Weekly news roundup
1. New Swedish subscription service for light EV:s – Dagens industri
The people behind vehicle startups such as Vässla and Niu are launching a new service for subscriptions to lighter electric vehicles. Starting at the end of the month, Movs will be the first in Europe with long-term rental of both electric bicycles and mopeds.
“Our secret sauce for choosing this type of vehicle was to lower the entry barrier of purchasing. It was also important to avoid all the fuss around having a vehicle, like service and repairs.”
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2. The first subscription service for watches and jewellry is about to hit the Swedish market – Ehandel.se
The Swedish brand Stjärnurmakarna has announced that customers will be given the opportunity to subscribe to watches and jewelry. The company claims to be the first in its industry with a subscription like this on the Swedish market.
“The watches that are replaced are then sold in Stjärnurmakarna’s channels as pre-owned and thus contribute to a circular business model and a new product category, Stjärnurmakarna explains.”
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3. Subscribing to Audi’s optional service not always the best choice – Vi Bilägare
Vi Bilägare, a Swedish auto site, has reviewed the cost-benefits of subscribing to Audi’s additional options. Their conclusion is that doing so is not always profitable for the customer.
“Audi buyers can choose to test a function for one month for SEK 10. After that, the options cost different amounts. Navigation systems, for example, cost from SEK 620 per month or SEK 6,200 per year, while Apple CarPlay and Android Auto cost SEK 90 / month or SEK 880 / year.”
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4. This subscription box delivers a mystery gadget to your door each month – Independent
From pocket-sized speakers to portable blenders, subscribers to Gadget Discovery Club are never sure what they will receive next. But is it a good idea to surrender your gadget-buying decisions to the whims of a subscription box company?
“To mitigate this risk and allow for a dread-free unboxing experience, Gadget Discovery Club offers a money-back guarantee on each box delivered in the UK. So if you don’t like what’s inside, you can send it straight back for a refund.”
5. Evidence is piling up that Netflix wants to be the “Netflix of games” – The Verge
Many companies are trying to build a service that’s “Netflix, but for games.” Apple Arcade and Xbox Game Pass are just two that come to mind. But new media reports and Netflix’s curious non-denial suggest Netflix might like to eat its own lunch this time around.
“An Axios source said to think of the upcoming service, which would be offered to Netflix subscribers, as “a smaller Apple Arcade” bundle that would include both licensed Netflix IP and games commissioned from indie studios. The service could be a ways out, though, “possibly launching in 2022.”
Weekly analysis roundup
1. Venture capital will flow towards D2C subscription models for EV:s – Sunday CET
D2C subscription models, (such as Movs, from Newsarticle #1), will likely be one of the hottest startup segments in Europe by the end of 2021, writes Sunday CET, a newsletter specialized in venture capital and tech investments.
“The market fundamentals are just there, consumer attention shifts to light, electric means of transportation (market is growing double digit growths), and a D2C subscription model is simply more suitable for a lifestyle where the car is not an asset but an utility expense.”
2. A subscription service for university textbooks wants to revolutionize the publishing industry – Management Today
Perlego, a British company dubbed “Spotify for textbooks”, offers students a monthly subscription to read academic texts online. Now with more than 500,000 titles, it has attracted lucrative attention from angel investors.
“Our main argument to publishers is we shorten the supply chain, cutting out all the inefficiencies such as print, distribution, wholesale, retail costs. On a £100 textbook, the publisher only receives about £32. Now you no longer have piracy or a second-hand book market, so it’s a more profitable model.”
3. Tire manufacturer Bridgestone turns tech investments into recurring revenue –
Subscribed.com
Bridgestone, the world’s largest tire and rubber manufacturer, provides a use case for how manufacturers can successfully make the transition from a high capital-intensive product business to a service business driven by digital capabilities.
“Bridgestone currently has a number of different subscriptions on offer, for consumers and enterprise, using a mix of digital capabilities. And what’s the link between all these subscription offerings? For all of them, Bridgestone started with the service, not the product.”
