Cardano Caravan Store: Education and Empowering Yoroi/Eternl/Nami Wallet Payments among students and Beyond

[GENERAL] Name and surname of main applicant

Elishia Sedo

[GENERAL] Are you delivering this project as an individual or as an entity (whether formally incorporated or not)

Entity (Incorporated)

[GENERAL] Requested funds in ada

52000

[GENERAL] Please specify how many months you expect your project to last (from 2-12 months)

7

[GENERAL] Please indicate if your proposal has been auto-translated into English from another language

No

[GENERAL] Summarize your solution to the problem (200-character limit including spaces)

Cardano Caravan: Campus & community store offering wholesale prices, accepts ADA & Cardano wallets for payments while promoting utility among students.

[GENERAL] Does your project have any dependencies on other organizations, technical or otherwise?

No

[GENERAL] If YES, please describe what the dependency is and why you believe it is essential for your project’s delivery. If NO, please write “No dependencies.”

No dependencies

[GENERAL] Will your project’s output/s be fully open source?

Yes

[GENERAL] Please provide here more information on the open source status of your project outputs

Our project would be open with two major components that is the events and type of goods at our caravan stand. Having the caravan stand at campus events and Cardano community events in Ghana. This would be fully open through publicity to let the community and individuals know about the events that would have our caravan stand. Also, goods that would be available would be known to help in making individuals know the kind of goods to expect at our caravan stand at events.

[METADATA] Horizons

Marketing

[SOLUTION] Please describe your proposed solution

The Cardano ecosystem has tooling that can be used to provide real-world utility while educating people on Cardano for ecosystem expansion. The Cardano Campus Caravan seeks to market Cardano wallets such as Yoroi, and Eternl/Nami among others by providing education to people on how to set up the wallet and provide utility by purchasing basic items with the wallets. 

We want to make education practical and provide utility at the same time. A lot of people have in the past been onboarded on Cardano Wallets at events to receive ADA in return. Now we are taking this a step further by providing basic food items needed by students on Cardano or in our everyday life at wholesale price to make people purchase food items with their wallets. 

How the Caravan Works?

The Cardano Caravan is a stand (imagine it as a grocery store at an event that allows you to pick items and pay in ADA using your Yoroi/Eternl/Nami Wallet.) This stand would be made available at various Cardano events as well as other events to create more engagement and outreach opportunities for others to be interested in Cardano tools. 

Fiat to ADA

Let’s say you find yourself in a shop and every item costs $2 but you would need $2 equivalent in ADA to make a purchase. The Campus Caravan would provide an opportunity for individuals to exchange from fiat to ADA to make purchases of items from the caravan stall. The stand would only accept payment in ADA and provide an opportunity for people to change from fiat to ADA. 

Items in the Caravan Stores

This project fits the challenge by providing real-world utility for Cardano Wallets. This is both marketing and public outreach as more people onboard wallets to pay for goods. It is also a use case for people to use ADA to acquire basic items. Also, the caravan brings fun to community events, education, and practical engagement with the Cardano ecosystem while delivering value for the growth and expansion of the Cardano ecosystem.

We have existing arrangements as a sub-distributor for Unilever Ghana, Nestle, Coca-Cola, DH Industries (Madar), Sunda Internation, Promasidor, Wilmer Ghana, etc in Ghana. which would help in providing items at wholesale cost. This arrangement would help the project pick items directly from the companies and sell them at wholesale cost hence providing items at cheaper cost at events compared to community markets, malls, and shops selling the same at retail price. 

The list of items would include Milo, Nido, Lipton, Cafe, Soap, Pepsodent, Milk, Can/Soda drinks etc.

NB: Our Caravan is starting with food items, everyday groceries, and other basic household items that are necessary for our daily activities. We plan to expand our item list to include tech items, hard wallets, and other artifacts as the project gains attraction and also from customer feedback.

Events

The Cardano Caravan would be at various community events led by Cardano Community members and other digital events in Ghana. This would not be limited to campus events; other digital, tech, and blockchain events outside campus would be equally engaged. We encourage Cardano Community members to invite us to their event by filling out this invitation form https://forms.gle/v91zyJj5xedvuMgo6.

How the Project Fits the Challenge

This project fits the challenge by providing real-world utility for Cardano Wallets. This is both marketing and public outreach as more people onboard wallets to pay for goods. It is also a use case for people to use ADA to acquire basic items hence giving utility and growth to the ecosystem. Also, the caravan brings fun to the community event, education, and practical engagement with the Cardano ecosystem while delivering value.

Cardano Wallets

This project is not limited to Eternl, Yoroi and Nami wallet. Other Cardano wallets that hold ADA would be promoted and marketed by the Cardano Caravan project. In Fund 12, a community reviewer said it is absurd for this project to include Nami walet because students cannot carry laptops to make payment. We wish to make it clear that this project does not seek to limit the wallet options and seek to create the avenue for all Cardano related wallets and Cardano compatible wallets participating in our Caravan be served.

