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| company_type = ] | company_type = ]
| foundation = ], ]<br />(2004) | foundation = ], ]<br />(2004)
| locations = ], ]<br />(June 2013)<br />], ]<br />(June 2013) | locations = ], ]<br />(June 2013)<br />], ]<br />(June 2013)
| area_served = Worldwide | area_served = Worldwide
| founder = ]<br />] | founder = ]<br />]
| chairman = ]<br />(June 2013) | chairman = ]<br />(June 2013)
| CEO = ]<br />(June 2013) | CEO = ]<br />(June 2013)
| key_people = ] (Founder, 2004)<br />] (Funder, 2006)<br />] (Buyer, 2009) | key_people = ] (Founder, 2004)<br />] (Funder, 2006)<br />] (Buyer, 2009) ] (Former CEO, Board Member, 2014)
| industry = ] | industry = ]
| revenue = Unknown (June 2013) | revenue = Unknown (June 2014)
| operating_income = Unknown (June 2013) | operating_income = Unknown (June 2014)
| net_income = Unknown (June 2013) | net_income = Unknown (June 2014)
| assets = Unknown (June 2013) | assets = The World's Finest Clubs AG (November 2012)
| equity = Unknown (June 2013) | equity = CHF 13'033'902.00
| owner = ]<br />(2009) | owner = ]<br />(2009)
| num_employees = Unknown (June 2013) | num_employees = Unknown (June 2013)

Revision as of 09:19, 9 June 2014

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ASMALLWORLD
Type of businessPrivate
Type of siteSocial network service
Available inEnglish (UK)
English (US)
FoundedLondon, United Kingdom
(2004)
No. of locationsZurich, Switzerland
(June 2013)
New York, United States
(June 2013)
Area servedWorldwide
OwnerPatrick Liotard-Vogt
(2009)
Founder(s)Erik Wachtmeister
Louise Wachtmeister
ChairmanPatrick Liotard-Vogt
(June 2013)
CEODaniel Huber
(June 2013)
Key peopleErik Wachtmeister (Founder, 2004)
Harvey Weinstein (Funder, 2006)
Patrick Liotard-Vogt (Buyer, 2009) Sabine Heller (Former CEO, Board Member, 2014)
IndustryInternet
RevenueUnknown (June 2014)
Operating incomeUnknown (June 2014)
Net incomeUnknown (June 2014)
Total assetsThe World's Finest Clubs AG (November 2012)
Total equityCHF 13'033'902.00
EmployeesUnknown (June 2013)
URLwww.asmallworld.com
RegistrationRequired
(since March 2004)
With costs
(since May 2013)
Invitation-only
(since March 2004)
UsersUnknown, less than 250,000 (April 2014)
LaunchedMarch 2004
Current statusActive

ASMALLWORLD (ASW) is an exclusive, paid-subscription social network, which relaunched in the spring of 2013 as a private international travel and social club, with a peer-recommended and verified user base capped membership at 250,000 members. Described as "Myspace for millionaires" and "The secret social network for the elite", the site was founded in 2004 by Erik Wachtmeister and was one of the first social networks at that time.

To join, one must receive an invitation from an existing member, or an invitation from from the governing board after filing an application to be considered for membership.

Recently, asmallworld has been the subject of controversy for failing to provide the goods and services promised, engaging in gender discrimination and eliminating members without good cause.

Company history

In May 2006, Harvey Weinstein's The Weinstein Company acquired the majority share. In October 2009, Weinstein sold the controlling stake in the company, citing a need to focus his company's resources on its struggling movie operations.

Swiss entrepreneur and investor Patrick Liotard-Vogt purchased the controlling stake in ASMALLWORLD and became it's Chairman holding 80% of the stock. In January 2014, the international press began reporting that there were debts and claims of approximately $5,000,000 against him. He reportedly fled Switzerland ahead of these debts and emigrated to St. Kitts. One of the claims was made by a former CEO of Diners Club (Schweiz) AG where Patrick Liotard-Vogt served on the board and acted as anchor investor. Another claim was made by David Degen a Swiss soccer player. Towards the end of January 2014, David Degen publicly announced that the matter has been privately settled. In March 2014, Liotard-Vogt stepped down from his position with Diners Club (Schweiz). Finally, Liotard-Vogt was said to owe over $1,000,000 to former ASMALLWORLD CEO Joe Robinson.

