Ship Mate | Application Preview
Ship Mate is seeking government grants to support several key initiatives aimed at enhancing its business operations. The funding will be utilized to pay off a high-interest personal loan taken to establish the business, expand its computer workstation rental units, hire employees, and invest in advertising.
The business plan involves incorporating local artists on consignment to increase foot traffic and sales. Ship Mate also aims to add more computer workstations and implement marketing strategies to reach a broader customer base. Hiring additional staff will allow for mobile notary services available seven days a week, alongside seasonal offerings such as gift wrapping. The company is also looking to establish a partnership with USPS to offer mailbox services.
The rationale for approving the funding lies in the perceived demand for these services within the area, as Ship Mate is currently the only provider within a 30-mile radius. The goal is to build a reputation for reliable, high-quality services that will foster repeat business and referrals within the community, with aspirations to grow into a multi-employee business by 2025, featuring certified notaries as part of their signing service.
In terms of competition, Ship Mate will operate in both the postal service and notary markets. In Clatskanie, existing locations such as Hi-School Pharmacy offer limited services, while USPS has restricted hours and lacks certain offerings like passport and fingerprinting services. Notably, there are no local notaries currently available. The postal industry's revenue has been declining, providing an opportunity for Ship Mate to capitalize on this downturn with its lower overhead. Additionally, the mobile notary market is anticipated to witness significant growth in the coming years.
Ship Mate's competitive edge includes being a convenient one-stop shop, offering fast, reliable, and high-quality services. The company emphasizes a user-friendly online presence and aims for personalized, professional customer interactions. All staff members will have some college education and a background in customer service, with further training to ensure compliance and quality assurance.
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General Information
Business Registration Number: 230475998
Location: Clatskanie, OR, United States
Length of Operation: 1-5
Number of Employees: 1-10 Employees
Annual Gross Income: Less than $100k
Annual Gross Expense: Less than $100k
Open to Loans: NO
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Funding Usage
Pay off high interest personal loan used to establish business and obtain infrastructure, increase our computer workstation rental units, hire employees, and pay for advertising.
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Business Plan
I plan to incorporate local artists on consignment to increase foot traffic and sales, add more computer workstations, begin marketing and local advertisements to broaden our customer base, hire employees to enable mobile notary services with a 7 day work week, and offer seasonal services like giftwrapping. With plans in motion to obtain a relationship with USPS to offer mailboxes. I believe there is a high demand for our services in the local area as there are currently no other offerings within 30 miles. Our goal is to build a local reputation of reliable, quality services and exquisite products that will in turn create repeat clientele and endless referrals among the “small” town. Plans are set to grow into a multi-employee business by the end of 2025 all of which will be certified notaries and a part of our signing service.
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Self Identified Competition
Ship Mate will be a part of the postal service and notary industries. Currently there are two locations in the town of Clatskanie that offer some of these services. Hi-School Pharmacy offers UPS drop-offs, passport photos, photo printing, and fax & copy services (.60/pg). HSP’s service counter is located at the far end of the store where there is normally not an associate and is very inconvenient. USPS offers USPS drop-offs from 8:30-5 closed Saturday and Sunday no passport or finger printing services are offered here. Library does not offer printing services. There are no local notaries. The postal industry revenue has declined at a CAGR of 1.4% over the past five years, to reach an estimated $79.8bn in 2024. This decline is mainly due to the rise of online e-commerce and decline of snail mail. With shipping and packaging services allotting for 45% of the industry’s revenue and the lack of overhead Ship Mate will have, I believe we will thrive in their downfall. The global mobile notary public market is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 347.2 million by the year 2023, accelerating with a moderate CAGR of 18.4% from 2023 to 2033. Mobile notary public market size is anticipated to be valued at about US$ 1,885.3 million by 2033. Ship Mate has the following advantages compared to competitors • Extremely convenient one stop shop for all needs and services. • Fast, Reliable, and Quality, Services and Products. • Up to date resources, google listings, and websites that are easy to navigate and comprehend. • Face-to-face friendly & professional interactions with customers with prompt and knowledgeable employees. • All our staff members have at least some college education and a customer service background. Notarial training, background checks, E&O insurance, and in-depth training will be required.
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Contact Applicant
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