[brc]

There are many, many examples of successful regional clones dominating their market to the point where the branded newcomer doesn't ever get traction. Even Google struggles against some local-language versions in some countries.

trademe.co.nz is an ebay clone that got traction in NZ long before ebay ever got going, and now ebay is nowhere there because of the network effect.

Taking a young-ish but proven business model from the USA and rolling it out in your own country can be a very viable way to get success.

However, it takes all the usual combination of drive, talent and capital to do so. And you've got to get straight onto it, because it's such an obvious idea, others will also be doing the same thing.