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Gumtree launches in US to ex-pat audience

by Staff, Brand Republic 14-Aug-07, 08:50

NEW YORK - Gumtree.com, the free local classifieds site, is launching in the US to target the 2m British, Polish and Antipodean ex-pats.

Gumtree US will initially be rolled out in Boston, New York City and Chicago, with plans to expand elsewhere in the country, should the site prove popular.

The launch is being supported by local media and search engine optimisation, with a strong emphasis on word of mouth marketing.

Martin Tschopp, general manager of Gumtree International said: "Offering free classifieds to local communities is what we are all about and this is what our existing users and the ex-pat communities across Chicago, NYC and Boston have asked us for.

"As with other countries, our success in the US will depend on attracting great community-generated content."

Gumtree hopes that the site will provide strong competition to the US classified sites Craigslist, which has shaken up the world of classified advertising since its launch; and Kijiji, which is an offshoot of eBay.

Gumtree now covers 70 international cities, and the US launch follows a July roll out in Hong Kong and Singapore.

The site was created in London in March 2000, and currently boasts 3m visitors a month in the UK, with 1m live ads at any one time.