1
Threat of substitute products
There are many available platforms where students can search for (short-term) accommodation in Ghent.
Here’s a non-limiting list of our biggest industry competitors:
-
ugent.be & hogent.be: dorms offered by the University & Hogeschool
-
kot.gent.be & ikot.be: websites offering an overview of available housing, usually 1 year contracts
-
erasmusu.com & erasmate.com: specialized forums specifically for foreign students, rather low activity in Ghent.
2
Threat of new entrants
New entrants can be a threat to our business, as the barriers to join the market are low.
However, RYÔ will cooperate with the local university and associations like ESN Ghent to gain trust, reputation &
acknowledgement.
3
Bargaining power of buyers
Potential short-term tenants who come to Ghent have no real power to negotiate about price and therefore have a low impact on the industry competition.
4
Bargaining power of suppliers
People renting out their room have a lot of power. They can decide to not sublet their room to a particular person and this can be a barrier for foreign students coming to Ghent. RYÔ will function as an intermediary between both parties to facilitate this process.
Substitutes for short-term accommodation in student rooms are hostels, apartments, B&B’s, hotels or staying with a friend or acquaintance.
As staying in a ho(s)tel or apartment for a short period of a couple of months can be more expensive than just renting a student room, we believe these alternatives are no big threat to our company.