• Forum has been upgraded, all links, images, etc are as they were. Please see Official Announcements for more information

Pre-Proposal: Dashop.io - Online Shopping Marketplace

djcrypto

djcrypto

Active member
DASHOP.IO - Online Shopping Marketplace for Mass Adoption


Summary

I am excited to propose the creation of Dashop.io - a Dash-only online shopping marketplace which aims to bring mass adoption of users and merchants into the Dash Economy and Evolution Platform.

Dashop.io will be one of the first user-friendly off-ramps from the legacy fiat-based economy, with the goal of enabling merchants and Dash users to survive and thrive exclusively with Dash. Dashop will incorporate existing merchants on discoverdash.com and will leverage the Treasury to promote to and recruit new merchants and users through social media and discount campaigns similar to BitCart and Alt36. The objective is to aggregate and acquire Dash-accepting merchants into one easy-to-use shopping marketplace where users can go to use Dash for its primary intended purpose - as a digital cash currency.

The second stage of this Proposal will be to promote and provide incentives for users and merchants to participate in this marketplace and adopt it as their “go to” for “legal” crypto purchases. The incentive plan includes 20% Dash back on all sales for merchants for the first 3 months (to cover costs of setting up and establishing a web store presence) and a 20% discount for users for the first 3 months of operation. The funds will be requested for this stage in this proposal to begin the marketing blitz and build awareness before the project nears completion for maximized acceleration and growth upon release.

The third stage of this Proposal will be to build the Dashop App on the Evolution Platform using DAPI. Dashop.io has a goal of being one of the first major apps on the Evolution Platform and will be a champion to promote the Platform. Dashop will raise awareness and lower the psychological barrier to entry for businesses to build apps on top of Evolution. This will be a separate proposal with an ETA of July 2018.

The reason we are starting with an http website to begin with is because we are unsure of the release of Evolution, and at what rate it will scale. Tentative “Summer 2018” is a long time to not have an online marketplace. There is already competition in this space with spendabit.co and openbazaar.com, etc. Therefore, in order to build a userbase and create awareness of Dash as a cryptocurrency with utility, we are starting with a traditional website. The users of Dashop.io will then make a seamless transition to Dashop’s Evolution App when the time comes.


Design and Develop Dashop.io Marketplace

After weeks of interviews with various web design firms, I am ecstatic to have recruited a local, specialist web design company in my city. This will make managing the project much simpler and provide a more cost and time-efficient result for the Dash Treasury. The Web Design Company has many years of experience in online shopping integrations and will design, develop and build Dashop.io. To provide the best ROI for the Dash Treasury, we will be using WooCommerce Dash API (thanks to @nmarley – Core Dev) and the GoUrl.io Crypto-Currency Payment Gateway. A unique aspect of this Web Design Company is that they are already well-versed in cryptocurrency and are excited to accept Dash as payment!


Dashop.io will be a multi-merchant online marketplace offering an unlimited variety

of (legal) products and services for sale and priced in Dash.


The site will serve as:

 a global directory of merchants (online and storefront) who accept Dash for payment

 an integrated merchant portal for online shoppers who prefer to use Dash

 a Dash-only or Dash-alternative e-commerce site for individual merchants

 a promotional tool for the Dash cryptocurrency and merchants who use it


Visual and functional objectives include:

 professional and trustworthy perception

 a clean, modern design

 easy merchant setup, operation and maintenance

o application and approval process

o merchant pages setup and maintenance (e.g. add/remove products and change prices/availability)

3 Methods for Merchants to Maintain Product Catalogs:

- manually add products through a login,

- allow vendors to upload products with a CSV file

- through a custom API.


o pricing markup to add dashop.io fees

o shipment options, selection and payment

o merchant order receipt and payment

o merchant policies and contact info for consumer

 product/service search integration

 unobtrusive but transparent merchant integration, similar to amazon.com

 easy to use for shoppers with merchant ratings and reviews built in to WooCommerce App


Timeline

We estimate a timeline of approximately 20 weeks from project start-up to site publication.


Concept Design

As part of my commitment to this project, and to show that the Dashop team is capable of completing this project, I have funded out of pocket to get the dynamic concept website built. Please view at dashoppe.iias.host


Cost, Profit, Expenses and Funding Request

-All-In Cost to Build Website: 200 Dash.

Completion Timeline: 5 months.

Paid in 2-week increments and milestone-based

-Monthly Maintenance/Hosting/Management Costs for 6 months: 15 Dash x 6 = 90 Dash

-Monthly Promotional/Incentive Budget for first 3 months of Operation: 50 Dash/mo. X 3 = 150 Dash

Total: 440 Dash

The reason for the high promotional budget is to provide a mega marketing blitz with Facebook, Google and Youtube Ads. All of the Dash will be spent, regardless of the fiat value.

