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Dash uptake by UK businesses - Update

CaptAhab

Active member
March 2018 update

Full proposal details here

We are committed to progressing work in the UK. Our proposal passed in the February vote, but insufficient Treasury funds meant we did not receive any Dash for Month One. We have continued unfunded for the first month.


Our work is needed in the UK now, galvanising the interest generated to date, publicising case studies and engaging merchants. We have the continued partnership of the key Trade Association in the UK jewellery sector - the National Association of Jewellers (NAJ) and need to progress at pace. We have a great new sector to work with via the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA).


With proposed regulation in the UK and G20 deliberations cryptocurrencies remain in the public eye. Our work is timely and given the increasing challenge of volatility it is essential we maintain momentum, building on the engagement and interest from our first projects.


In March so far;


We have produced an article for The Jeweller coming to press in April reporting the survey results and our follow up to the issues raised in the survey. The magazine has embargoed it until 4th April, but if anyone wants to see it I can share on an individual basis.


We have opened discussions with the NAJ about AML - a key issue identified in our Merchant survey.


We are producing a guidance document covering practical issues for merchants using Dash including how you deal with issues like refunds in Dash, and dealing with volatility. This will be a living document; updated as we roll out and merchants identify other issues or developments take place with Dash.


It is important merchants feel supported in their integration; as early adopters we are keen they are positive case studies we can draw on to attract others. This approach sets Dash apart from other cryptocurrencies - we are on the ground and supporting merchants working through issues as they arise.


Inevitably getting merchants to express interest in Dash is only the first step. Getting them integrated, real adoption, takes a great deal of support and effort, with the merchant setting the time frame because it is their business and website. Building on our integration studies in our first project Damian Miles has listed as a merchant for Dash, and plans to integrate Dash once some issues with his system are resolved, and we are meeting with Kerstin Haigh Jewellers to integrate Dash into their business.


We will be promoting the merchants we integrate to the Dash community - transactions in Dash will be the key to success and holders of Dash hold that key!


We will offer the early adopters the opportunity to participate in the “Dashback” pilot, hopefully encouraging others to sign up as merchants. We will issue this invite as soon as we have the Dash funds available. We will share the documentation for Dashback to interested MNOs for input ahead of launching it.


As soon as we have Dash funding in place we can progress work with the NAJ updating their members on our work since the survey and inviting further expressions of interest in integration.


We have secured a fantastic sponsorship deal with the British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA which represent 6500 independent retailers), with Dash sponsoring the Future of Payments Panel at BIRA's annual conference on 10 May. In addition to Dash marketing materials and promotion on site on the day and networking with a wide range of independent retailers, our sponsorship agreement includes BIRA issuing a survey on Dash (which serves as both fact finding and promotional for Dash). In order to maximise returns BIRA have agreed to issue the survey at the conference as a hard copy to each delegate which we will collect and discuss with members on the day (Dash will be the sole survey issued), as well as sending out after the event by email. We will incentivise responses in the same way as we did with the gold and jewellery sector by offering a Dash prize to a selection of respondents. This eased the way into more detailed integration discussions with merchants.


It is undeniable the climate becomes more challenging as the price change continues. Evolution will greatly assist in framing the engagement with merchants. We need merchants to identify Dash as the go-to cryptocurrency and that requires ongoing effort.


Next steps, once we have funding available, includes


  • Progressing regulation work with NAJ;

  • Attracting additional merchants via NAJ;

  • Finalising “Dashback” scheme;

  • Finalising sponsorship with British Independent Retailers Association (BIRA) and preparing survey;

  • Progressing scoping work on Circulation of Dash and ISVs.


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April 2018 Update

Full proposal details here


April 2018 progress highlights from Dash Uptake by UK Business - detailed report on progress (4-5 min read) https://goo.gl/zp8yg9

· First jeweller integration from the project launched - now accepting Dash.

· Guide on how to set up Dash shop with Wordpress,WooCommerce, GoUrl, Uphold produced.

· Practical paper on issues to consider ahead of trading in Dash produced.

· Three merchants signed up to "Dashback" trial to start in May. Dashback - Making it cheaper to buy in Dash.

· Article published in The Jeweller Magazine.

· Working with National Association of Jewellers on AML and continued promotion.

· Work with new target sector commenced - independent retailers, through British British Independent Retailers Association (Bira). Survey going out to companies and Future Payment Panel sponsored at Bira annual conference.