[IMPACT] Please define the positive impact your project will have on the wider Cardano community

The Project would impact the entire Cardano Community by serving as a marketing strategy for onboard people and providing a use case for the Cardano Wallet (Yoroi/Eternl/Nami). Also, the project provides a practical way to learn how to set up a Cardano Wallet and use it in the real-world in a fun way at community events.

Public outreach is not left out because the project is not limiting itself to Cardano events. The portal nature of the caravan makes it fit every occasion while educating and onboarding people.

This project seek to launch four (4) caravan store events as the maximum number of event for this project spanning a period of seven (7) months.

Legality

The project would be launched in Ghana and there will be absolutely no legal issue as far as the project in concern. Ghana is known for its friendly nature and there is no band on crypto related payments as a form of exchange and for educative purposes. The project presents Caravan Store as an educative opportunity for students to practically learn how to use ADA and onboard Cardano ecosystem while delivering real world value. The educative nature of the project overrides any legal concern over crypto payments. In addition, the caravan store will be entertaining and fun for students to learn how-to-do and interact with Cardano ecosystem.

[CAPABILITY & FEASIBILITY] What is your capability to deliver your project with high levels of trust and accountability? How do you intend to validate if your approach is feasible?

We have almost a decade of experience in events organization and project management. Currently, currently our organization has the YAFO Campus Hive, a student group that operate on more than 5 universities in Ghana.

We are committed to providing accurate and timely reporting for the community. The project is open-source. We have experience in business development and project manager that have ensure successful project completion source from developing partners both local and foreign..

The team has experienced individuals in events, marketing, and sales. Also, we have great operational networking with companies in the food industries in Ghana to be able to get items at discounted prices. We have a well-established network with event organizers as well.

Project Timeline

Month 1: Project Planning and Setup (Weeks 1-4)

·       Goal: Establish the project's foundation and prepare for initial operations.

·       Key Activities:

• Form the project team and assign roles and responsibilities.
• Develop a comprehensive project plan and strategy.
• Secure partnerships.
• Establish a project budget and track expenses.
• Define the target audience and develop marketing strategies.

Month 2: Inventory Procurement and Staff Training (Weeks 5-8)

·       Goal: Acquire inventory and prepare staff for the project's launch.

·       Key Activities:

• Identify and source wholesale suppliers
• Procure and manage inventory, ensuring adequate stock levels.
• Develop training materials and procedures for staff.
• Conduct comprehensive training for staff on ADA and Eternl/Yoroi/Nami Wallets.
• Prepare and design marketing materials, such as flyers, brochures, and social media content.

Month 3: Caravan Setup and Event Coordination (Weeks 9-12)

·       Goal: Prepare the caravan for operation and secure event participation.

·       Key Activities:

• Purchase and assemble necessary equipment for the caravan, including tables, chairs, banners, and signage.
• Design and implement a branding strategy for the caravan.
• Secure event locations and coordinate with event organizers.
• Obtain necessary permits and licenses for operating the caravan at events.
• Establish logistics for transportation, setup, and breakdown of the caravan at each event.

Month 4: Caravan Launch and Event Participation (Weeks 13-16)

·       Goal: Launch the caravan and participate in the first two events.

·       Key Activities:

• Launch the caravan at the first event, generating initial awareness and sales.
• Effectively manage inventory levels and restock as needed.
• Gather customer feedback and identify areas for improvement.
• Participate in the second event, implementing lessons learned from the first event.
• Continue marketing efforts to attract customers and promote the caravan.

Month 5: Event Participation and Expansion (Weeks 17-20)

·       Goal: Continue participating in events and expand the caravan's reach.

·       Key Activities:

• Participate in the third event, further solidifying the caravan's presence.
• Analyze sales data and customer feedback to optimize product offerings and marketing strategies.
• Explore opportunities to expand the caravan's reach to new locations and events.
• Strengthen social media presence and engage with the Cardano community.

Month 6: Event Participation and Evaluation (Weeks 21-24)

·       Goal: Continue participating in events and evaluate the project's overall success.

·       Key Activities:

• Participate in the final event, showcasing the caravan's continued growth and success.
• Conduct comprehensive evaluations of the project's performance, considering sales figures, customer feedback, and overall impact.
• Identify areas for further improvement and refinement in preparation for the final event.

Month 7: Project Completion and Expansion Planning (Weeks 25-28)

·       Goal: Conclude the project successfully and plan for future expansion.

·       Key Activities:

• Participants in the events, marking the successful completion of the project's seven-month journey.
• Conduct a final evaluation of the project, highlighting achievements, challenges, and lessons learned.
• Develop a comprehensive report summarizing the project's outcomes and recommendations for future expansion.
• Plan for future expansion opportunities, such as increasing event participation, expanding product offerings, and exploring new markets.

[PROJECT MILESTONES] What are the key milestones you need to achieve in order to complete your project successfully?

