FlipNpik: A Platform Dedicated to Strengthening Local Businesses

Local businesses are struggling to compete with large retailers and e-commerce giants. These local shops rarely have the capital or organizational resources needed to compete on pricing or convenience. An innovative solution is therefore required to allow them to maintain a competitive edge. In order to succeed, local businesses will need a new system to leverage social media to their advantage. They need a way to beat large retailers at their own game.

FlipNpik’s new blockchain-based platform provides a way to accomplish this goal. By bringing users, businesses and service providers together, the platform will create a symbiotic relationship that benefits all participants. This model monetizes word-of-mouth advertising and provides a marketplace for local marketing contributions. Local businesses benefit from increased visibility, while users can more easily support them, generate earnings and benefit from promotions and incentives along the way.

Introducing FlipNpik

At its heart, FlipNpik is a way to bring together all levels of the local economy. Studies have shown the economic advantage of shopping at local stores over large retailers. By driving business back to these small retailers, communities can see a noticeable increase in the entire ecosystem. The problem lies in providing an intuitive, easy-to-use platform that provides local businesses with the same marketing ability as large retailers. FlipNpik intends to do just that with their 360° Collaborative Model for social media.

Social media is a powerful tool for business marketing, and FlipNpik will ensure that local businesses have the tools they need to succeed therein. Businesses can use their platform to hire service providers like graphic artists, copywriters and marketing personnel to craft tailor-made solutions for their social media presence. Users can help spread the word about local shops, recruiting their friends while spreading word of mouth. In turn, businesses can offer exclusive promotions and a digital local marketplace for their customers.

To bring the FlipNpik platform to life, CEO Henri Harland has brought together a strong team of industry professionals.

• Henri Harland himself is a veteran of many publicly listed companies, and a former finance professor at both HEC Montreal and Université du Québec.
• President Richard Marganne previously acted as COO of the Oleosea Company and CEO of Gobet Rütschi.
• Their CTO Serge Helou worked with L’Oreal to establish their e-commerce presence and first digital loyalty program.
• Jessica Nguyen Hoang serves as their Director of Business Development, previously working with TP Publicité SA.

The FlipNpik Ecosystem

FlipNpik has developed their own mobile app for Android and iOS that allows users and businesses alike to join the Flip Ecosystem. Users that access the app will be presented with a geo-localized directory of businesses in their area. Should the user choose to identify their interests and preferences, their newsfeed will be populated with relevant promotions from local businesses. They can then access the internal marketplace, where local shops have the ability to sell their products in an easy, digital manner.

Businesses can access a different set of features aimed towards boosting their visibility in the area. They will be able to set up an outward facing profile that showcases the products and services that they offer. From there, they can use the app’s service marketplace to find local marketing professionals to help craft their image. Once their presence is fully established, they can engage directly with customers and use the in-app features to offer promotions and incentives.

The Flip Social Reward System and the FlipNpik Token (FNP)

The social media aspect will allow users to “like” posts by businesses, and share relevant information with their friends. Businesses that are not yet a part of the FlipNpik Ecosystem can be added by enterprising users, earning them Flip Social (FS) that can be used within the application. Businesses can purchase premium assistance directly from Fliptech, including featured posts and valuable analytics that aid in demographic targeting.

Active users will earn Flip Social (FS) for their contributions to the platform. These contributions can range from liking and sharing businesses’ posts to bringing their friends into the Ecosystem as participants to purchasing local products through the application. Flip Social can be spent to access exclusive promotions or can be converted to the FlipNpik Token (FNP), which is a fully featured token that will be available on multiple cryptocurrency exchanges.

FNP will be established on the Stellar payment protocol platform. This utility token, FNP can be used within the FlipNpik Ecosystem to purchase goods at a discount. However, it can also be used as a function of the Ambassador program. The Ambassador program is the heart of the 360° Collaborative Model and is critical for the entire ecosystem.

Users can become exclusive brand Ambassador Partners of their favorite businesses on FlipNpik. This is a win-win opportunity: merchants gain visibility in being active on the app and Ambassador Partners in return will receive from their business 20% of the budget allocated for premium services. Ambassadors serve as active promoters of the business with a vested interest in their success. These social media influencers drive business and boost the digital visibility of the brand.

Users can be Ambassadors for as many businesses as they can afford, through the FNP token. At any time, the Ambassador can choose to give up their position and receive a refund of their initial 500 FNP investment.

Bringing Local Business into the 21st Century

Large retailers and digital marketplaces dominate the commercial landscape but offer little to local communities in terms of economic advantage. FlipNpik’s social media Ecosystem will help turn the tables on this paradigm by giving local businesses the tools they need to succeed. Through creating incentives for local user participation, the power to succeed can be put back into the hands of local communities.