HIGH-TECH PREVIEW
(Note: A step-by-step graphic illustration will be coming in good time.)

   As said, if successful, the ERBN will be going high-tech--offering convenient automated services that simplify and accelerate the whole Black-marketing and -buying experience for all parties involved.

Features projected to be included:

1) Log-in Boxes for suppliers, merchants and customers. Among other things, this will allow suppliers to update product info, and suppliers and merchants may edit their contact info and their ERBN Cause/Investment. Suppliers and merchants may also access stored data relevant to their ERBN communications and transactions. Customers may update their personal profiles, and everyone may shop online.

2) Online Payment Service that automatically charges the discount price.

3) Template Posting for Suppliers--templates that allow suppliers to post products and data, as well as alter such, rapidly and easily.

4) Automatic Network Posting--a feature allowing suppliers to add or alter product postings on all three of my marketing networks (ERBN, EEE, UBN) at the same time.

5) Unlimited Web Space for suppliers, allowing them to add as many products as they wish.

6) ERBN Transaction Fund--a fund electronically managed by Ad Spread Collective (ASC). The Fund could be stored in a Black-owned bank. It would include accounts set up for suppliers, merchants and customers, who would send in a minimum amount to open said accounts and who would be responsible for maintaining enough funds in their accounts to handle all applicable transactions. Account holders would be able to log into the ASC computer from where all accounts would be digitally managed. The computer would then electronically transfer money back and forth to the applicable accounts as products are purchased, commissions are paid, and refunds are given--all at NO COST to account holders as far as transaction fees. Regarding commissions, electronic payments of all sizes (no matter how small) would be made to merchants exactly on the due date--unless aborted by applicable suppliers beforehand because of customer refunds. As said, ASC transactions would be free; however, anyone wanting to receive payment to an address or account outside of the ASC Fund's electronic domain would probably have to pay transaction fees and/or postage concerning bank transactions, commercial-company transactions, or the printing, handling and mailing of checks--with ASC charging the recipients only what the bank charges, what the applicable financial-transaction company charges, or only enough to cover the cost of providing the checks. Also, account holders wishing to electronically pay into their accounts would be responsible for paying any related transaction fees. (If the bank is agreeable, account holders may be able to open their own personal accounts with the bank and have their ASC-Fund payments transferred into them by bank personnel or from them and into the ASC Fund at no cost. They could then also have checks printed up, acquire debit cards, and use the bank like their local bank.) All participants may close their ASC accounts and receive complete refunds should they decide that the Fund isn't convenient. (Besides the ERBN, the Fund could also be made available for other Black and pro-Black companies and organizations--as long as they contribute and maintain their necessary operating capital.) In time, ASC may establish its own bank or financial institution and provide check services and debit cards on a break-even basis and provide outside-ASC electronic transfers for free.

7) Automatic E-mail Notification--to notify suppliers when funds will be transferred from them to the merchants.

8) Debit Cards/Checking Accounts--for ERBN Transaction Fund members, allowing them to make purchases at any business or even just withdraw cash from ATMs or other financial institutions, and allowing them to use the Fund as a checking account.

9) PDF Printed Catalog--the ERBN products in catalog form available for downloading on the Web in PDF. There will be a template merchants can use that will automatically include their merchant # on all products. Merchants will also be able to customize their catalogs as far as selected products and page quantity. Merchants can print the catalogs singularly or have multiple copies printed by a commercial printer via a data-transfer feature that will allow the file to easily be available for printers online. Customers will be able to order online or by mail by sending the catalog order form and payment to the ERBN Transaction Fund.

10) Coded Merchant Pages--Web pages featuring ERBN products for sale, with all pages being coded with the merchant # of any merchant whose URL is used by a customer. This will cause said merchant's number to automatically be incorporated into the products' ERBN product numbers. Thus, all the merchant will have to do is advertise their own particular URL. This process is used by many Internet marketing networks now.

PLUS

Store Network: Another of my plans is to recruit stores (especially Black-owned ones) willing to distribute catalogs, take orders, and receive the ordered products. Customers would also be able to order online and have the goods shipped to their local member store. Multiple goods would be shipped to the stores in singular boxes, saving customers postage when they order multiple products. The stores would exchange the goods for money from the ordering customers, retain their commissions, and then send the required amount back to the suppliers. ERBN suppliers could sign on to this process on an individual basis—under the condition that they ship the goods first and get paid when the stores exchange them for the money. (Note: Customers could be required to leave a deposit to cover shipping in case they decide not to pick up their ordered items.)

 ASC Warehouse: ERBN-member stores could also benefit from this: Suppliers could ship their goods in bulk to the warehouse (saving postage—as well as storage overhead-costs) and have them drop shipped to the individual stores (multiple goods in one box) and/or to the individual customers (singular or multiple goods in one box from singular or multiple suppliers) as they are ordered. Along with storing any goods that they themselves produce, the suppliers could also order stock from other companies and have it stored in and shipped from the warehouse. Member stores could also stock products in the warehouse, wherein, along with selling them at their own stores locally, they could have the whole ERBN network market them nationwide online as well as via the store network—again, saving everyone money on shipping wherever possible.

 Catalog Printings: I will be printing and distributing multiple copies of catalogs featuring ERBN products in color--on glossy paper. The catalogs will be mailed individually to singular individuals as well as in volume to various supportive stores and organizations to be given away by them. Those I fund will bear my merchant number; however any merchants wanting to print theirs are always welcome and will be provided with the necessary files to print from. In the future, I’ll organize massive-volume printings wherein multiple merchants can contribute financially and we can all save a lot of money on volume-printing. A place will be left bear on the catalogs where the individual merchants can stamp their numbers or attach labels bearing them. I could even drop ship for everyone to save them the added postage.

   As said, this is all in the future. In the meantime...
...LET'S WORK TOGETHER NOW so that we may one day reach this point!

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