Beta launched in March 2024, Gonami.com is not just another entry in the world of ecommerce, it’s a revolutionary platform designed to transform the online yachting industry. With a robust marketplace and an integrated SaaS yacht management solution, Gonami aims to streamline yacht charters across The Mediterranean, Europe and beyond. Working on Gonami has been an incredible journey, encompassing everything from brand strategy to ongoing operational execution. Here’s a detailed account of the key areas I focused on and continue to focus on during this project.

Crafting the Brand Strategy
Creating the brand strategy for Gonami was about defining its essence, what it stands for, who it serves, and how it differentiates itself in a competitive market. The yachting industry is steeped in tradition, yet it’s ripe for innovation. Gonami was positioned as a forward-thinking brand, blending luxury with technology to offer an unparalleled user experience. The brand’s tone was set to be both authoritative and approachable, ensuring it resonates with seasoned yacht owners and newcomers alike. Everyone asks what Gonami means, it means to Go on the Waves – nami, mains wave in Japanese. Let’s Gonami!

Product Strategy and Design
The product strategy for Gonami was built around two core pillars: user-centric design and scalable technology. We aimed to create a platform that was intuitive, offering users a seamless experience whether they were listing a yacht or booking one. The design was heavily focused on ease of use, with clean interfaces and straightforward navigation, ensuring that even those new to the platform could quickly find their way around, finding the right boat for their yachting holiday including their skipper!

Design and Development Execution
Bringing the product strategy to life required a meticulous approach to design and development. Every detail, from the design strategy, brand guidelines to the backend architecture, was carefully considered. The development process was agile, allowing us to iteratively test and refine features to meet the high standards expected in the luxury yachting market. This phase involved close collaboration between designers, developers, and founders to ensure that the final product not only looked great but performed flawlessly.

Operational Execution for Yacht Stock Setup
Setting up the yachting stock was a crucial operational challenge. This involved liaising with yacht owners and brokers across multiple European countries to build a comprehensive inventory for launch with more yachts being added to the database on a weekly basis. We developed streamlined processes for onboarding yachts, ensuring that each listing met the high-quality standards Gonami stands for. This setup phase also included implementing systems for managing yacht availability, pricing, and booking logistics.

Content Management and B2B Platform Execution
The B2B aspect of Gonami is a standout feature, providing yacht owners and brokers with a powerful platform to manage their fleets. We focused on functionality that would empower users to manage listings, track performance, and engage with potential clients effectively. Content management was also a key focus, ensuring that all listings were accompanied by high-quality visuals and detailed descriptions to enhance their appeal and Search Engine Optimisation.

Financial Planning and Go-to-Market Strategy
No business can succeed without solid financial planning and a well-thought-out go-to-market strategy. For Gonami, this meant not only securing the necessary funding to support the platform’s growth but also identifying the most effective channels for market entry. We conducted in-depth market research to understand the competitive landscape and used these insights to craft a go-to-market strategy that included targeted online advertising, partnerships with industry influencers, and a phased rollout across key Mediterranean markets such as Greece and Croatia where most of the current yachting stock is.

Ongoing Marketing Execution
The marketing strategy for Gonami is a blend of social media engagement, Google search campaigns, and a strong focus on content creation for SEO. By consistently producing high-quality content that resonates with our target audience, we’ve been able to improve our search rankings and drive organic traffic to the platform. Social media channels are leveraged to build a community around the brand, sharing everything from stunning yacht imagery to customer success stories.

Operational Management of B2C and B2B Business
Managing the day-to-day operations of both the B2C and B2B sides of Gonami is an ongoing challenge that requires a hands-on approach. From customer support to technical maintenance, every aspect of the business is closely monitored to ensure that it runs smoothly. This involves regular communication with stakeholders, including yacht owners, brokers, and customers, to ensure their needs are met and that any issues are swiftly resolved.

Continuous Product and Platform Improvement
The journey doesn’t end with the launch. Continuous improvement is a core principle at Gonami. We regularly gather feedback from users and stakeholders to identify areas for enhancement. Whether it’s introducing new features, improving the user interface, or refining backend processes, the goal is to keep the platform evolving to meet the changing needs of the market.