Groupon (Nasdaq: GRPN) CEO Andrew Mason is shifting strategies, The Wall Street Journal reports. In an employee meeting that the newspaper listened in on, Mason sounded like anything but his normal goofy self:
- Groupon must focus on "quality and control" and "not taking stupid risks."
- The company will "talk a lot about" complying with accounting rules.
- Groupon doesn't "have any margin for error."
It seems that playtime is over, and it's time to go to work. This, however, is not good for Groupon investors.
But isn't acting like a real business going to strengthen Groupon?
Mason's new focus on compliance instead of crazy ideas will lead Groupon away from the innovation that gives Groupon a chance. As I wrote earlier, the thing Groupon's competitors lack is Mason's Willy Wonka-style of business.
As CEO, his inane antics dictate the company culture and fuel its innovation. Groupon, with its myriad copycats, isn't going to win just by its daily deals, but with its foray into new businesses like mobile and instantly redeemable deals, physical goods, getaways, and "Grouspawn," a scholarship program for kids whose parents used a Groupon on their first date.
That's how Groupon competes?
While huge competitors like Amazon.com (Nasdaq: AMZN), which has a 31% stake in LivingSocial and runs its own deal website, AmazonLocal; Google's (Nasdaq: GOOG) Google Offers; and eBay (Nasdaq: EBAY), which runs its own daily deal website; could outspend Groupon and leverage their massive user bases, they likely couldn't get away with a tongue-in-cheek "Kidz Club" that features Pyles, an "anthropomorphic pile of trash." And that's where Groupon can differentiate itself and what holds the most promise for the future. The Kidz Club joke may not earn Groupon any extra revenue, but the creativity behind it could fuel other profitable ideas.
Groupon also must act quickly, as its first-mover advantage begins to erode. AmazonLocal now lets customers prefer certain deals to others. Google Offers recently partnered with Starbucks (Nasdaq: SBUX) and sold $10 gift cards for $5, with $3 going to the Starbucks-backed, nonprofit Create Jobs for USA.
So Groupon shouldn't worry about correct accounting?
Of course Groupon should honestly report numbers, and make the proper allowances for customer returns. By not doing so, it deceives both investors and itself. But Mason should appoint the proper leadership for the compliance roles and continue to lead with his own expertise of creativity.
If you don't believe in the future of the daily deals industry, and don't believe Groupon can come out successful, check out our free video report on the next big technological disruption. Jeff Bezos is personally invested in this technology, and there are select stocks you should know about in order to profit.
