IMVU
It's one of the most intersting business ideas I've seen all year.
You can think of it as a 3D instant messaging program. Or you can think of it as an online retail clothing store with 100% gross margins. How can both be true? Go try it to find out. Or keep reading.
Essentially you start with a 3D avator who can kick, kiss, hug or do all sorts of motions to the person you are chatting with. Everything on this avatar is customizable, skin color, shirts, pants, hair, shoes...
...the catch is you have to buy the clothes.
Teenagers spending real money for imaginary clothes for their imaginary view in cyberspace.
Before you go chatting with a guy, what better thing to do than go shopping for clothes. $0.5 for a top $0.4 for shoes.
Better yet, you can design shirts and sell it to others in the system. What a great idea, customers bringing in content and value to the company.
Baris, do you think IMVU folks would want to localize immediately? Or are they happy with English/US at this point? When do you think is the optimal time for overseas expansion and localization for this type of companies?
Posted by: Oltac Unsal | December 04, 2005 at 02:26 PM