Monday, October 13, 2008

Golden Village



Introduction

Golden Village (GV) is the result of a joint venture company between Australia’s Village Roadshow Limited and Raymond Chow’s Golden Harvest Group of Hong Kong. GV was established more than a decade ago with an aim to develop modern and prestigious multiplex cinemas. Indeed it gained it’s reputation over the years of offering a variety of choices and convenience to cater to vastly differing needs of consumers with hectic lifestyles. Apart from having brick and mortar model, GV created a virtual storefront (gv.com) to reach a wider consumer base. Anyone can patronize and learn more about the company by simply browsing through it’s user-friendly and informative website. This virtual presence via the GV website helps the company utilize it’s fullest potential and maximize their regconition as well as their earnings.


Business Model

Golden Village incorporates the B2C virtual storefront ecommerce business-model website to complement its brick-and-mortar operations. This B2C approach is greatly evident by the online ticketing system, allowing patrons to book movie tickets over the internet. GV takes a step further to maximize their earnings by offering their luxurious cinemas for corporate events. Some examples to quote are Cinemeetings, Seminars and private movie screenings. GV also offers a variety of Cinema types and seating capacity to suit the different needs of corporate event.

Payment Scheme

E-payment over GV website makes transactions quick and hassle-free. Patrons do not have to be present when they make payments, which saves precious time and unnecessary effort. It also helps save transaction costs on the whole. GV adopts a secured paying system by employing Verified By Visa (VBV) to fend off and prevent fraud payments. GV is also awarded the Trustsg Trust seal. TrustSg is a nation-wide trust mark initiative by the National Trust Council to boost the electronic commerce (EC) environment in Singapore. This would boost confidence and create greater acceptance of internet transactions. Payments can be made possible thru Visa, Credit Cards , eNets, Movie Vouchers or prepaid movie cards. Patrons can also request for an SMS confirmation upon payment for verification purposes by paying a nominal fee of $0.20. GV Movie Club Members however is waived of the SMS fee.

Key characteristics

With technology so advanced and internet so vastly used, an online ticketing system in any e-commerce website is almost a must to stay competitive. This feature tailors perfectly to working adults with hectic lifestyle and a busy schedule, who at the end of the day be would too exhausted to queue at cinemas to watch a decent movie. Now, they can simply book their tickets online on their very convenience and to add, viewing the seats available is made possible and they can choose their best preferred seats! With the support of the central computerized system, patrons can book tickets via AXS machines located island-wide. The system is programmed to select the best available seats at the point in time.

The GV website lists all the latest international movies all over the globe, giving browsers useful reviews to aid in their choice of their preferred movie. Not only does GV offer movies from the mainstream, art productions and festival favourites are also included.

Another characteristic GV offers is allowing patrons to select an unmatched range of movies from any screening times throughout the day. This would entice them to watch several movies in a roll.

The GV website denotes user-friendly by presenting crucial icons like online ticket booking, movie premiers and those ‘coming soon’, Frequently Asked Questions, etc all on the home page. For example , it places its Ticket Hotline on the top of it’s homepage, should one rather book tickets through phone than over the internet. It also informs the fee for the phone call,as well as the booking fee. These icons are distinctive and fear not it does not look cluttered or overwhelming. Thus ,This informative website provides ease in surfing even for first-time users.


Alluring Promotions like movie deals,lucky draws and online draws for new ,existing and even non Golden Village members breeds customer loyalty and satisfaction for GV. The free registration to be a member is an added plus point that spells how much GV appreciates and value their customers. Examples are perks patrons enjoy when they charge their purchases to HSBC credit cards ,discounted movie rates enjoyed by students and senior citizens, Safra movie deals etc..

Web Design

GV.com.sg uses striking and contrasting colours like gold, blue and white upon it’s black background.The font is in white and spells striking yet not blinding thus patrons would have the ease of reading it. Patrons can navigate the website without difficulty with the numerous sub-headers in the homepage itself. Some examples are the ‘movies’ icon for movie reviews and show-times as well as the ‘buy tickets’ icon for purchase of tickets online etc. Each of the sub- headers provides useful information patrons would wish to know, as well as good to know facts. They have a FAQ section which would be sufficient to answer what most patrons would have in mind. The overall layout evokes class and prestige, almost deemed an attractive and informative website for all ages and social classes.

Strengths

-Browsers learn more about GV through it’s informative website

-Though many tabs are found on the homepage, it is nicely organized and does not appear cluttered.

-It functions in a way such that one can easily trace back previous pages, or go back to the homepage with just a simple click on the ‘HOME’ icon.

-GV offers gift cards and movie vouchers that provides as an excellence and practical gift for many occasions and celebrations. Patrons who purchase their tickets online enjoy perks like CandyBar Food and Beverages at a discounted price. This leaves customers coming back for more and also encourage E-payments.

-Good ticketing interface by giving a clear summation of total costs of ticket purchase.

-Loading is quick and swift due to lack of flash adverts

-GV offers free membership online whose registration process can be done in no time. Membership offers perks like discounts to movie tickets as well as food and beverages purchased over the candy bar outside cinemas. This offering definitely helped scored loyalty points for their business.

-Awarded the Trustsg seal for safe transactions online boost patrons confidence to make purchases online.

Weaknesses

-GV does not allow e-payment made via MasterCard.

-Though the website is dawned with striking colors, it fades in comparison to competitors due to the lack of enticing flash advertisements.

-Making enquiries over the phone is not toll free.

Critical Analysis

The Golden Village website does not only offer ticketing but also other complementary services like gift cards and movie vouchers to be purchased by prospective patrons. These gift cards can be offered as a good solution for gift exchange purposes, for example. Movie fanatics especially would be delighted to receive this gift cards or movie vouchers. By offering their products and services through movie vouchers, consumers would be even more enticed to watch a movie or two in their comfortable cinemas.

GV has done a good job in offering the online ticketing system, which definitely solve problems of queuing at ticketing booths with the probability of tickets being sold out or being arranged seats they may not prefer to have( Patrons are allowed to choose their own seating arrangements should they book online in advance). Booking the tickets online also saves time and offers great convenience. However, GV might wish to improve this service offering by allowing customers to book and print their own tickets directly over the internet. This would ease the queue lengths at ticketing booths, where customers await to collect tickets with their respective booking slips. GV thus would also be able to gain a competitive edge amongst it’s competitors.

All in all, Golden Village has done an impressive job in the setting of it’s webpage.
The ease of browsing the detailed yet not overly cluttered website would constantly bring in increasingly good recognition, reputation and business for the company.