Gerjo Hoffman (left) – Managing Director of JET8 Africa with Loring Donaldson (right) – Business Development Manager of JET8 Africa. PHOTO: Provided by JET8 Africa.
The app Maties Cam has taken the concept of student budgeting to an all new high or perhaps an all-time low, by being designed to reward students with free groceries for taking selfies.
Business Development Manager of JET8 Africa, Loring Donaldson said, “Recently there was an article published about students having difficulties buying groceries. This is where Maties Cam can help. Students who have difficulties purchasing groceries now have an opportunity to accumulate points and get their [groceries] for free.”
The app is simple to use, whereby Matie students are able to take pictures with the app, add branded stickers to these pictures, then post and share their photos. For every like, comment, view and share of your selfie, the user earns JETPoints. The accumulated JETPoints act as an electronic currency that can later be transferred to various vouchers and redeemed at respective partnered stores.
Screenshot of various stickers available on the Matie Cam App. PHOTO: Courtney Williams.
Donaldson said, “There are all kinds of items available for the user to choose from which are redeemable across 2500 selected stores, including Shoprite, Checkers and Spur to name a few. There are currently over 70 different products on the shelves for the user to choose from and the list grows by 50 products every two weeks. Items that are viable to be redeemed range from groceries, milk, bread, household essentials and even airtime.”
Jet8, the company who created the app, in amalgamation with BOO Media and Communication (PTY) Ltd, has collaborated with major partners such as Cell C, Joox and Spur. The app is the first of its kind in Stellenbosch and has received acclamation amongst its users.
“Maties Cam app is a brilliant app and I think everyone should use it. It’s to the benefit of all communities,” said Williams Juul, Primarius of Capri PSO.
In Juul’s two weeks of using the app, he has accumulated 350 000 JETPoints which converts to R350.00. Money earned “just by posting a picture and being a little more business savvy,” says Juul.
Users have identified the positive social impact it has on developing a community as it is specifically designed to target Stellenbosch University students. Users of the app say that the carefree nature of the stickered-selfie takes away the pressures that other social media apps create and rather encourages a community of users helping one another earn points, with no great impotence attached to the actual selfie.
“There’s a bit of pressure with Instagram. With this (Maties Cam) there’s no pressure and I’m having a lot of fun with it outside [of] the fact that I am able to get rewards from it. I think it’s cool, I get to help others earn points and interact with people I wouldn’t necessarily interact with. Matie Cam is a great way for me to connect with someone who is outside of my immediate community,” said Anesu Kachikoti an avid Maties Cam user and the Primaria of Erica Ladies Residence.
Kachikoti who has been using the app for three weeks said, “It almost seems too good to be true, what’s the catch?”
Donaldson laughed adding a comment to the aforementioned question. “There are no catches,” he explained. “Businesses get marketing and students get free groceries, I wish I had this app when I was a student,” he adds.
The app is available on both IOS and Android platforms and is described by its users as “a quick and easy way to get free stuff just for taking a selfie.”
Screenshot of William Juul with Loring Donaldson in a selfie on Juul’s profile: PHOTO: Courtney Williams.