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Web18 Launches E-Commerce Portal Storeguru; What About Homeshop18?

By Nikhil Pahwa - Thu 24 Jan 2008 02:51 AM PST

Network18 now has two competing e-commerce businesses in the online retail space. Web18, the Internet and Mobile company of the Network18 group, has launched Storeguru.com, while the group already has an established home shopping company - Homeshop18. HomeShop18 is a much bigger play - there are shows on TV, and we’ve heard that a shopping channel on TV is a part of the plan. It’s also among the biggest spenders on TV among online portals. Storeguru is online-only for now, with a similar portfolio of products as HomeShop18.

But what’s the point of two e-commerce sites from the same group, and why does Web18 need a separate e-commerce portal? Some people disagree with me, but I think it’s valuation play for Web18 to prepare a portfolio of sites pre-IPO. Web18 had raised $10 million in funding from Tracer Capital in October 2006, and their portfolio currently comprises of EasyMF.com, cricketnext.com, compareindia.com, homeshop18.com, josh18.com, buzz18.com, ibnlive.com, indiwo.com, tech2.com, biztech2.com, indiaearnings.com, jobstreet.com, bookmyshow.com and storeguru.com, as well as Big Tree Entertainment and the excellent Urban Eye Studios. Homeshop18 is a joint venture between Network18 and SAIF Partners.

I own an inconsequential number of shares of Network18 Fincap

Posted in: Companies, Network18, Web18, E-commerce, Retail



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8 Responses:
  • From puchoo Thu 24 Jan 2008 05:27 AM

    i might be off on this , but homeshop18 is or was supposed to primarily be an offline setup with an extension on to the Internet, while this may be a dedicated online project.....but yes..looking down the line it does tend to get slightly blurry....they could have used the existing platform for this…

  • From Vijay Thu 24 Jan 2008 09:06 AM

    It’s simple.
    Homeshop18 is owned by Network18 (mother ship of tv18 and GBN)

    storeguru is owned by web18 (85 % owned by tv18)

  • From rajesh Fri 25 Jan 2008 03:45 AM

    hi,

    storeguru has more products as compared to homshop18 or rediff , but it looks replica of rediff

  • From bubloo Fri 25 Jan 2008 04:10 AM

    One of the best offers on branded produts...with brand warranty.Looks very promising indeed!!!!

  • From sanjay Fri 25 Jan 2008 09:15 AM

    mr. pahwa, storeguru is not the second ecommerce portal for web18.....for enlighting you, homeshop18 is a seperate business entity run as a seperate business offcourse part of the network18 group....sg is part of the web18 conglamerate.....and offcourse there difference in the overall offerings....agree with bubloo, SG looks more promising due to the brand warranties mentioned against each of the products....there sure has to be some substance here since non of the ecommerce sites here talk so boldly about brand warranties

  • From Avashya Mon 28 Jan 2008 12:39 AM

    I think this is a good move by Web18.  I wrote an extensive piece on http://www.avashya.com on the future of Web18.  I would appreciate your thoughts and comments on it.

  • From online shopping India Tue 22 Jul 2008 11:56 PM

    homeshop18.com is a nice site. But if you are looking for price comparison shopping site you should go through naaptol.com

  • From Home Shopping Network Tue 29 Jul 2008 04:40 AM

    But you need a good shopping advices, and there are here, at successhopping.com

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