Consumers often face the harsh impact of inflation most profoundly when examining their grocery receipts. Price increments, while they may seem trivial individually, can accumulate and lead to a progressively increasing weekly shopping expenditure. The issue of stealthy price increases was a driving factor for Stephen Harvey, a previous high-level staff member at American Express, to invent SavvySpender, a mobile application designed to assist users in scheduling their weekly purchases with a focus on optimising savings.
“With SavvySpender, consumers have the option to formulate a shopping list and analyse the cost of a product, or their entire list, across various supermarkets, including Dunnes, Tesco, SuperValu, and Aldi. It presents them with the capability to estimate their shopping expenses beforehand, which significantly eases budget adherence,” states Harvey. However, Lidl is currently not part of these comparisons, as they do not publicly disclose their pricing.
A UCD commerce graduate and marketing postgraduate from the Smurfit School, Harvey relocated to Sydney in 2007, joining American Express. After spending over a decade with the company, Harvey returned home to Ireland in late 2018. Initially, he provided business consultancy services to new ventures before enlisting his skills at AIB, and for three years, held a managerial role in payment strategy.
In 2022, Harvey moved back to Donegal, his place of birth, maintaining his AIB role in a remote capacity until he completely immersed himself in the development of the SavvySpender app the same year. Operating from the Inishowen innovation centre located in Buncrana, he developed the app using a shoestring budget of about €20,000, with backing from LEO North Donegal, and the New Frontiers programme of Atlantic Technology University in Sligo.
Though shopping list applications have previously been in existence and individual supermarkets have their distinct apps for shoppers, Harvey says they’re not comprehensive enough. “I wanted a more integrated method, and with SavvySpender, an individual can put together a shopping list, evaluate the cost, and then contrast prices across different supermarkets all at once. This is inclusive of Dunnes, Tesco, SuperValu, and Aldi prices,” Stephen Harvey of SavvySpender highlights.
The SavvySpender app provides users with the ability to compare prices and view product information, including nutritional values, making it an invaluable asset for those grocery shopping on behalf of others. Especially for those who have previously been criticised for purchasing the wrong item, this feature proves very beneficial.
Currently free to use, a premium version of the app will soon be introduced. It is expected to be particularly useful to those looking to manage their finances effectively, students, and savvy consumers eager to receive great value for their money.
Soon to be introduced in the market later this month, Harvey, the persona behind SavvySpender, plans to expand its operation to Australia, given his in-depth knowledge and connections in the local market. He also intends to expedite the rollout process by acquiring approximately €50,000 in funding in the near term.
Advertising and affiliation sign-ups are expected to be the main revenue streams for the company. It also plans to expand its discount section to include retail outlets beyond supermarkets.
Harvey emphasises the uniqueness of the SavvySpender app as the only existing platform enabling price comparisons at a granular level. Given the recent surge in grocery prices, Harvey firmly believes the app’s inception is timely and pertinent.
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