Commentary
IAC, which owns ANGI, has a well known play book to acquire multiple players in a single space. For example IAC hs acquired Match, Tinder, Plenty of Fish, OKCupid, and several other dating service. Through ANGI it is clear that IAC now intends to the same to the home services space. ANGI Homeservices operates 10 brands in eight countries, including HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, mHelpDesk, HomeStars (Canada), MyHammer (Germany), MyBuilder (UK), Werkspot (Netherlands), Instapro (Italy) and Travaux.com (France). Those services listed above all perform more like lead generation services versus Handy which actually delivers the service to the consumer and collects payment using independent contractors. With the money and backing of IAC it is clear that Handy is not going anywhere anytime soon and that IAC wants to own the home services space as clearly as it does the dating marketplace.
Online cleaning company known for use of independent contractors gets acquired by Angie’s List parent company
ANGI Homeservices on Thursday announced that it has agreed to buy Handy, the on-demand cleaning and home service provider, for an undisclosed price. Handy Technologies, Inc., which was founded in 2012, has been known for its use of independent contractors and operating as Handy.com. In 2017 the company turned a profit for the first time. Earlier this year Handy began partnering with Walmart. In 2017 the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) filed a complaint against the company alleging that it incorrectly classified employees as independent contractors.
ANGI Homeservices operates 10 brands in eight countries, including HomeAdvisor, Angie’s List, mHelpDesk, HomeStars (Canada), MyHammer (Germany), MyBuilder (UK), Werkspot (Netherlands), Instapro (Italy) and Travaux.com (France). – Wikipedia
ANGI Homeservices is a unit of IAC/InteractiveCorp., which owns numerous brands including dating sites Match, Tinder, OK Cupid, and PlentyOfFish.
The [Handy] deal is the latest power play by internet conglomerate IAC/InterActive, which has an aggressive acquisition strategy in a myriad of online sectors, including dating and media. Its subsidiary Match Group Inc. has sucked up dozens of competing brands, and announced in June it was purchasing a controlling stake in Hinge. – Bloomberg.com
- Read more on bloomberg.com
- Read more on axios.com
- Read more on marketwatch.com
For More On Handy, See Previous Coverage by CBT
- NLRB charges Handy with misclassification of workers
- Is this the end for Handy?
- Handy proposes law that could solve its legal difficulties
- Handy to turn a profit in 2017
- Handy sued for illegal worker practices
- “Ethically Dubious” practices spelled out in writer’s critique of Handy
Derek Christian is very active in the home service industry. In addition to his rose as Editor in Chief of Cleaning Business Today he is also a consultant to https://castle-keepers.com/ , https://www.blueskiesservices.com/, and is the owner of https://www.handymanconnection.com/blueash/
