Oi Labs launches Channel Islands onto global digital stage

Posted: 14/07/2015

Carla Harris, Director at Digital Jersey has championed the launch of a new class booking web app created in the Channel Islands. Boocla is an online ...

Carla Harris, Director at Digital Jersey has championed the launch of a new class booking web app created in the Channel Islands.

Boocla is an online booking website for anyone who runs classes or courses. The app has been designed by Oi Labs, the digital innovation arm of Oi, an award-winning Channel Islands advertising and marketing agency.

Oi Labs launched Boocla on Kickstarter, the world’s largest crowdfunding platform, with over 8.7 million investors (mainly US-based), with a target of raising $25,000 (£18,000). If this target is reached, Boocla will be launched by the end of October this year.

“It is fantastic to see work of an international level being produced by a company based in the Channel Islands. Digital Jersey aims to support the development of the digital industry, both locally and globally; this project has succeeded on both of these levels. It is also extremely positive that Oi Labs has successfully accessed non-traditional funding options by launching Boocla on Kickstarter. This is something which the start-up and tech community in Jersey can learn and benefit from,” said Carla.

If you are an instructor, teacher, trainer or tutor, with Boocla you get a mobile-friendly website, amazing class booking system, free sub-domain, free hosting, and free business cards for under $240 a year (the equivalent of about £155). 

Using the latest Google technology, Boocla allows people to create a website in minutes, then easily add, manage, sell and receive payments for spaces at their classes or courses.

Customers can quickly create a two-step profile enabling them to find and book classes for anything they are interested in. They can login to view schedules, make payments, enable text notifications and email reminders for classes already booked. Boocla also has a global class search function for people going away and wanting to book into classes.

“We are really excited about Boocla in terms of being one of the first Channel Islands companies to take a web app like this global,” said Ben Clarke, Creative and Digital director at Oi.

“We believe Boocla is a great example of digital innovation projects being encouraged across the Channel Islands by the likes of Digital Jersey and Guernsey’s Digital Greenhouse. We chose a crowdfunding launch strategy to attract additional investment, but primarily for the global exposure. We want people to get behind the project locally, to help propel the Channel Islands further onto the international digital stage. We have already engaged a US PR agency, with strong links to the Channel islands, to support the Kickstarter launch campaign,”

With the 30-day funding goal, investors on Kickstarter can contribute from $1 upwards to back Boocla. The average investment amount on Kickstarter is $25, and in return investors receive rewards rather than equity in the business. For example, a $25 investment in Boocla will reward investors with two months Boocla subscription, worth almost $40, plus 50 free business cards and a Boocla training bag.

“We have identified a gap in the market and we believe Boocla is ideal for any small business that runs classes or courses, from yoga and personal training to music and cookery classes,” said Peter Grange, Chief Executive Officer at Oi. ”The research, focus groups, and feedback over the last six months have already been very positive.”

Boocla’s features include:

  • Personalised web page and Boocla domain
  • Multiple themes to choose from
  • Add your own images, or use our image library
  • Single and multiple venue management
  • Email and SMS notifications
  • Unlimited bookings
  • PayPal integration
  • Free hosting
  • Free business cards
  • From $19.99 a month on a subscription basis
Share this
Top