booktruck.com: Domain, Trademark, Biz Plans (eBay item 2541691469, ends Jul-06-03 130315 PDT)

BookTruck is a 3rd generation E-Business designed by students at California Polytechnic University, Pomona. It combines the best features of Internet-only businesses like Amazon, and "bricks and clicks" businesses like Barnes and Noble, while avoiding most of the costs of these previous approaches.

BookTruck will penetrate high volume niche markets (initially textbooks on college campuses) by selling a limited selection of the most popular items from a large trailer that can be moved from location to location. Shipping costs are eliminated, because buyers pick up their books at convenient locations.

The business will use the Internet to take advance reservations, making it possible to operate on a "zero inventory" model. Buyers who do not pick up their books at sales sites receive them in the mail, with the additional shipping costs charged to the credit cards used for their reservations. (The actual mailing will probably be subcontracted to another bookseller.)

The Business Plans link on the BookTruck website includes PowerPoint presentations, reports, and spreadsheets created by students in the EBZ 466 class. The working model Prototype Web Site, including original graphics, was created by CIS 466 students to take reservations and support the BookTruck concept.

Note that the proceeds of the sale of this business concept, including the domain name and trademark, will be distributed in a unique sharing arrangement. The students, participating faculty, and University will each receive 30% of the net proceeds. The remaining 10% will be given to charitable causes identified by each of the participants. (If the proceeds are relatively low, we will probably have a party at a local pizza parlor.)

If you have any questions about BookTruck, please contact Dr. Ralph Westfall.