Romania: A Country of Contradictions

2. On the positive side… High Literacy Rate (97%) 9% unemployment 20% own 1 or more cell phones International Aid: WAP project World Bank loan And the not so positive… Outflow of high educated 49% below poverty Communism celebrated the proletariat Massive inflation Romania: A Country of Contradictions • The Big Issues: • Lack of capital coming into country • Lack of sources of income among Romanians • Lack of basic business skills Will Romania be ready for the EU vote in 2007?

3. Elena Vasilescu, A Romanian Artisan • Lives in Târgu Jiu, a small artisan town in Oltenia • 45 years old • Literate, speaks some English • Carries a mobile phone, but has no computer skills • Full time employee for a local coal mine; monthly pay covers half the rent • Hand paints eggs to earn extra money • Current market includes townspeople and passing tourists

4. Our Product: Să Vindem Our product empowers local artisans to earn income and build cultural pride while learning business skills and selling their work internationally over the Internet. Să Vindem consists of a non-profit coordinating organization and WAP-enabled devices for artisan use. ~ A Complete eCommerceSolution

5. 1: Applying to Să Vindem • A representative from Să Vindem gives a presentation to recruit motivated artisans into the program. • Elena is interested, so she fills out an application. • 1 month later she is approved!

6. 2: Să Vindem Workshops • Elena decides to attend a Să Vindem workshop that helps her set up a bank account in order to receive customer payments. • At the workshop Elena meets the other artisans that are participating in the program.

7. 3: Elena Receives the Device • Elena receives the device in the mail. • The device guides Elena through photographing her eggs.

8. When Elena enters a price that is too low by market standards, the device automatically runs a tutorial about competitive pricing. 4: Business Skills Tutorials The device suggests that Elena use the tutorial to enter images that depict her process in order to make Elena’s products more appealing to buyers

9. 5: Să Vindem Website • When satisfied with the information and images she entered, Elena sends off the information with a click. • Her information is automatically compiled into an attractive and user-friendly website which is marketed to the west as part of a larger collection of artisan websites.

10. 6: Elena Receives an Order • Elena receives a message through her device that someone has placed an order. The order is small, and Elena easily fills it within a week. • Elena chooses not to pay the small fee to use Să Vindem’s centralized shipping service, instead heading straight to the post office with her completed order. Elena has begun to pay off the cost of her device!

11. 7: Elena Receives a Large Order and Needs Help Filling It • Elena replies to the customer (opting to pay Să Vindem’s translating fee) that she can complete the large order by the deadline! • Following the device’s advice, Elena contacts other egg artists to ask if they will contribute to the order, learning in the process how to manage and pay contractors.

12. A Look into the Future… • Să Vindem helps Elena earn a steady income so she can better provide for her family. She has also gained invaluable business skills while using Să Vindem. • Seeing the success of Să Vindem in Târgu Jiu, artisans across Romania join the organization to sell their crafts at a unified online site. Să Vindem has helped bring foreign money into the Romanian economy directly where it is needed most. Romanians have also begun to acquire the business skills and technological familiarity necessary to thrive in an expanded global economy.