty excited to bring this business back to New Zealand,” said Nathan Weathington, Post a Note’s General Manager.

Allied Press Limited of Dunedin recently took a controlling stake of the rapidly growing website to further service the communities where they own properties. Like Gumtree, Post a Note allows users to buy, sell, trade, and swap for free, but instead of closing, it has somehow found a formula that has allowed them to rapidly expand across New Zealand.

“Being local, and community focused has really helped. People know we are not just another overseas, faceless website. Post a Note employs people all over New Zealand and spends money in the community; the same as any other local business. We just happen to be a website,” commented Lynnette Diaz, Post a Note’s Canterbury Community Manager.

From the beginning, Gumtree suffered from bad press due to scams and overseas spam on the site, something Post a Note has avoided.

“The first, and most important thing we did, was build a large firewall moat around New Zealand. Post a Note is for Kiwis only. Our community managers also monitor the site, which keeps it clean, and free from the drama of unmoderated sites like Facebook,” responded Haley McKay, Post a Note’s Otago Community Manager.

Has New Zealand found its next website juggernaut? Only time will tell.

ENDS

© Scoop Media