SAVE THE WORLD, SAVE THE RETAILER 

The following information has been quoted directly from the application Allan Shore provided to the producers of Shark Tank. This posting is not designed to impact or reduce anyone's rights and responsbilities. Please consider the information contained herein as copy protected. To address any issues or concerns, please contact Allan Shore directly.

"What Business Idea / Product would you like to pitch?

Save the World, Save the Retailer …. Micro Merchandising.  The idea being to assemble a business support package of hardware and software that uses touch screen, small product technology to make the merchandising displays of Mom and Pop stores in small-town America really shine. Right now most technology is used for the benefit of large corporations or on the Internet directly. By using the very friendly technologies of today and incorporating their communication abilities into everyday products, the small town retailer’s display can engage and educate our customers while keeping our stores as the true heart and soul of America’s Main Street economic vitality. Image how LCD screens, GPS technology, little Widgets that are built into stuffed animals and samples of artistic products – image how these display items can help tell the story of who made the products, how they help make the world healthier, how these products keep families healthy and a part of their community. See my video tape. This idea allows us to keep the character of our stores intact while we take advantage of the new technologies that are coming online every day.

Does anyone else, including any business entity, own or control any rights to or have any interest in your business idea / product? 

Not formally. The retail store that my partner operates, called Shiroco’s, is something I have an informal business investment in and I would include Erick Martinez as my formal business partner as we incorporate this idea.

Did you develop your idea / product in connection with any past or present employment? NOPE

Do you own or have you applied for a patent and/or trademark registration in connection with your idea/product?   NOPE

Why do you want to pitch your idea / product?

Because it is an idea that needs major collective support from the small town retail community to work and to create the true value it offers. Doing so on a TV show of this nature would be a great way to start the buzz needed and give the project the credibility it needs to succeed.

How did you come up with your idea / product?

It is sort of a spinoff of the 22 years I spent working with nonprofit agencies, raising money for charitable programs. Over those years I learned to help nonprofits develop for-profit business enterprises without giving up on their overall mission to make the world a better place. Now that businesses in the for-profit sector are looking to be more socially responsible, this idea fits well and gives the small town retail community across the nation (and the world) a voice it doesn’t currently have. 

What attempts have you made to build your business? Have you been successful?

Mostly I’ve thought through the concept, conducted preliminary research, talked with others about the idea, and attended tradeshows and such to see what is available to make the idea work. Honestly it has mostly been a secret that I have wanted to keep that way until there was a great opportunity to get the idea noticed. Today’s successful ideas (like Fair Trade, for example) need a bit of momentum to make them fly. Mirco Merchandising is one of those ideas."

Kiva.org is one of the world's premiere micro-financing organization. They utilize small investments ($25 and up) from ordinary people who want to support business men and women in developing countries. According to their founder, they are considering going "US" in the near future ... or to put it another way, they want to determine how to use their model for small businesses in the United States. 

But will a few hundred dollar loan work as well here as it does in other emerging nations? Or are there other ways to strengthen America's smallest business class of creative capitalists? 

The Micro-Merchandising idea presented above seems like a great step in the direction of enabling small-time, online investors to get a bite of America's traditional American Main Street model of business. We believe that there are many local business retailers who would entertain the idea of getting supportive loans and advice from others as they seek to keep their dreams alive and do the best they can with the emerging technology revolution. 

What do you think? Is this an idea that could appeal to the American Micro-Merchant market? If so or if not, send us a note with your comments and suggestions! 

SAVE THE WORLD, SAVE THE RETAILER!