| Version | Author | Date |
|---|---|---|
0.01a (draft) Marc Allington · 25th June, 2023. | Marc Allington | 25th June, 2023 |
0.00a (draft) Marc Allington · 11th February, 2023. | Marc Allington | 11th February, 2023 |
We are a Community Interest Company (CIC)** that builds interactive
online platforms for people and businesses living and working in
Colchester, UK. Our goal is to create a one-of-a-kind community
atmosphere that caters to a wide range of needs, including
socialising, civic engagement, networking, and commerce.
** The CIC is in the process of being registered with Companies House.
Local communities need a centralised digital platform that enables residents and businesses to interact, exchange services, share information, and contribute to local development. Without such a platform, there is fragmentation, reduced community engagement, and missed opportunities for both residents and local businesses.
Our online community platform is a one-stop-shop that offers an extensive range of services tailored to meet the needs of both residents and businesses. It provides various features, including personalised event calendars, treasure hunts, parenting groups, free ads, healthcare information, and more, to keep residents engaged and socialising. For businesses, we offer networking groups, job boards, business pages, and a 'Find a Tradesman' feature to help them connect with potential customers. All of these features are designed to create a mutually beneficial environment for both residents and businesses.
Our primary market comprises of all residents and local businesses in our community. As people increasingly rely on digital solutions for their daily needs and remote work becomes more common, we expect our platform to be in high demand. What sets us apart is our unique business model, where all profits go to local charities and causes. This not only gives us a competitive edge but also aligns with the growing global trend of socially responsible businesses.
In the next sections, we will provide a detailed look at our company's services, market analysis, business model, marketing and sales strategy, operations and management, financial plan, and implementation timeline. Through this business plan, we aim to provide a comprehensive roadmap for establishing our online community platform as a central hub for local residents and businesses.
Our mission is to empower and connect local residents and businesses through a digital platform that fosters social interaction, civic participation, and economic growth. By returning all profits to local charities and good causes, we aim to create a business model that nourishes the community's welfare, laying the foundation for a healthier, happier, and more prosperous local environment.
We offer a wide range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of our community. For individual residents, we provide fun and engaging activities, such as treasure hunts and competitions, a personalised events calendar, parenting groups and services, and features for dating and socialising. Our platform also offers valuable resources, like free ads, local healthcare information, healthy eating and fitness advice, and a marketplace for buying and selling goods.
For businesses, we offer an array of services to facilitate networking, hiring, and both B2B and B2C customer engagement. These services include business networking groups, job boards, dedicated business pages, a 'Find a Tradesman' feature, and family business services. These services create opportunities for businesses to connect, share experiences, and grow together, thereby fostering a vibrant local economy.
Our online community is a digital hub that brings together residents and businesses for mutual benefit. By centralising many services and activities on one platform, we encourage active participation, interaction, and engagement within the community.
The platform's user-friendly interface, coupled with its comprehensive range of features, makes it a convenient one-stop solution for our users. It ensures residents have access to a wide range of services and activities that enrich their daily lives while providing businesses with the tools they need to thrive and prosper in the local community.
In essence, our company serves as a bridge between residents and local businesses, creating an interactive space that nurtures community spirit, promotes local commerce, and contributes to the overall development of our community.
Our primary market comprises local residents and businesses within our community. The platform is designed to cater to a broad demographic spectrum, including:
By understanding our community's varied needs, we can tailor our services to ensure maximum user engagement and satisfaction.
Our typical users range from adults looking for socialising opportunities and engaging events, parents seeking advice and resources, to businesses of all sizes seeking local engagement and growth...
While generic social media platforms and local online directories exist, none offer a comprehensive, locally focused community platform that combines a broad range of social, civic, and business services...
Through this market analysis, we've identified our unique selling proposition and user needs, allowing us to position our services effectively in the market. The upcoming sections will provide further insights into our services, business model, marketing and sales strategy, operations and management, and financial plan.
