Parts of one of the largest classified ad networks, Oodle, are now in the hands of multiple new operators after it sold assets to separate bidders.
- QVC last month acquired Oodle’s U.S. operation to beef up its social commerce ambitions (via release).
- Now UK search startup Adzuna says it has made its first acquisition by buying Oodle’s UK “traffic”. That means simply that the oodle.co.uk homepage and its job, property and car categories now redirect to adzuna.co.uk.
- But, in a third arrangement, other Oodle UK categories redirect to Mobiya, the mobile classified advertising outfit with which Oodle had a long-time partnership.
Oodle operated the influential Oodle Marketplace app, for placing classified ads on the social network. Facebook showcased Oodle back in 2009.
The marketplace was operated by Oodle’s U.S. division and so is now under the wing of QVC, which claims Marketplace has over 11 million monthly uniques.
In December, Oodle CEO Craig Donato wrote:
“Last year, we had the good fortune to become profitable and cash flow positive … But we also recognized that we needed to increase our growth rate. And to do that, we needed to expand our focus and capitalize on everything we’ve learned and built around social commerce.”