· Budget and milestones update.
 
Work is on track with the project and going well. Full update will be posted early next week.

In the meantime we wanted to share the draft documentation on the DashBack pilot ahead of sharing with participating merchants next week. This also includes a risk document we have prepared for Dash colleagues

Any comments/ideas please let me know by 22 May. We plan to launch DashBack on 14 June.

We look forward to launching the scheme and getting some traction on dash sales going in this pilot.

Details of DashBack scheme can be seen here; https://goo.gl/uZ6x8d

An analysis of the options and risks we considered can be found here: https://goo.gl/UR5cUo
 
May 2018 Update

Full proposal details here


May 2018 progress highlights from Dash Uptake by UK Business - detailed report on progress (4-5 min read)

- DashBack pilot scheme and documentation prepared and shared with Dash community for comment ahead of issuing to participating merchants on 24 May. DashBack to launch 14 June

- Dash4Business website prepared - for launch in June

- Work commenced with new sector;

- sponsorship of Future Payments Panel at British Independent Retailers Association (bira) annual conference on 10 May

- survey of bira delegates issued on 14 May
 
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Dash4Business, the team undertaking the “Dash Uptake by UK Businesses” project launches DashBack pilot - subsidising UK jewellers to sell their goods more cheaply in Dash.

DashBack enables participating merchants to offer their products to customers at a cheaper rate in Dash than in Sterling. The discount given to customers is then repaid to the merchant from Dash.


Learning from previous Dash giveaways, the Dash4Business project team have designed the scheme to reward transactions in Dash through incentivisation either encouraging consumers to open Dash wallets for the first time or encouraging existing holders of Dash to buy products. Dash4Business hope the Dash community support these early adopter merchants and take advantage of the discounted products in Dash. These merchants will become very powerful advocates encouraging more merchants and customers alike to adopt Dash, if they have a positive experience in this first phase of their Dash journey.


What’s not to like? Dash to it and get buying. Take a look at our new website www.Dash4Business.co.uk and keep an eye out for our promotional activity over the coming weeks.
 
June 2018 Update

Full proposal details here or https://goo.gl/YKwGtj

June 2018 progress highlights from Dash Uptake by UK Business detailed report on progress or https://goo.gl/mj8h8g


  • DashBack pilot scheme launched on 18 June – 3 UK jewellers offering discounts for purchases made in Dash; further merchants interested in next phase;
  • Dash4Business website launched – www.Dash4Business.co.uk
  • POS pack produced

Coming up in rest of June;


  • meeting with National Association of Jewellers Chief Executive on 28 June;
  • invited to attend as a guest of the organiser the Vendorcom Future of Payments event on 28 June;
  • meeting with an independent payment consultant on 29 June to discuss some joint working and to help identify forward- thinking ISVs we might make progress with;
  • working with “Payments” team at TechUK to set up an event to raise awareness. Good introductory meeting held on 7 June, currently awaiting dates for event to be scheduled.
 
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Great meeting with the National Association of Jewellers yesterday - we decided to meet and reset the agenda given the recent downturn in price.


We are joining Dash4Business to the NAJ enabling us direct access to jeweller members in the UK (cheaper than Trade Press articles). This allows us to publicise ongoing work and to pursue the important education agenda identified in the original survey.


The NAJ are making an introduction for us to the National Pawnbrokers Association which could be really interesting - more in future updates on progress as we make it.


The NAJ are making an introduction for us to the largest Buillion dealers in the UK and to a soon to be launched B2B/B2C jewellery business.


We are looking at sponsoring an event at International Jewellery London on 2nd September and opening Dash wallets for the first 75 guests to buy a drink with.


The NAJ are launching a new website in September and are keen for us to participate in a crypto online forum.


All of this signals real intention to carry on working with us and a real commitment to engage.


Yesterday Dash4Business were also invited as a guest to Vendercom’s Future of Payments conference- the guest invitation signifies progress in this space and demonstrated a lack of coverage of cryptocurrency in this field.


Today we had a follow up call with Paul Rodgers, Chief Executive of Vendercom. This was a very positive call - offers of membership of Vendercom’s Special Interest Advisory Group, speaking engagement at 11th October Payments Conference, opportunity to contribute to UK Government Cabinet Office Thought Experiment of the Future of Banking.


