Who Are Technology’s ‘Fast 50’?

OZ E-tailer hailed top company in Deloitte’s ‘Technology Fast 50’ 2012

Hailed as one of the fastest growing fashion websites in the country, brandsExclusive is awarded 2012 Deloitte Technology Fast 50, with revenue rising an astonishing 1,335%,

Set up by Daniel Jarosch, the etailer is Australia’s first by-invitation shopping club, and now the leader in the private shopping club space, with a member base of over two million, and growing by 90,000 members per month.

It partners directly with brands to offer sales events to its members and also got top prize in Deloitte’s Leadership Awards.

brandsExclusive’s long-term strategic sourcing relationships and understanding of the power of social media, won it the top prize, says Joshua Tanchel, leader of Deloitte’s Technology Fast 50.

“In a challenging year for retailers, they have also shown that using powerful digital technologies, embracing mobility and having a strong consumer focus can bring success.”

Particularly impressive across all of this year’s winners “is the way they have capitalised on opportunities in an environment of rapid change and disruption,” he added.

Also in the top 5 of Deloitte Technology Fast 50 list were Australian Renewable Fuels, Solveit Software and online electronics retailer Kogan, which was shown to have grown 515% by revenue.

Kogan engagement via social networking, blogs as well as its LivePrice tool were all hailed by Deloitte, rising from No. 23 in 2011 Fast 50 rankings.

Digital marketing agency Cohort Digital, SMS Central and e-tailer Red Bubble which sells everything from iPhone cases to kids clothes all made it into the top 10.

The sectors driving the growth in this year’s Fast 50 were online, software and the infrastructure needed to support these.

21 out of Deloitte Technology 50 were involved in the Internet and the majority were based in NSW.

Fifteen software companies and 11 of the top 50 were involved in the communications/networking industry and Perth based broadband provider iiNet was named as No. 50 on the list.

The Deloitte Technology Fast 50 Program, now in its twelfth year, ranks 50 of Australia’s fastest growing public and private technology companies, based on percentage revenue growth over three years (2010-12).

Fashion sites were a big winner elsewhere, with Styletread an Australian online shoe store, named as Deloitte’s 2012 Rising Star.