It had to happen eventually - such are the myriad of issues surrounding so-called daily deal sites that a lobbying group and trade body has been formed, calling itself the Global Daily Deal Association.
Launched in London this week, GDDA is said to be the direct result of demand from delegates and participants at a recent conference in the UK dedicated to discussing the development of the daily deal sector.
The organisation will be run by Stavros Prodromou, previously a general manager of Groupon in the UK and most recently the CEO and founder of Coupoplaces, a daily deal aggregator.
The aim is to bring daily deal providers from across the world to debate and collaborate on issues affecting the fast-growing movement, across a number of industry verticals, including travel.
Although it is unclear as yet as to what would be included in such a move, the GDDA says it wants put in place a plan to create a code of conduct for the sector.
The association says it is opening membership to both merchants (daily deal sites) and suppliers of product.
Prodromou says:
"We know there are many issues facing the daily deal industry; there has been a lot of negative press and industry successes and failures have been widely publicised. Now, for the first time, we will be able to work together to find common solutions."
The GDDA claims around £300 million was spent on daily deal sites in the UK alone in the second half of 2011.
The organisation's launch and motivation has the support - but no membership as yet - from the likes of Groupon and LivingSocial, an official says.
NB:Daily deal image via Shutterstock.