Please select what best describe your business. |
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Form of Ownership | Limited Liability Company (LLC) |
Business Name | Local Art Plug |
Phone Number | (402) 739-9725 |
Business Address | 808 Conagra Dr STE 400 Omaha, Nebraska 68102 Map It |
First Name | Xavier |
Last Name | Jackson |
Email hidden; Javascript is required. | |
Alternate Phone Number | (402) 319-9046 |
Website Address | localartplug.com |
Date the business was established | 05/26/2020 |
Name of Presenter | Xavier Jackson |
Nature of business – include a brief description of the product/service and the nature of your market. Submit product brochures, links to social media sites, and any other company literature | Local Art Plug provides you with the tools to find artists, artworks, and events in your area. Our mission is to create stronger arts communities that are easily accessible. Our vision is to make it easier to find art and artists around the world. We plan to do this by bringing artists and art lovers together through life and experiences. https://www.instagram.com/local_artplug/ |
Goals for joining the accelerator | My three goals while in the accelerator are to solidify networks, logistical processes, and the equipment needed to make the subscription model thrive. I want to scale and replicate Local Art Plug in different cities throughout the midwest. Lastly, I want to test new market opportunities that will continue to help this company grow such as using NFTs to connect the digital and physical world. |
Current status or stage of development of business: (e.g. working on prototype, produce in advanced development, etc.) | MVP in the market, working on a prototype. |
Customer segment served | The problem our business is solving is making art accessible and creating an economy in which artists can thrive in their local area without having to move to a larger market. Many midwest artists feel as if they live in a market that is too small or not supportive enough to create a career. Traditional galleries have left gaps in the market causing emerging artists to flounder about or move to a city where they feel are more opportunities. An additional problem we are tackling faces NFTs and their use case in the physical world. Digital artists as well as artists of different mediums now have a new platform to capitalize on with very little information or avenues to connect their work to the general public in a beneficial way that will sell. Our solution is to provide professional practices; lawyers' offices, real estate development firms, chiropractors, government buildings, etc. Our white-glove art subscription service keeps their client-facing space fresh, keeps employees engaged, and creates a newly energized space every day. This model would create residual income for local artists, operate as a tax write-off for business owners, and motivate their current work staff to be more creative boosting employee morale. We also look to tie NFTs to NFC cards that will provide discounts and data on local shopping habits for creatives to create cross-promotion and sales within a local economy. This model would allow local business owners to create their own communities by combining with artists to create tokens that will be used to incentivize shoppers on the basis of receiving new exclusive limited content, providing both them and artists an extra source of income and engagement. |
Please explain what services you or your organization can offer other clients of the Business Accelerator Program: | Marketing, content creation, collaboration, and partnership. |
Describe your business, product or service and what differentiates it from your competitors. | Local Art Plug provides you with the tools to find artists, artworks, and events in your area. Browse the profiles of local artists in search of one-of-a-kind pieces of art and connect with them on a more personal level. In just a few easy clicks you can find a piece of art that speaks to you, connect with artists in your community, or find out what’s going on that weekend in the creative world. Our mission is to create stronger arts communities that are easily accessible through our ecosystem. Our vision is to make it easier to find art and artists around the world. We are doing this by bringing by making art more accessible to everyone. Competitive Advantages: Artist compensation: Artists earn 80% of every transaction at LAP vs. 40-60% at galleries No non-compete: No non-compete contacts at LAP vs. non-compete contracts at galleries Local buyers: LAP has been identified as more attractive to local buyers than Etsy, ArtFinder.com, and Zatista.com Artist-Buyer Relationships: LAP has better artist-buyer relationships than galleries, Etsy, ArtFinder.com, and Zatista.com Subscription option: Subscription option exists at LAP, and not at galleries, Etsy, ArtFinder.com, and Zatista.com Tax savings for businesses: Subscription works as an operating lease meaning that payments are considered operational expenses, and the asset being leased stays off the balance sheet. Patreon offers the artist a platform in which they can generate revenue and cultivate an audience. It's great for established artists with an audience or more business-minded creatives. Not great for those trying to increase their local market share or artist who prefers to just create. Artsy does an excellent job of highlighting diverse artists from all over the world. They tend to focus on larger more established artists in larger cities. Smaller markets and niche artists are often overlooked. Raw Artist gives communities the power to host local art events. However, they are seen as money grabbers in the creative world because of their 'pay to play' business model. Established artists stay away with a 10-foot pole, younger emerging artists benefit somewhat but at a cost. Paid more in exposure than actual sales. Etsy gives every creator a platform to start generating sales. This is awesome if you are a business-minded creative who doesn't mind doing the extra work to market and brand their product to the public. They miss completely on the community building and local ties aspect which often keeps these artists afloat. |
Does the business own all rights (including intellectual property) to the material submitted and presented for this competition? | Yes |
What is your gross annual revenue? (dollar volume per year) | $0.00 |
Current sales revenue (dollar volume per month) | $0.00 |
Status of Business Plan | In preparation and available by |
Type of financing used to operate a business to date |
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Is this your primary business? | Yes |
Is this your original concept? | Yes |
Please specify your ethnicity. | African-American |
What is your age? | 18-30 years old |
Is at least 51% of the business is owned, and controlled by an ethnic minority and please specify which one. | Yes, african american |
Is at least 51% of the business owned and controlled by a woman? | No |
Is your business currently licensed or registered in the State of Nebraska? | Yes |
Do you have any investors or partners? | No |
Is the business owned by a veteran? | No |
Is your company a small business? | Yes |
Consent 1 | I understand the Pitch Black Accelerator Program is designed to support the Midlands African Chamber emerging businesses to succeed and thrive. Participating in the Pitch Black Accelerator Program necessitates interaction with the assigned mentor, attendance at educational and networking sessions, and reporting to the Midlands African Chamber on business changes. Once selected as a Pitch Black Accelerator participant, I must become a member of the Midlands African Chamber. |
Consent 2 | By registering and participating in this program, I consent to the recording of my likeness, image and/or voice and authorize the Midlands African Chamber to use photographs, videos, and audio recordings containing my likeness, image and/or voice in any medium for any purpose |
Consent 3 | I agree to the terms and conditions of the Pitch Black Accelerator Program. |
Applicant’s Name | Xavier Jackson |
Applicant’s Title | Founder & CEO |
Signature | Xavier Jackson |
Date | 12/15/2022 |