Welcome to the second ever episode of Marketplace Mechanics! In this episode, I speak with Jean-Michel Chalayer, the CEO of beauty marketplace, LeSalon.

Episode overview.


2:02

Interview Begins


3:16

LeSalon's origin story and the problem being solved


4:50

Is LeSalon the Uber for therapists?


5:32

What did the first few months look like? How did you get started?


6:44

How did you know when you had found the right co-founder? Were there any real signs you were a good match when you met?


8:20

You've found your co-founder - what next? What does a typical day at early-stage LeSalon look like?


10:15

The legendary LeSalon spreadsheet


13:25

What are the criteria for therapists (suppliers) joining LeSalon? What makes a good therapist?


15:31

Do you reject a lot of therapists?


17:02

How do you approach trust? How do you help your customers get comfortable with a stranger entering their home to carry out beauty treatments?


18:11

How do foster a sense of community on your marketplace?


22:55

How is LeSalon better than the competition?


24:35

How did you arrive at the business model? Has it changed since you started? And is it a similar model to competitors, or have you done something unique?


25:55

Do you control the pricing on your platform?


29:20

Do your suppliers try to take customers off the platform? (Disintermediation)


32:37

What's your favourite part of building a two-sided marketplace?


34:30

Biggest piece of advice you'd give to someone thinking about starting their own marketplace?