Securing Partnership

The focus is to secure partnerships with the various Cardano Community groups in Ghana.

Output

1. Reach out and establish partnerships with the various Cardano community groups and event organizers in Ghana.
2. Secure location for caravan at various events.

Develop and source inventory

Create a list of things to offer at the caravan while keeping the requirements and interests of the target audience in mind. Purchase inventory at wholesale pricing from wholesale vendors. Ascertain that every inventory is Cardano-related or bears the Cardano Caravan for branding.

Output

1. Created a list of items to offer at the caravan
2. Inventory was obtained at a discount from wholesale sources.
3. Every inventory is Cardano-related or bears a Cardano logo or Cardano Caravan branding.

Train Volunteers and Prepare Equipment.

Train Volunteers on how to use ADA and Eternl/Yoroi Wallets to process payments. Interacting, educating, and assisting participants to make purchases. Prepare equipment for the caravan, tent stall, chairs, and banners. Ensure that all equipment is branded with the Cardano Caravan logo

Output

1. Trained volunteers on how to use ADA and Eternl/Yoroi Wallets to process payments.
2. Prepared equipment for the caravan, including tent stalls, chairs, signs, and banners.
3. Ensured that all equipment is branded with the Cardano Caravan logo

Launch and operate the caravan

Launch the caravan at the first event. Operate the caravan at a variety of events, including campus events, Cardano community events, and tech conferences. Track sales and customer feedback through.

Output

1. Launch the caravan at the first event
2. Host the caravan at a total of 4 events in Ghana.
3. Track sales and participants' feedback through survey forms

Evaluate and Expand

Analyze the caravan's performance in light of sales data, wallet creations, transactions and students feedback and services to promote at the caravan.

Output

1. Provide a report on the performance of the caravan.
2. Expand the caravan to new locations
3. Develop new product combinations to promote at the caravan.

[RESOURCES] Who is in the project team and what are their roles?

Richmond Darkwah - Marketing Manager

Role: develop marketing campaigns to promote Cardano caravan, take feedback from participants, generate awareness, and attract customers.

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/andrews-darkwah-50355mac123/

Joshua Larweh - Technical Support Specialist

Role: Provide technical support to participants/customers and assisting the installation/troubleshooting Eternl/Yoroi/Nami Wallets

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshua-tetteh-a1b391192

Philip Attakpah - Logistics and Event Coordinator

Role: Coordinates schedules, secures venues, and assures adherence to event rules in liaison with event organizers.

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/philip-attakpah-250a34167/?utm_source=share&utm_campaign=share_via&utm_content=profile&utm_medium=ios_app

Elishia Sedo - Team Lead & Inventory Manager

Role: oversees the acquisition, monitoring, and administration of inventory, guaranteeing sufficient stock and effective replenishment.

Profile: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisha-sedo-324a75172

[BUDGET & COSTS] Please provide a cost breakdown of the proposed work and resources

Inventory Procurement & Goods 

• Cardano-Caravan merchandise (T-shirt, Caps, Portable Store tent) – 2,500 ADA
• ADA and Eternl/Yoroi Wallet hardware support & Fiat-ADA Exchange - 3,000 ADA
• Marketing materials (flyers, brochures, banners) – 2500 ADA
• Goods/basic items/Everyday Grocery – 10,000 ADA
• Total: 18,000 ADA

Volunteer & Team - Training

• Training of marketing manager, sales lead, inventory manager, technical support specialist, logistics coordinator, event coordinator, cashier, and brand ambassador - 2,000 ADA
• Training expenses (venue, materials, instructors) – 4,000 ADA
• Total: 6,000 ADA

Logistics and Event Participation for 4 Events

• Transportation costs 2000 x 4 = 8,000 ADA
• Event setup 3000 x 4 = 12,000 ADA
• Total: 20,000 ADA

Marketing and Promotion

• Social media advertising – 2,500 ADA
• Print/Radio advertising (local newspapers, flyers) - 1,500 ADA
• Total: 4,000 ADA

Contingency Fund

• Unexpected expenses (equipment repairs, weather-related disruptions) - 2,000 ADA
• Team Fees - 2,000 ADA
• Total - 4,000 ADA

Grand Total: 52,000 ADA

[VALUE FOR MONEY] How does the cost of the project represent value for money for the Cardano ecosystem?

The Cardano Caravan presents an exciting, practical, and interesting experience that allows participants at events to acquire basic groceries, food items and everyday things using their Cardano Wallet at discounted prices. This would provide for marketing, public outreach, and onboarding of individuals to use Cardano-related Wallet/ Project Catalyst by providing instant utility.

Also, the Cardano Caravan provides practical education on wallet usage and offers experiences, as well as educate others on project catalyst. This would interest curiosity and onboard people to the Cardano ecosystem.

The project provides marketing of the ecosystem by allowing people to experience Cardano solution and wallet as well as public outreach and education on Project Catalyst.