We offer a wide range of non-revenue services that cater to various community needs:
Our revenue services cater primarily to local businesses, offering features that aid in their growth and visibility:
These services provide value to both individuals and businesses in our community, fostering growth, connectivity, and community spirit. In the subsequent sections, we will detail our business model, marketing strategy, operations, and financial plan.
Our revenue model is driven by services tailored to local businesses. These services include business networking groups, job boards, business pages, 'Find a Tradesman' feature, and family business services. Each of these offerings is designed to help local businesses grow, increase their visibility, and connect with potential customers.
Local businesses can subscribe to our platform on a monthly or yearly basis, granting them access to these features. Additionally, we offer premium listings and advertising options to businesses that wish to further increase their visibility.
As a Community Interest Company (CIC), our primary goal is not to generate profits for shareholders but to benefit the community. As such, all profits generated by our platform are directed towards local charities and good causes. This approach not only benefits the community but also enhances our platform's appeal by aligning with the values of socially conscious users and businesses.
A Community Interest Company is a type of company introduced by the United Kingdom government in 2005, designed for social enterprises that aim to use their profits and assets for public good. Our CIC is committed to reinvesting all profits back into the community. Our business model not only aims to facilitate a thriving online community but also contributes to the betterment of our local community in a tangible, meaningful way.
In the upcoming sections, we will delve into our marketing and sales strategy, operations and management, financial plan, and implementation timeline, providing a comprehensive view of our plan to make this online community platform a success.
Our marketing strategy comprises various digital marketing initiatives to reach our target market effectively:
Our sales strategy is to convert users into customers by highlighting the benefits they'll receive from our services:
With a robust marketing and sales strategy, we aim to increase our platform's visibility, engage effectively with our community, and drive growth for local businesses. The following sections will further detail our operations and management, financial plan, and implementation timeline.
Our operations will primarily be online, ensuring that our platform remains accessible 24/7 for all users. The website will be hosted on reliable, scalable cloud servers to ensure maximum uptime and performance. Regular updates and improvements will be performed based on user feedback and technological advancements.
Our management team comprises individuals with expertise in various fields:
We plan to form partnerships with local businesses, charities, and government bodies. These partnerships will help us to improve our services, increase our user base, and achieve our goals of benefiting the community.
In the following sections, we'll present our financial plan and implementation timeline, wrapping up our business plan with a comprehensive overview of our path to launching and growing this online community platform.
Our primary source of revenue is through subscriptions from local businesses for our various business services. Based on the number of businesses in our community and our market research, we anticipate steady growth in our subscriber base over the first few years.
We will also generate revenue through business sponsorship, premium listings and advertising options for businesses that want to increase their visibility on our platform. Community members can support us via a Patreon page.
Our major costs will be associated with:
As a Community Interest Company (CIC), all profits after operational costs will be directed towards local charities and good causes, in alignment with our social mission. This approach enhances our appeal to users and local businesses, who appreciate the positive impact we're making on the community.
We project that our revenues will cover our operational costs within the first year. Our financial model is designed to sustain our operations while continually re-investing in our community.
The following timeline outlines the key stages in the development and launch of our online community platform:
Starting September 2022: Our initial focus will be on developing the platform, including all features for residents and businesses. This phase will involve designing, coding, testing, and refining our platform based on user feedback.
Simultaneously with the development phase, we will begin our pre-launch marketing efforts to build awareness and anticipation for our platform. This will include social media marketing, content marketing, and community outreach.
We plan to launch our platform twelve months from the start date. The launch will be accompanied by a comprehensive marketing campaign to attract residents and businesses to register and start using our platform.
Following the launch, we will continue to refine and expand our platform based on user feedback and technological advancements. We will also monitor usage patterns and adjust our offerings as necessary to maximise user engagement and satisfaction.
At the end of the first year following golive, we will conduct a thorough review of our operations, financial performance, and community impact. This will allow us to identify areas for improvement and plan for the next stages of our growth.
By following this timeline, we aim to create an online community platform that not only meets the diverse needs of our community but also contributes positively to its development. Our goal is to see a vibrant, engaged online community that supports local businesses and benefits local charities and good causes.