1.
From Airbnb to Zara:
The A-Z of Market Disruptors
Disruptive Innovation
is Attractive, But Can
Seem a Little Scary to
Small Companies. This
A-Z of Market Disruptors
Demonstrates Why
You May Be the One to
Shake Things Up.
vistage.co.uk

2.
Here are ten successful market
disruptors, and how they
achieved success by adopting
new business models:
vistage.co.uk

3.
Airbnb disrupted the travel industry.
It created a new cloud-based market in private home rentals.
Aimed initially at travellers on low incomes.
Now operating in 200 countries.
Worth $10 billion.
Source: thestrategygroup.com.au
vistage.co.uk

4.
The Apple iPhone disrupted the laptop market.
It created a new business model.
App developers hooked up with customers.
The iPhone solved customers’mobile
computing needs.
Source: hbr.org
vistage.co.uk

5.
50cycles.com started in 2003.
Two brothers imported electric bikes from Japan. They’re now
developing a new model involving:
Retail, eCommerce and a franchise model for accelerated growth.
50cycles is producing the first
UK-manufactured electric bike.
vistage.co.uk

6.
Cahootsy is‘reverse Groupon’.
It’s disrupting social and commerce platforms.
Consumers request deals.
Retailers provide those deals in return for
word-of-mouth marketing.
M&S and The Body Shop recently signed up.
vistage.co.uk

7.
Chipotle disrupted fast food.
Healthy fast food became a new market.
There are now 1,400 outlets in America.
It launched‘fast casual’-
upmarket but
convenient eating.
Source: fastcompany.com
vistage.co.uk

8.
Golfscape has transformed teeing
off around the world.
It cuts out travel agents
and tour operators.
A new marketplace
allows direct booking.
You can book real-time
in 47 countries.
vistage.co.uk

9.
JobsTheWord disrupts recruitment.
Its new business model uses big data.
Candidates are matched with businesses.
Partners include Samsung and American Express.
vistage.co.uk

10.
Netflix launched in 1997.
Blockbuster didn’t see it as much of a rival.
Netflix switched from mailing films to
low-cost streaming.
It attracted a far larger market share.
Blockbuster collapsed.
Source: hbr.org
vistage.co.uk

11.
Snapchat disrupted social media and advertising.
Photo and video content disappears after ten seconds.
Wall Street Journal, CNN and Cosmopolitan are all on board.
Snapchat is currently worth $20 billion.
It has 100 million users.
vistage.co.uk

12.
Zara disrupted the fashion industry.
A new supply chain model means:
Customer demand is met quickly.
Cut-price designer copies are produced at high turnover.
Being market responsive keeps Zara ahead.
Source: Supply Chain Management
vistage.co.uk

13.
Takeaways:
Small is definitely
advantageous
when considering
disruptive
innovation.
Larger firms are
too busy keeping
customers
to become
disruptors.
Disruptive
innovation often
involves small-
scale experiments
that grow.
Go in cheap
with a low-end
foothold.
Be inventive with
a new-market
disruption.
vistage.co.uk

14.
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