Small Business Integration (SBI)

Small Business Integration (SBI) — VMOA Program Blueprint

1. Purpose

To empower small business owners (SBOs) to establish a verified, interactive presence inside the Virtual Mall of America for a one‑time, lifetime onboarding fee — giving them tools to connect with customers, share their brand, and even process real‑world orders without the high costs of a full virtual storefront.

2. Onboarding Flow

Step 1 — Visit the SBI Office (In‑Mall)

• Avatars enter the Small Business Integration Office inside VMOA.
• Friendly AI concierge guides them through the process.

Step 2 — Application & Verification

• Fill out secure digital form:
  • Business name
  • Real‑world address
  • Phone number
  • Website link (no social media links)
  • Service/product category
• Upload proof of business (license, tax ID, etc.).
• Pay $50–$100 lifetime fee.

Step 3 — Approval & Verification

• VMOA/UMA verification team reviews application.
• Approved SBOs receive a Verified Small Business Badge.

3. The “Hub Application” & Virtual Business Card

• Hub App unlocks for verified SBOs.
• Allows them to virtually hand out a digital business card to other avatars.
• Card includes:
  • Business name & logo
  • Contact info
  • Website link
  • Service/product category
• Recipients can save card to their:
  • Hub Wallet (default)
  • Hub Purse (optional branding for female avatars)
  • Hub Rolodex (universal contact list)

4. Anti‑Abuse Safeguards

• Rate‑limited distribution — prevents spamming strangers.
• Consent‑based exchange — recipient must accept before card is saved.
• Security Center monitoring — flags suspicious mass‑handouts.
• Three‑strike policy — misuse leads to suspension of Hub privileges.

5. Local Business Discovery

• Geo‑tagged notifications(non‑intrusive):
  • Example: “Vinnie’s Pizza (Brooklyn, NY) is now live in the Virtual Mall of America.”
  • Only shown to users in or near the delivery area.
• One‑click save to Rolodex.
• Order Now button integrates with Grubhub, DoorDash, or direct ordering API.

6. Growth Path for SBOs

• Phase 1: Verified business card distribution.
• Phase 2: Optional small virtual kiosk with glowing banners.
• Phase 3: Full virtual storefront with interactive shopping and events.

7. Benefits

For SBOs:

• Affordable lifetime entry into a high‑traffic virtual marketplace.
• Real‑world sales potential without heavy tech investment.
• Verified status builds trust with customers.

For VMOA:

• Expands vendor diversity beyond corporate brands.
• Generates onboarding revenue + potential transaction fees.
• Strengthens community loyalty and repeat visits.

For Users:

• Easy discovery of local and niche businesses.
• Seamless save‑and‑order experience.
• Confidence in verified vendors.