Dear
MouthShut Members:
For over fourteen months, MouthShut.com
has grown and thrived as a community connected
by two common threads. The first thread,
MouthShut’s binding medium, has been
the Worldwide Web with its software, servers,
routers and connectivity over copper, fiber
and microwave. From across the world we
have gathered here and shared our experiences.
The second thread, the human emotions that
have driven our success, has been the passion
of consumers - MouthShut members - who believe
in empowering others by sharing their own
experience.
| Two
threads... |
These
are exciting times we live in when people
from Amravati, Azamgarh, Aden, Arlington,
Ann Arbor and Auckland all stage virtual
meetings to share experiences and opinions
on everything from products and services
to art and attitude. A rapidly shrinking
world, with its global economy, global
brands and global icons needs such “meeting
grounds.” Over these past months,
I have received a tremendous amount
of mail and calls from people in appreciation
of what MouthShut has provided them.
Particularly Indian consumers, as our
landscape is rapidly flooded with products
manufactured all over the world, have
written to thank for providing them
a “map” of the consumer space.
To me, and I am sure to most MouthShut
members, this has been highly gratifying
and very rewarding. I want to thank
and congratulate all members for making
an impact in the world.
I evoke the metaphor of the two
“threads” that make MouthShut.com
what it is in order to discuss some
serious issues that we are facing at
MouthShut. The slowdown in the global
economy over the last year had brought
tremendous pressure on our cash flow
and our ability to generate sustainable
revenue streams. Add
to that situation the impact of the
events of September 11 on capital and
venture markets, and the challenge just
got very compounded. Investors who had
committed have delayed and in some cases
even withdrawn their pledges because
their own resources have been deeply
impacted.
What does this mean for the MouthShut
community? As the CEO, I am tasked with
running this organization as efficiently
and effectively as possible. I am making
some very difficult decisions in order
to navigate through these tough times,
as almost every major technology company
in recent times has. We have responded
by making adjusting our plans so we
can generate revenue and we are already
implementing these in full force. Through
these changes, we
are committed to making MouthShut interface
even easier and more useful for our
members. We are also committed to maintaining
this platform as one of India’s
fastest web sites with lowest downtime
thus far. We have become the benchmark
for web sites hosted in India and the
technical expertise that has brought
that honor will continue to work for
you.
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But
the first “thread,” the servers,
the routers, the software and internet connectivity
- the technology aspect of MouthShut - are
costly in their development, operations
and maintenance.
One of the most difficult decisions has
been concerning cash redemption of MS points.
Our Board of Directors has voted to suspend
these effective January 1, 2002.
I know this news is sure to disappoint many
of you, just as it has been extremely difficult
for all of us here at MouthShut. For the
record, I want to have a few facts on the
table concerning this:
• MouthShut has actually
paid 2 rounds of cash for members who have
redeemed their points.
•
Members who are qualified to redeem their
points till January 1, 2002 will be paid
cash for their points. This includes our
international members. Please check the
Community
Center for details.
•
MouthShut members will continue to accrue
points and over the next six months we hope
to come up with innovative ways to reward
our members for their contribution.
An announcement like this is sure to generate
much discussion and debate. I take the criticism
some may have in the same spirit as I take
the praises we have received thus far -
in the spirit that our members care and
they have a right to their opinions on these
issues. And we at MouthShut respect your
views and opinions. However, we will not
respond to any misdirected allegations that
this was our plan all along. The facts speak
for themselves.
| This
difficult decision... |
...however,
will enable us to divert our resources
towards developing features in this
product that will more readily generate
revenue. Which means, MouthShut.com
will have the resources to pay for the
operations cost and available to all
of you and the growing member base as
it has been for over a year.
I am confident about the commitment
of the second “thread” of
MouthShut.com - your passion that makes
this forum so unique. I am confident
most of you will stay and continue to
share your experiences with others.
Despite absolutely zero marketing initiatives,
several manufacturers have contacted
us in recent months to benefit from
user reviews on their products. In the
next issue I plan to share some of these
stories that I am sure you will find
as encouraging as exciting. People are
taking note of your comments and your
feedback will immediately impact the
products you will see in the marketplace.
This was and continues to be the primary
charter of MouthShut.com. |
I
want to thank all of you for your support
and contribution. India’s beautiful
festival of lights - Diwali - has just drawn
to an end even as Ramadhan Eid, Christmas,
Honukkah and Kwanza are upon us, not to
mention all the excitement a new year brings.
I hope you and your families have a blessed
holiday season.
Sincerely,
--Faisal
CEO
MouthShut.com,
Inc.
…your Opinions matter!
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