Kenya - Business creation project

Describe your project or startup in a few words

VAS(VIRTUALLY ASSISTED SHOPPERS) is a business idea that intends to digitize and improve the online shopping and delivery processes for consumers by use of live camera in a virtual shopping process with the help of a business agent as a proxy shopper.

01.01 Describe your project in more detail

VAS(Virtually Assisted Shoppers) intends to make it easier,fast and less costly for consumers to make their shopping list or orders with instructions and send to the company for shopping and deliveries whenever they are in a position not to do the shopping in person, by themselves or by other trusted persons. However,under demand or unclear circumstances the shopping agent will have a live camera and means of communication direct with the customer for specific locations of shopping, pickups, and choices, before making a purchase, packing and delivering. Customers will only be required to pay for; 1. A relatively small and fair monthly/quarterly/yearly subscription premium fee 2. Delivery services charges. 3. Goods to be purchased. The business shall raise its revenue from; 1. The subscription charges, 2. Delivery charges, 3. Affiliate commissions from stores that would strike the deal and 4. Sales profits for good that will be acquired direct from the business's stores.

01.02 What is the main problem you are trying to solve?

VAS as a business idea intends to address the solution to the difficulties that most individuals undergo when they are held up with a number of activities or tasks with competing priorities, shopping and delivery services as part of them. The business aims at offering excellent proxy door to door shopping and delivery services on request for customers who would otherwise feel incapable/disabled and or unable to carry out the tasks in person, and urgently.

01.03 Tell us the major benefits and/or advantages of using the product/service that your project intends to provide (at least 3).

The use of VAS will help customers save transportation costs to and from malls/markets since purchases and choices will be made virtually by a proxy shopper and the only cost they will incur will be for delivery and a termly premium charge. This in return might increase the purchasing power as a little balance from initial cost will fall under disposable income. Use of VAS will also improve the customer online business trust since consumers will feel to be in complete control of the process even in their physical absence. Use of VAS will also help consumers redeem their time for other important urgent activities since this activity will be carried out by the organization as perfect as they would do it in person. Use of VAS will also create employment for the unemployed youths in the delivery sector. Use of VAS will also help to promote the use of technology in the online business sector by digitizing the process.

01.04 Please describe who exactly your project is aimed at serving. Who are the targeted beneficiaries?

1. Malls/Supermarkets and traders in urban markets. These places will benefit from Proxy's shoppers activities as disadvantages associated with congestion in the market places are reduced. Purchasing power will also increase from a sense that expenses costs will be reduced. 2. Vacation customers, and busy individuals. VAS is aiming at busy individuals with lists of activities in which shopping is one of them. VAS will carry out the shopping and delivery tasks on behalf of them as perfect as they would have done it in person. 3. Absentee Working parents. VAS aims at this segment of customers for proxy shopping and delivering services for their families. 4. Physically challenged individuals to carry out shopping activities by themselves 5. Individuals in need of emergency/urgent shopping and/or delivery services.

01.05 When did you start working on your project?

2024-03-01

01.06 How many other partners are associated with your business venture?

2

01.07 Among the other partners, how many are female?

1

01.08 Please describe the profile of each of the other partners (skills, experience, etc.)

Partner 1: IT proficient : 3 years experience in retail sales : Creative and innovative Partner 2: 1 year experience as a driver : Good communication skills : Eloquent and Disciplined

01.09 If you have a website, a social media page (Facebook, Instagram, Linkedin…), or app, please provide the link here:

01.10 Which industry best describes your project?

d) Primary commodities (food, drink, household and personal products)

02.01.01 My project contributes to the No poverty goal

6

02.01.02 No poverty - Justification

VAS as a business idea aims at fighting poverty by creating a way of increasing the bracket of disposable income. Due to the rise of cost of living, the business idea intends to reduce the costs of transport shopping expenses which with time,will leave the economy feeling its positive impact as the amount saved will go to disposable income leaving consumers with choices of investing, savings and/or increased consumption which will be a positive impact to the economy. VAS will aslo save a lot of people's time...they will in turn use this time to engage in other useful economic activities which in one way or another will results into employment creation for more individuals at the bottom of the pyramid.

02.02.01 My project contributes to the Zero hunger goal

6

02.02.02 Zero hunger - Justification

VAS activities will result into job creation which will translate into more employed individuals who would begin to manage the harsh economic conditions and sustain their livelihoods as compared to their initial state.

02.03.01 My project contributes to the Good health and well-being goal

6

02.03.02 Good health and well-being - Justification

VAS activities will result into employment of more individuals who will be able to afford healthcare services and good healthy keeping meals routine.

