Canvas can be used to convert any website into iOS & Android apps. One use case it works really well for is deals sites.

If you run a deals site, then you know that building user habit around your platform is crucially important. Apps are great for this, and paired with the power of push notifications to alert users to new deals can be a great way to take your brand to the next level.

Metziahs is a very successful deals site. They built apps for iOS & Android with MobiLoud Canvas a few years ago and have grown impressively since. We chatted with Dovi, the founder, about his experience with us. So firstly, what’s the story of Metziahs?

“We’re a pretty much affiliate site. Our team goes through millions of items on the web and curates the ones that will resonate best with our community. 

They initially focused on deals for women, but quickly expanded to specific offers for men, children, home goods, maternity, and a separate wing for Ali Express. Metziahs has been very successful, growing roughly 20% YOY and reaching tens of thousands of people per month. For a lot of their fans and app users, they are the ‘first stop’ when researching items or shopping around online.

“For many people we’re their first stop. Instead of going to Macy’s or Bloomingdale, they first come to us and check out what we have. Then, if they’re unhappy or unsuccessful, they’ll try on their own. Generally, people come to us though, it’s like a one-stop shop”

It takes a lot of effort to curate all the deals on a daily basis. The team at Metziahs do it all manually too.

Dovi explained that algorithms and automated systems often come up short when it comes to people’s fashion, style and individual taste. Algorithms also miss some deals where there’s a discount at checkout or a promo code, so for now the Metziahs team do all the hard work themselves!  

There were two main reasons why Dovi decided that building apps was the right move for Metziahs. Firstly it was about branding.

“We’re pretty hip site. We’re cool, we’re trendy and everyone follows us. The first thing was just to go with the flow and lead the way with an app. Everyone thought apps cost tens of thousands of dollars, and just having an App Store presence can turn you into a monster”

The second reason was push notifications. They are without a doubt the most direct and effective communication channel to your audience, and Dovi recognised that.

“It’s a huge benefit to instantly have a good deal and be able to shoot it out to thousands of people”

Dovi ran the options past his developers. They looked at the two main options, building the apps from scratch or using a no-code platform like MobiLoud.

“Once we picked up on your platform, it was pretty clear that it was the best option to get up and running as quickly as possible, and as affordably as possible. So in the end it was a combination of speed, price, and the ease of the process. I think the developers told us to go with MobiLoud too.” 

Canvas does all the heavy lifting taking your site and converting it into native apps. Then it’s just up to you to choose some elements of the styling and configure the apps. The whole process doesn’t take more than a few weeks max, and we handle submission to the App Stores and publishing.

In the case of Metziahs, all the functionality and content from their site was instantly synced with the apps – so there was nothing to rebuild and nothing new to manage. 

“Getting off the ground was great. It was pretty quick. The support team was great. We dealt with Vitor a lot, and he was fantastic. We had a few issues and glitches and stuff. We were probably some of the first people to have Canvas apps. There were some ups and downs, but overall we were really happy that it was so easy to get off the ground and to have an app”

Some challenges often pop up when building iOS and Android apps and getting them published on the App Stores. You don’t need to worry though, our team supports you fully.

We can build and customize the apps for you, or you can do it yourself. On all plans we dedicate several hours to testing the apps and preparing them for publishing on the App Stores – and we also handle all updates and maintenance going forward!

As Dovi mentioned, their main goal was to build a solid App Store presence for branding and impressing customers.

This can’t be underestimated. Often Google Play and the App Store are the second places people will search for your company after Google, and when they see professional, highly rated apps pop up that’s a real mark of quality.

“Just having an app presence, with working apps is great. That’s for sure. Push notifications are obviously important, but just having the presence on the App Stores is great”

Dovi recognised this, and how the apps helped their branding. 

“Just to appear to be there on the App Stores. When you have 4.8 stars on the app store, that’s just makes you much more legitimate than a random site”

Dovi and the Metziahs team have lots of plans to grow in the future. They are only a couple of years old but have been growing fast, and are now looking to grow their base and capture a larger audience. They are also considering moving into the interior design space and adding a service element to the site. 

They are also expanding with sister sites that sell their own products directly, and also developing a jewellery line. Apps and push notifications will help along this road, and Dovi recommends building an App Store presence to others in the eCommerce and affiliate space.

“I’m a fan of apps for two reasons. Firstly the App Store presence, secondly the notifications are big. When people are on their phone and they get an alert from New York Times – it’s the notification that gets the click. So it’s definitely huge. So I’m a big proponent of apps. You know, everyone has a mobile site. It’s just a matter of standing out and having that 4.5 star reviews on our app. To say to people –  check out our app as well!”

Our apps are helping Dovi and the team to stand out in a really competitive space, and keep their brand strong in the future. We wish Dovi and Metziahs success in their future path, and look forward to supporting them further through their Canvas apps.

Canvas can do the same for your company, whether you’re an affiliate site, eCommerce store or publisher. Check out Canvas in more detail, or get in touch with one of our app experts today and let’s start planning your App Store launch!