Gregg McNair PPX International Owner Interview at Domainfest 2015

“It’s a trap for young players if you think you can buy new gTLDs and flip them for a profit.” 🪤

On the final day of DomainFest Asia 2015, I spoke with Gregg McNair, chairman of PPX International, about decades of business and a decade in domains. 🎙️

📊 In this episode, we unpacked:

• 🏢 11 businesses in 7 countries
• 💼 From farming to domains
• 👑 Why .com is still king
• 🪤 The new gTLD trap
• 🌏 China meets the West

🎥 Watch the full episode:

🏢 11 Businesses in 7 Countries

PPX International is a group with interests in 11 businesses across seven countries, about half of them in the domain space. 🏢

Gregg had been to virtually every DomainFest since the series began and spoken at basically all of them, maybe ten. He’s also involved with NamesCon’s owners and is a big supporter of that conference. For a NamesCon co-founder’s view, read Jothan Frakes’s interview. 🔗

💼 From Farming to Domains

His background spans farming, stockbroking, investment banking and CEO education in three countries. When someone presented a domain investment opportunity in 2005, he got involved. 💼

In 2006, they acquired some of the biggest portfolios on the planet and became major players overnight. They later sold them to Demand Media, made a lot of money and reinvested in domains and other industries. For another big domain portfolio story, read Monte Cahn’s interview. 🔗

👑 Why .com Is Still King

Most of their names are .com, with some .net and .org. They aren’t heavy in new extensions, though he chairs a business involved with a new registry. 👑

.com is the commonly accepted standard, which brings a premium and growing scarcity. “For some time .com will be king, but it will be eroded by other extensions slowly over time.” Saying new extensions are “going viral” is an exaggeration: their monthly registrations are minuscule next to .com. 📊

🪤 The New gTLD Trap

If you see opportunities in a niche, domains can work, but it’s risky. .co was an early runner that proved it could make inroads against .com, with no other competition. New extensions face about 1,500 competitors. It’s a long game. 🪤

His group buys quality names for the long term, using its own criteria. For a new-extension perspective, read the .CLUB team’s interview. 🔗

🌏 China Meets the West

Chinese awareness of domains was clearly affecting Western prices for short .coms, and he expected it to broaden to other .coms and highly prized extensions. 🌏

His key takeaway from DomainFest: everyone wanted to learn more about the China–West interface, from introductions to overcoming language barriers. The next DomainFest Asia was planned for Hong Kong the following September. For a China specialist’s view, read Simon Cousins’s interview. 🔗

📝 Key Takeaways From the Gregg McNair Interview

• 👑 .com remains the standard for now
• 🪤 Don’t expect quick flips on new gTLDs
• ⏳ Domain investing is a long game
• 🌏 Chinese demand is moving prices
• 🤝 Conferences bridge East and West

❓ FAQs About Gregg McNair

Who is Gregg McNair?

Chairman of PPX International, a group with interests in 11 businesses across seven countries, about half in domains.

Is .com still the best domain extension?

Gregg says .com will stay king for some time, though other extensions will slowly erode its share.

Should newbies flip new gTLDs?

He calls that a trap for young players. New extensions are a long game.

🎙️ More Inside A Hustler’s Brain Interviews You’ll Love

• Interview with Edmon Chung CEO of DotAsia.org at Domainfest 2015
• Interview With Ron Jackson Owner of DNjournal.com at DomainX Bangalore 2015
• Brian Michitti Sedo Domain Broker Interview at Domainfest 2015
• Domainer Deepak Ramani & Aishwin Vikhona on How to Make Money With Domains

Do you think .com will ever lose its crown? Tell me in the comments. 💬

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