The tides they are a changing. Dash4Business is becoming known and we have alot to bring to the party.
 
On the dash4business site, when I click "Marchants" at the top, it actually scrolls past the three merchants currently accepting dash. I was expecting it to jump to the three merchants, or at least be visible below, not above.
 
We got the votes for this month but due to budget pressures did not get the funding.


We are keen to continue the project and have managed to deal with reputational risks with the organisations we are working with - but this does mean we need funding for next month - as we can only sensibly pause activities for a short time with them.


Fingers crossed for up turn in yes votes - we are progressing what we can this month and look forward to making further progress when we get funding.


DashBack needs your backing - see www.Dash4business.co.uk for further info and we are excited to confirm one of the jewellers Diadem is offering a massive 20% discount for purchases in Dash.
 
In June we got the votes needed but not the funding. In the absence of funding we have been unable to make the progress planned - but we have managed to keep the positive working relationships going with the National Association of Jewellers and merchants.


In June Dash4Business has joined the National Association of Jewellers - acceptance of our membership application means we have direct access to members to keep in touch with them on progress. Next steps will be to take forward that dialogue and education when we are in a position to be able to take forward the project.


The merchants who have integrated Dash are keen and committed. It is disappointing that DashBack has not so far secured them many sales - each merchant has made a sale in Dash but so far since the launch of DashBack only one sale has been made. Their commitment to stay on board is admirable and we can hope that with an upturn in Dash price this will equate to increasing DashBack sales.


We are continuing DashBack but have had to pause other activities until funding comes through. This represents a real issue for Dash and for us personally of course. Managing the project without guaranteed funding requires careful planning and negotiation - getting people on board without being able to contract until funding is secure requires skill and great negotiation skills. Operating in a mainstream sector, which we are doing, is not easy when there is lack of secure funding, but we have managed to deliver so far with professionalism and maintain good working relationship with the business sector.


We really do hope the Dash community continues to support this project. Whilst in the UK at the current price is challenging that is not to say Dash should not have a presence here. We need to make sure we are the go to cryptocurrency, and that takes longevity in education and building a presence.


We have made inroads and progress, but without funding is it impossible to complete this work. To not be able to deliver the rest of the work in our view represents a wasted opportunity, wasted investment and most importantly wasted time for merchants and people who have engaged and have a real interest in Dash.
 
Really disappointing vote for us, and Dash in the UK.

We do understand the desire to focus on Venezuela and wish those guys who got funded much success.

But I guess we weren’t expecting the huge down vote on our project - we got the message early on that we weren’t going to be funded but the continued downward voting without comments leaves us in a position of uncertainty for any future work.

Maybe people thought it was the wrong place at the wrong time. We don’t really know.

Of course we get the budget reasons why this has happened, but pulling funding mid way through projects is tough and not really a viable way to run projects. It is hard for proposal owners and team members to run projects sensibly in this way, but really it is more of a problem for Dash itself. It may stop good people coming forward as there is such uncertainty in being able to run the project well and it has reputational risks for those of us who have been working with existing businesses.

Maybe we will be able to regain the steps we have made in the future - we have to hope so.

Thank you to the Dash community who have supported us - we have endeavoured to be professional and deliver what we set out to deliver, but regrettably that has not been enough.

Good luck to those of you who got funded, we wish you well.
 
Really disappointing vote for us, and Dash in the UK.

We do understand the desire to focus on Venezuela and wish those guys who got funded much success.

But I guess we weren’t expecting the huge down vote on our project - we got the message early on that we weren’t going to be funded but the continued downward voting without comments leaves us in a position of uncertainty for any future work.

Maybe people thought it was the wrong place at the wrong time. We don’t really know.

Of course we get the budget reasons why this has happened, but pulling funding mid way through projects is tough and not really a viable way to run projects. It is hard for proposal owners and team members to run projects sensibly in this way, but really it is more of a problem for Dash itself. It may stop good people coming forward as there is such uncertainty in being able to run the project well and it has reputational risks for those of us who have been working with existing businesses.

Maybe we will be able to regain the steps we have made in the future - we have to hope so.

Thank you to the Dash community who have supported us - we have endeavoured to be professional and deliver what we set out to deliver, but regrettably that has not been enough.

Good luck to those of you who got funded, we wish you well.
Keep the faith, we're just an uptick away from being able to fund many more things. It's a tough time right now.
 
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