Dash-Funded Organization vs. Private Entity

My goal for Dashop.io is to become a sustainable business that doesn’t require a monthly stipend from the Treasury to operate. This is why Dashop is only requesting the first 6 months of operation expenses. After the 3 month promotional period, Dashop will institute a maximum of 10% markup (compared to ~15% for amazon) on products in order to cover expenses, which will provide users and merchants with a price advantage over other online marketplaces.

I would be happy to engage GreenCandle.io for escrow services, as well as to sign an MOU with regards to the fees.


The Team

Dashop is comprised of myself and a local Web Design Team with decades of experience in designing web stores. You may know me as “Nate” on discord, or previously “DJCrypt0” on slack, a long-time MNO, former DashForce MVP, and a large contributor to the Foundation in 2015. Check my "Joined" date. I donated to fund the majority of Bit To Byte (August and Jakub’s) expenses for their trip to London and through my escrow/incubator InstantKarmaFund.org have sponsored many successful proposals, including: Dash Serbia, Dash4Nigeria, Team Morocco and Bit To Byte. I want nothing more than for Dash to become mainstream and usable as a decentralized payments platform and economy!


Conclusion

I am excited to make this concept a reality and am looking forward to making an off-ramp from the legacy economy to the new Dash economy! Please leave all the feedback so I can address your concerns prior to submitting the Proposal this month.
 
Last edited:
@djcrypto I like the idea.
What will be the monthly request for the budget, 73 coins x 6 months?
 
can you double check this calculation: Monthly Promotional/Incentive Budget for first 3 months of Operation: 75 Dash/mo. X 3 = 150 Dash
 
charlieb said:
Can you further break down the all-in website cost please.
Click to expand...

Hi @charlieb,

You could divide the 200 Dash into 10 payments bi-weekly, if you like to think about it that way. The Web Team requires payment every 2 weeks to meet payroll.
I am managing and documenting this project personally, so will be requiring the web team to make consistent progress.
Escrow will handle payments and ensure consistent progress is maintained, in compliance with the proposal and DashWatch.

feedbands said:
Would also be nice to see a list of merchants that have agreed to be integrated.
Click to expand...

Hi @feedbands , this is a type of infrastructure where "if you build it, they will come."
However, with the incentives planned I feel it will be attractive to merchants and users alike.
 
Do you have milestones that you're looking to track to for each of the biweekly payments? I'd like to know if they include things like an architecture or design document, end user merchant instructions and what regular feature development milestones you expect.
 
I like the road map and goals. Making it easy for merchants is key.

Having escrow takes away the need to split it over months.

Yes votes from me.
 
charlieb said:
Do you have milestones that you're looking to track to for each of the biweekly payments? I'd like to know if they include things like an architecture or design document, end user merchant instructions and what regular feature development milestones you expect.
Click to expand...

Hi @charlieb , thanks for your question. I will have this for the official proposal.

Beru said:
Exciting project. Would vote yes but I think you could split in 2 or 3 payments.
Click to expand...

Hi @Beru , thanks for your feedback. The reason I'm requesting funds for the building of the site and the promotional period is because I don't want to have to burn more Dash and Ryan Taylor has suggested this is the best way to approach Proposal Funding. Having one, or in this case two proposals instead of three, streamlines the evaluation process of the many proposals required for MNOs to research, finally it reduces amount of Dash put at risk for each proposal. Also, the escrow I believe will reduce risk exposure in the worst case scenario. As you may know, GreenCandle is working on a GrantCenter for unspent Treasury funds from non-performing proposals. So, at worst, the unspent funds will go to support other proposals. That said, I'm extremely confident and excited for this proposal or I wouldn't waste my valuable time, or that of other MNOs.

I hope that satisfies your concerns.

ewok said:
I like the road map and goals. Making it easy for merchants is key.

Having escrow takes away the need to split it over months.

Yes votes from me.
Click to expand...

Hi @ewok , thanks for your feedback and support. I agree that merchants need an easy gateway to participate in the new Dash economy!
 
I like the proposal. Would love to see a different funding structure though. The only question in my mind is whether it is cheaper to pursue this path or invest equal resources in making a partnership with an established eCommerce provider. Nevertheless, you have my support, but I would love to see a better breakdown of costs and some information on merchants, maybe letter of intents signed or something, for that type of funding request.
 
I can only say that Dash Serbia is rocking because of you and your help!