In February 2013, ASMALLWORLD announced that as of March 1, 2013, it would not be accepting new members, citing an initiative to ensure the integrity of the community. The company mapped a new strategy with a smaller network and more perks for its members. After shutting down, ASW relaunched in May 2013.

Member-vetting process

To join, one must receive an invitation from an existing member, or an invitation from from the governing board after filing an application to be considered for membership.

Features

ASMALLWORLD is part communication platform, part service platform, for "a private international community of culturally influential people, connected by three degrees." The website is tailored to facilitate both online interaction and offline meetups between members.

The site shares some features with other social network services, such as user profiles, an online calendar and private messaging. The site also offers over 100 "city guides" written by its members detailing and rating restaurants, bars and clubs. To facilitate meetups, ASW’s site has a “Geolocator” tool, which allows users to post travel plans as well as browse and comment on the travel plans of other members. Members can also view upcoming ASW-hosted events in different cities.

In 2012, ASW released a mobile application for iOS that allows members to indicate whether they are willing to meet up with fellow members nearby or during upcoming travels.

The site also allows members to buy and sell items, find potential employees and business partners, find investors or ventures to invest in, rent property, and find flatmates. Using the site’s discussion boards, members can exchange advice on travel and business, or simply engage in conversation.

ASMALLWORLD allows users to list multiple cities for their locations of residence.

Offline offerings

ASMALLWORLD hosts about 300 events per year worldwide for members to get together. A membership card designed by Waris Ahluwalia provides access to various privileges and ASW events worldwide; an extensive privileges programme that offers deals and discounts on travel, lifestyle and luxury goods. The Member Privileges Programm includes benefits from luxury spas, to discounted stays in luxury hotels, including some of those in The Leading Hotels of the World group.

Each year over 200 members attend the Winter Weekend in Gstaad, Switzerland, where members can join in wine tastings, fondue parties, and a dinner event.

In 2011, members donated €40,000 to a sex trafficking prevention charity run by Somaly Mam. At the 2012 Winter Weekend in Gstaad, members raised $95,000 for the Alzheimer's Society. Carey Mulligan, an Ambassador for the Society's Alzheimer’s Society, was present.

The company also offers invitations to events hosted by its partners. For example, users might preview new collections from fashion designers. Members also have access to a privileges program. Here they can choose between over 500 partners offering reductions and VIP service among other things for hotels, car services, designer brands, and other lifestyle brands.

The company has stated through its mobile iPhone app that they “will be extending members-only perks and benefits exclusively to ASW members” with selected partners.

Controversies

When ASMALLWORLD relaunched as a pay site in 2013 they promised members a week long free vacation in St. Kitts and free introductory car service from various airports around the world. Construction of the hotel in St. Kitts was delayed and the resort will be open for guests in December 2014.

The 2013 effort to bring down the number of users from around 850,000 to 250,000 involved the expulsion of several members. According to the ASMALLWORLD management these were "a small group of under 900 users, most of whose accounts were dormant and the remainder who had acquired a notable percentage of declined and ignored connections, complaints from other members or reports of unsolicited or inappropriate messaging". The purge included some "fallen celebrities" such as Tiger Woods, allegedly on the grounds of his extramarital affairs, and actress Lindsay Lohan; while other celebrities, such as Joshua Bell, Bibhu Mohapatra, or Chelsea Leyland remained in the network. The management stated that the process was based on an "algorithm" and that it had "decided to terminate the accounts of anyone who undermines the unique spirit of openness that serves as the cornerstone of ASW". As a result, a few thousand former and current members gathered on Facebook in a group called "asw nostalgia", of which one admin was subsequently removed from ASMALLWORLD. ASMALLWORLD defended this action with a personal comment on the member.

Gender Discrimination Law Suit

In April 2014 ASMALLWORLD was sued by a former employee in Federal District Court in Manhattan for discrimination. The plaintiff alleges that he was fired by ASMALLWORLD for requesting paid leave when his spouse had a child.

