Lifestyle app The Entertainer is preparing to release new products and provide some financial relief to customers amid a challenging global economic outlook.
The two-for-one deals company has transformed from a voucher book, which was discontinued in 2017, to an app with offers available in markets stretching from the GCC to the Far East.
It is currently majority-owned by GFH Financial Group, having been founded by Australian businesswoman Donna Benton.
Russia’s military offensive in Ukraine has added to economic uncertainty around the world, denting global growth and exacerbating inflationary pressures.
Many people are feeling the squeeze on everyday purchases and two-for-one deals are a way of potentially saving on dining and entertainment bills.
“When the economy starts tightening, for a company like ours, we become almost a necessity to use as people worry about their finances and they start looking for deals,” Keith Jaggard, chief of revenue for the business to customer segment at The Entertainer, said in an interview with The National.
“We work as a solution. We are currently seeing people redeem more and anticipate having more than 1 million users globally in 2022.”
Over the past five years, The Entertainer has helped its merchant partners earn more than $1 billion in revenue and offered more than $500 million in savings for its members, the company said.
Mr Jaggard confirmed the company is looking to introduce a global offering whereby members have access to deals in every market The Entertainer is available in. Currently, users are only able to use the app in one market.
A free version of the app is also in the works as it attempts to lower the barrier of entry, with third-party advertising a possibility in the future for such a version.
“This year is definitely a time scale we are looking at for the new products,” said Mr Jaggard.
“It is a revamp of the whole range with global as the signature. The UAE bundle is the highest we have at the moment, with access to both Dubai and Abu Dhabi, so this is a step further as we want our members to have more and we want to give something back to our loyal customers.”
In the UAE, there has been a proliferation of two-for-one deals in recent years but Mr Jaggard is confident that The Entertainer is ahead of the competition.
“We have always had that challenge but I think it is about staying ahead of the game in terms of product and our merchant quality,” he said.
“I don’t think there is too many options in the buy one, get one free offers where you can get something like a brunch, which is popular with our members.
“We are constantly asking our members what they would like to see. By listening to them, we can remain ahead of the game and we are pretty much the only app that covers so many lifestyle options.”
The onset of the coronavirus pandemic proved “a rollercoaster ride” for the business, which is used by a large portion of its customers for dining options.
In a short space of time, it had to flip to a delivery model as people stopped dining out amid the preventive measures introduced to protect the health of residents across the UAE.
“Another of the biggest changes we made during Covid was the membership period,” said Mr Jaggard.
“We went to a 12-month membership, so if you bought it in May, it ran through to the following May rather than being strictly January to December. When the pandemic hit, we were still on the old model and most of our members had already bought The Entertainer, so we had to shift and offer delivery instead.”
The Entertainer has offices in the UAE, where it has more than 100 staff, and in Oman, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, the UK, Singapore and South Africa.
However, it is not looking for new markets in the Middle East at present, instead preferring to focus on its GCC markets and “take them to the next level”, Mr Jaggard said.
Other new developments in the pipeline include the addition of a social element to the app with news stories and details of product launches. The company is also exploring options in the cryptocurrency sector.
“We are not at that stage yet [cryptocurrency], but I don't think we can ignore it,” said Mr Jaggard.
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Kumulus Water
Started: 2021
Founders: Iheb Triki and Mohamed Ali Abid
Based: Tunisia
Sector: Water technology
Number of staff: 22
Investment raised: $4 million
The specs
Engine: 2-litre or 3-litre 4Motion all-wheel-drive Power: 250Nm (2-litre); 340 (3-litre) Torque: 450Nm Transmission: 8-speed automatic Starting price: From Dh212,000 On sale: Now
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
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Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
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Starring: Ajay Devgn, Tabu, Shantanu Maheshwari, Jimmy Shergill, Saiee Manjrekar
Director: Neeraj Pandey
Rating: 2.5/5
ENGLAND SQUAD
Goalkeepers: Jack Butland, Jordan Pickford, Nick Pope
Defenders: John Stones, Harry Maguire, Phil Jones, Kyle Walker, Kieran Trippier, Gary Cahill, Ashley Young, Danny Rose, Trent Alexander-Arnold
Midfielders: Eric Dier, Jordan Henderson, Dele Alli, Jesse Lingard, Raheem Sterling, Ruben Loftus-Cheek, Fabian Delph
Forwards: Harry Kane, Jamie Vardy, Marcus Rashford, Danny Welbeck
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The lowdown
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Director: Bryan Singer
Starring: Rami Malek, Lucy Boynton, Gwilym Lee
Rating: 3/5
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Tamkeen's offering
- Option 1: 70% in year 1, 50% in year 2, 30% in year 3
- Option 2: 50% across three years
- Option 3: 30% across five years
Coffee: black death or elixir of life?
It is among the greatest health debates of our time; splashed across newspapers with contradicting headlines - is coffee good for you or not?
Depending on what you read, it is either a cancer-causing, sleep-depriving, stomach ulcer-inducing black death or the secret to long life, cutting the chance of stroke, diabetes and cancer.
The latest research - a study of 8,412 people across the UK who each underwent an MRI heart scan - is intended to put to bed (caffeine allowing) conflicting reports of the pros and cons of consumption.
The study, funded by the British Heart Foundation, contradicted previous findings that it stiffens arteries, putting pressure on the heart and increasing the likelihood of a heart attack or stroke, leading to warnings to cut down.
Numerous studies have recognised the benefits of coffee in cutting oral and esophageal cancer, the risk of a stroke and cirrhosis of the liver.
The benefits are often linked to biologically active compounds including caffeine, flavonoids, lignans, and other polyphenols, which benefit the body. These and othetr coffee compounds regulate genes involved in DNA repair, have anti-inflammatory properties and are associated with lower risk of insulin resistance, which is linked to type-2 diabetes.
But as doctors warn, too much of anything is inadvisable. The British Heart Foundation found the heaviest coffee drinkers in the study were most likely to be men who smoked and drank alcohol regularly.
Excessive amounts of coffee also unsettle the stomach causing or contributing to stomach ulcers. It also stains the teeth over time, hampers absorption of minerals and vitamins like zinc and iron.
It also raises blood pressure, which is largely problematic for people with existing conditions.
So the heaviest drinkers of the black stuff - some in the study had up to 25 cups per day - may want to rein it in.
Rory Reynolds
Specs
Engine: Dual-motor all-wheel-drive electric
Range: Up to 610km
Power: 905hp
Torque: 985Nm
Price: From Dh439,000
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Our legal advisor
Ahmad El Sayed is Senior Associate at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in the UK, Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Commercial litigator who has assisted clients with overseas judgments before UAE courts. His specialties are cases related to banking, real estate, shareholder disputes, company liquidations and criminal matters as well as employment related litigation.
Education: Sagesse University, Beirut, Lebanon, in 2005.
THE SPECS
Engine: 1.5-litre
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Power: 110 horsepower
Torque: 147Nm
Price: From Dh59,700
On sale: now
Company profile
Name: Oulo.com
Founder: Kamal Nazha
Based: Dubai
Founded: 2020
Number of employees: 5
Sector: Technology
Funding: $450,000
More from Rashmee Roshan Lall
Dr Afridi's warning signs of digital addiction
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
Points to remember
- Debate the issue, don't attack the person
- Build the relationship and dialogue by seeking to find common ground
- Express passion for the issue but be aware of when you're losing control or when there's anger. If there is, pause and take some time out.
- Listen actively without interrupting
- Avoid assumptions, seek understanding, ask questions
