Catch of the Decade

‘Gabby and Hezi were always the most looked-up-to duo in ecommerce and they truly taught me how to trade!’
Nick Molnar, CEO, Afterpay

‘The Leibovich brothers are pioneers of Australian ecommerce. You cannot afford to not read this book.’
Christine Holgate, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Australia Post

Real stories and advice from digital entrepreneurs who have learned what it takes to succeed

In Catch of the Decade, two of Australia’s most successful online superstars reveal how they’ve built, launched, merged, and sold some of the most disruptive businesses in Australia today: Catch, Scoopon, Menulog and Luxury Escapes. This book contains little-known secrets and strategies that will help you shorten your learning curve, avoid mistakes, and bring your business dream alive.

The wisdom revealed in this book is hard won: brothers Gabby and Hezi Leibovich started with no money and no connections, turned their drawbacks into assets, and came out on top. You’ll learn how they rode the waves of entrepreneurialism and worked their way up.

• Learn proven tips to define, disrupt and dominate a sector or industry, straight from entrepreneurs who achieved their billion-dollar dreams.

• Read hard hitting, no bull nuggets of wisdom in the areas of customer service, PR, Buying and trading, engaging investors and more.

• Market-tested strategies for building big brands, creating high-performing teams and fostering a world-class entrepreneurial culture.

For the first time, the Leibovich brothers are telling their story, in their own words, and you’ll learn how they got where they are today. Follow in their footsteps with over 200 bite-sized entries that are both inspirational and useful. Pick up Catch of the Decade and get moving!

Introduction vii

Part I: Getting started 1

1 How it all began 3

2 Working together 27

3 Gaining momentum 45

4 Recession? Shmecession! 69

5 Idea by midnight, execute by midday 83

6 Catch us if you can 103

Part II: Ramping up 117

7 Time to scale 119

8 Running fast 129

9 The robots are coming! 153

10 The Catch culture 163

11 Meanwhile, back at Menulog … 175

Part III: Full speed ahead 187

12 It takes two 189

13 A new era 201

14 Time for some major changes 211

15 The marketplace beckons 215

16 To list, or not to list: that is the question 245

17 Wesfarmers come calling 255

18 A final note: how to really succeed in business 263

Goodbye, farewell and good luck 265

Acknowledgements 273

Index 277

GABBY AND HEZI LEIBOVICH are the sibling founders of Catch Group, a successful Australian ecommerce firm they sold to Wesfarmers in 2019 for over $200 million.

'Gabby and Hezi were always the most looked-up-to duo in ecommerce and they truly taught me how to trade!'
Nick Molnar, CEO, Afterpay

'The Leibovich brothers are pioneers of Australian ecommerce. You cannot afford to not read this book.'
Christine Holgate, Group Chief Executive Officer & Managing Director, Australia Post

How did two brothers disrupt four sectors and build an empire of digital businesses that they sold for over $1 billion?

Catch of the Decade tells the extraordinary story of Gabby and Hezi Leibovich: the brothers who revolutionised the retail, services, food and travel industries with their iconic businesses, including Catch of the Day, Scoopon and EatNow–Menulog. For the first time, Gabby and Hezi share how they used grit, determination and chutzpah to go from a small market stall to business exits worth over a billion dollars.

A practical, funny, no-bull guide packed with:

• hints and tips to define, disrupt and dominate a sector or industry
• lessons in customer acquisition, PR, buying and trading, and engaging investors
• market-tested strategies for building big brands, creating high-performing teams and fostering a world-class entrepreneurial culture.

Start your entrepreneurial journey now. Catch of the Decade is the guide for anyone who hopes to bring an exciting business idea to life.

They did it. What's stopping you?