02.04.01 My project contributes to the Quality education goal

6

02.04.02 Quality education - Justification

VAS activities will result into increase of individuals in the employment bracket which will enable more individuals to afford quality education.

02.05.01 My project contributes to the Gender equality goal

6

02.05.02 Gender equality - Justification

VAS activities will have employment opportunities fairly competitive for the best regardless of their gender and/or if not, have unique postions set aside for ladies to achieve gender equality.

02.06.01 My project contributes to the Clean water and sanitation goal

5

02.06.02 Clean water and sanitation - Justification

VAS activities will result into employment of individuals who will be in a position to afford clean water of required sanitation standard.

02.07.01 My project contributes to the Affordable and clean energy goal

5

02.07.02 Affordable and clean energy - Justification

VAS activities will results into less emission of harmful gasses that are produced by many gasoline vehicles that congest the traffic at times shopping being among only the activities that keep them on road.

02.08.01 My project contributes to the Decent work and economic growth

7 - Strongly Agree

02.08.02 Decent work and economic growth - Justification

VAS activities will diversify economic activities around delivery services and online shopping services resulting into a decent way of carrying out shopping activities and hence economic growth.

02.09.01 My project contributes to the Industry innovation and infrastructure

6

02.09.02 Industry innovation and infrastructure - Justification

VAS activities will be a great innovative step into the online marketing industry and related delivery/courier services. It will also promote good use of infrastructure as it will reduce the number wastage/destruction that comes as result of overcrowding on available infrastructure by individuals with only shopping intention as their main activity.

02.10.01 My project contributes to the Reduced inequalities goal

6

02.10.02 Reduced inequalities - Justification

VAS activities offer equal opportunities for growth locally within cities/towns of operation, at a national level, and also at an international level.

02.11.01 My project contributes to the Sustainable cities and communities goal

7 - Strongly Agree

02.11.02 Sustainable cities and communities - Justification

VAS activities will promote economic sustainability across cities and communities of operation as services will be as far as from an international level to community level to meet door to door delivery services.

02.12.01 My project contributes to the Responsible consumption and production goal

6

02.12.02 Responsible consumption and production - Justification

VAS activities will promote sustainable consumption and production patterns as the business supply rate and pattern will help manufacturers , producers ,suppliers and all stake holders have a clear projection of future demand/supply curves for proper planning and running of their organizations.

02.13.01 My project contributes to the Climate action goal

5

02.13.02 Climate action - Justification

Reduced numbers of transport activities of shoppers will reduce harmful fuel emissions as one proxy shopper will carry out the same task once for several individuals with similar interests and/or from similar route/location of destinartion of interest.

02.14.01 My project contributes to the Life below water goal

2

02.14.02 Life below water - Justification

02.15.01 My project contributes to the Life on land goal

4

02.15.02 Life on land - Justification

02.16.01 My project contributes to the Peace justice and strong institutions goal

4

02.16.02 Peace justice and strong institutions - Justification

02.17.01 My project contributes to the Partnerships for the goal

6

02.17.02 Partnerships for the goal - Justification

VAS activities will help to provide a good environment for implementation and revitalization of Global Partnership for Sustainable Development right from an international level services for groups/individuals with same development interests to a national and hence community door to door services.

05.01 There are a large number of customers who already use a product/service very similar to the product/service we envision creating.

5

05.02 The product/service we envision creating represents an entirely new type of product/service.

3

05.03 The product/service we envision creating could be described as a new technology.

5

05.04 The product/service we envision creating is an improvement on an existing product or service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.05 The product/service we envision creating could be described as an extension of a range of products or services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.06 The product/service we envision creating responds to a demand or need that has not been satisfied by other products/services.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.07 The product/service we envision creating is a new version of an old product/service.

7 - Strongly Agree

05.08 Justification

VAS as a business idea is unique in such a way that it is not going to operate like the existing courier services, which only offer services from cities to cities/towns/pickup stations. VAS is going to offer its services both from cities to cities/towns/pickup stations to your doorstep and also offer proxy shopping services at city level/community level and do the delivery right to your doorstep, and on request shopping will also be done live with use of a live camera and at shopping centres of choice and not only our stores.

05.09 Who are your main potential competitors and what makes you stand out from them?

1. JUMIA Jumia operate with goods from their own stores and they do deliver their goods from their stores to the nearest centres that their customers can pick by help of jumia agents who open up pickup stations. Instead, VAS will be offering proxy shopping services from its stores and on request, any market of customer's choice, live or online and do immediate delivery of the goods to their destinations of choice.

10.06 Are you initiating actions within your community to promote the role of female entrepreneurs?

Yes. Promote women empowerment campaigns and by offering equal opportunities for available roles and tasks.