I am happy to see this is happening and eager to see the final product!

Keep it up man, you have my full support!
 
It's a great concept. However, a couple of points.

1. The amount of DASH that you are asking to develop the website seems to be out of proportion.
2. This is a business which means that you are in it for profit. Therefore why no suggestion that you will repay the Treasury for helping you which will enable more people to get off the ground. In fact why is it not a prerequisite of all business centred proposals (those whose intention is to generate profit) to have in their business plan that the interest free loan from the Treasury will be repaid at some time.

As I say, a great idea however it needs more refinement.
 
440k for merchant portal is too expensive imo - I think you will struggle to get any merchant of value to list.

DAPI for Evo is going to change how we shop and integrate with merchants.

Whats your marketing plan by the way?
 
An Amazon for dash, nice. High risk, so you don't want to use your own funds? I don't know, I'm not entirely against it.

It has been suggested that Evolution will make this somewhat redundant but I very much disagree. I think competition is exactly what Evolution needs. Anyone can build off the DAPI, so why not? Can you integrate the purchase of dash? How about integrating with Kyber Networks? - that would most definitely get my vote.
 
LordHaldon said:
It's a great concept. However, a couple of points.

1. The amount of DASH that you are asking to develop the website seems to be out of proportion.
2. This is a business which means that you are in it for profit. Therefore why no suggestion that you will repay the Treasury for helping you which will enable more people to get off the ground. In fact why is it not a prerequisite of all business centred proposals (those whose intention is to generate profit) to have in their business plan that the interest free loan from the Treasury will be repaid at some time.

As I say, a great idea however it needs more refinement.
Click to expand...

Hi @LordHaldon , thanks for your feedback.

I will address your points:

1. I think the cost of the website is justifiable, especially concerning the value and utility it will bring to the Dash Network.
This is not a basic site - it will be user and merchant-friendly and allow for people with Dash to use it and merchants to accept it.
IMO this is a necessity for the Dash Network and is a good value.

2. I agree about the "for profit" aspect. That's why I have the sub-heading "Dash-Funded Organization vs. Private Entity"
I'm open to input about this.
Should the Dash Treasury be funding the operating expenses for assets such as this?
Is this like the "sub-DAO" idea that Evan discussed? Or should it be self-sustaining?
Would you be more supportive of the website cost if there was no profit motive?

This is the discussion I'd like to have.
 
GrandMasterDash said:
An Amazon for dash, nice. High risk, so you don't want to use your own funds? I don't know, I'm not entirely against it.

It has been suggested that Evolution will make this somewhat redundant but I very much disagree. I think competition is exactly what Evolution needs. Anyone can build off the DAPI, so why not? Can you integrate the purchase of dash? How about integrating with Kyber Networks? - that would most definitely get my vote.
Click to expand...

Hi @GrandMasterDash ,

Thanks for your feedback.

1. This is not necessarily competition for Evolution. I think of it more as an alternative and a gateway to guide people to Evolution. The thing with Evo is, it will be ramping up over years. It won't be like the Google Play Store on June 1, 2018 with thousands of apps and unlimited bandwidth and billions of users - it will take time. People should be prepared for that progression. Therefore, we need something to hold people over and build interest in Dash, in the meantime, and work alongside Evo, when it is released.

2. I'm not interested in integrating the purchase of Dash. That has way too many legal liabilities, regulation and flaming hoops to jump through for my taste. There are lots of places to get Dash already. Come to Dashop.io to spend it. Have to keep it simple and achievable.

3. I don't want to use my own funds for many reasons:
a) The markup would be too high to entice users and merchants to adopt it.
Why go pay market rate with crypto when you can pay market rate with fiat?
IMO there has to be an incentive for people to loosen the purse-strings and spend their crypto.
By having Treasury funding for this project, I'm able to reduce the markup and be self-sustaining, or just be a DFO (Dash-Funded Organization) and eliminate the potential profit similar to Dash Force News.

b) If I use my own funds, and am mildly successful, Dash Treasury could elect to sponsor a competitor of mine.
I don't want to be in a position to fight the Treasury. I want the Treasury to support this project and for it to add huge value and adoption of the Dash Network.
IMO the Treasury is made for projects like this that offer exclusivity and competitive advantages to the Dash Network.
That includes seeking funding to subsidize the startup costs, which will reduce the prices of the products and result in increased utility and adoption of Dash as a digital cash.

The question, as above, is are you supportive of this as a DFO (as a non-profit) or as a Private Entity that gets a head start and is potentially self-sufficient?

I'm open to input. I just want what's best for Dash.

Nate
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top