Find the item you need from a small business as quickly as the big
box chains!
Many of us would pay a few percent more to keep the money in
the
community, as opposed to empowering WALMART. Many of us
Who wants to call 10 mom-and-pops to find a weedwhacker that is
found in seconds at HOME
DEPOT?
This probably exists already in some form, but I haven't seen it.
Imagine a website and/or mobile application modeled after the
big
box chains internet storefronts, that makes it as easy to someone
to
locate what they want/need from a local small business as it is
from
big box chains.
Say somebody wants a Powerdrill. Buyer go on the
service/platforms
website or app, and searches "powerdrill" in the search bar on the
home page. Buyer finds 3 small businesses that have "powerdrills"
for
sale within a 25 mile radius. Buyer is specifically looking for a
Corded Powerdrill. Buyer finds it at Tom's Hardware 4 miles away
for
$70. Buyer clicks the product page, and it displays a stock photo
of
Corded Powerdrill. The page shows the prices for the corded
powerdrill
Buyers benifit from the service/platform by finding what he/she
wants or needs sold at a small business in the same amount of
time as finding it sold at a nationwide big box store.
The service/platform would consist of a Small Business-only
store/service directory, with little-to-no megacorp affiliation (no
coroprate Franchises). The online storefront is modelled after big
box chains online shopping portals, except all items are for sale by
small, mom-and-pop stores.
Small business-owners benifit too from the service/platform, they
get free inventory management with no specialized hardware to
buy.
The smartphone application has a seller side, where small business
owners and employees can catalog their inventory using
smartphone-camera barcode scanning built into the application.
That and other FREE tools to run their business. The
service/platform can even manage
payment, by connecting to 3rd party payment processors like
PAYPAL
& SQUARE; credit cards inhouse.
The service/platform offers optional consulting, delegation &
legal assistance services so the small business owner doesn't stay
awake at night over businesses permits, licenses, taxes, fees,
liability, compliances & regulations.
The service/platform can even offer legal retainers & insurance
contracted through established insurance companies. The small
businesses can get the same rates for insurances and legal services
as the big box chains through volume pricing.
All of these options are offered a la carte through the seller side
of the service/platform.
The service/platform should extend to private yard sales, flea
market sellers, and even lemonade stands to connect local buyers
with independent sellers. The service/platform makes it easy to
empower your neighbors business, and keep the money in the
community!!!