See also

References

  1. "Asmallworld.com Site Info". Alexa Internet. Retrieved 2014-04-01.
  2. "ASMALLWORLD To Relaunch". CNW. 14 May 2013. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  3. "ASMALLWORLD's fashion week party for Rahul Mishra". Vogue. 1 April 2014. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  4. Selina Denman (20 June 2013). "The lady making A Small World smaller". The National. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  5. "Myspace for millionaires: The secret social network for the elite". Yahoo! News. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  6. Ruiz, Nicola. "Five Social Networking Sites Of The Wealthy". Forbes. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  7. "MySpace for Millionaires". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 8 April 2014.
  8. ^ Denman, Selina (20 June 2013). "The lady making A Small World smaller". The National (Abu Dhabi). Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  9. ^ "Apply for Membership". Asmallworld. Retrieved 1 May 2014.
  10. ^ https://www.asmallworld.com/apply
  11. http://trendspaeherin.blogspot.com/2013/08/asmallworld-from-snobster-to-fraudster.html
  12. ^ http://www.nydailynews.com/new-york/man-seeks-added-paid-family-leave-loses-job-suit-article-1.1767060
  13. ^ http://nypost.com/2014/04/23/man-sues-employer-for-alleged-firing-over-paternity-leave/
  14. ^ "The egos and arguments behind A Small World's purge of members, and the rival group getting its own back". Spear's. 2013-10-31. Retrieved 2014-04-22.
  15. Cieply, Michael (April 12, 2007). "Films From the Weinsteins Falter, but the Brothers Stay Focused". The New York Times.
  16. ^ http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wirtschaft/karriere/LiotardVogt-zeigt-sich-in-Zuerich/story/18476798
  17. ^ "Tiger Woods ist schon weg: "Facebook für Reiche" mistet aus – Wirtschaft – Blick" (in Template:De icon). Blick.ch. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  18. ^ http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/asmallworld-nestl-heir-patrick-liotardvogt-a-jetrosexual-website-and-a-3m-dispute-9084223.html
  19. http://www.nzz.ch/aktuell/panorama/der-a-small-world-macher-setzt-sich-in-die-karibik-ab-1.18226885
  20. http://www.handelszeitung.ch/unternehmen/millionenbetreibungen-gegen-patrick-liotard-vogt-555685
  21. http://www.tagesanzeiger.ch/wirtschaft/unternehmen-und-konjunktur/Mit-der-altehrwuerdigen-Kreditkarte-Diners-Club-in-die-angesagten-Klubs/story/20378421
  22. http://www.nzz.ch/aktuell/panorama/david-degen-zieht-betreibung-gegen-patrick-liotard-vogt-zurueck-1.18227956
  23. ^ http://www.20min.ch/finance/news/story/13611677
  24. "Spielplatz für die globalisierte High Society: "A Small World" wird noch kleiner - Panorama Nachrichten" (in Template:De icon). NZZ.ch. Retrieved 2013-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: unrecognized language (link)
  25. May 10, 2013 (2013-05-10). "A Small World Maps New Strategy - Digital - Media". WWD.com. Retrieved 2013-10-03.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  26. ^ Anne Simpson (2014). The Brand Strategist's Guide to Desire: How to give consumers what they actually want. Palgrave Macmillan.
  27. "Is Social Media the New Travel Guide?: Video". Bloomberg. 2013-04-24. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  28. ""Myspace For Millionaires" ASMALLWORLD Pivots Into A $105-A-Year VIP Travel Club". TechCrunch. 2013-05-13. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  29. https://www.asmallworld.com/about_privileges?type=travel
  30. "Perks of Living in 'ASmallWorld' - CNBC". Video.cnbc.com. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  31. "Carey Mulligan raises $95,000 for Alzheimer's Society at Swiss gala dinner - Alzheimer's Society". Alzheimers.org.uk. 2012-12-18. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  32. "Party animals | Page Six". New York Post. Nypost.com. 2013-05-14. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  33. Gross, Daniel (2013-05-15). "ASMALLWORLD Relaunches as a Travel Club for Premier Globetrotters". The Daily Beast. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  34. "Sabine Heller: The world in her hands". GulfNews.com. 2013-05-11. Retrieved 2013-10-03.
  35. http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000172362&__source=yahoo%7Cheadline%7Cquote%7Cvideo%7C&par=yahoo
  36. http://www.labourspokesman.com/newsitem.asp?more=local&NewsID=8822

External links

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