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CityKi Seeks to Break Down Internet- and Retail-Access Barriers for Inner-City Residents through Free Web Kiosks
CityKi Seeks to Break Down Internet- and Retail-Access Barriers for Inner-City Residents through Free Web Kiosks
Published 10-24-01
Submitted by CityKi
CityKi, a network of free-standing, computer kiosks that connect inner-city residents with suburban-brand retailers and quality services via the Internet, today announced the launch of its first CityKi kiosk at America's Food Basket, a grocery store serving a largely lower-income neighborhood in Dorchester's Upham's Corner.
"CityKi is an innovative solution that will tap into the inner city's under-served markets," said Alvaro Lima, senior VP and managing director for The Initiative for a Competitive Inner City, of Boston.
Michael Porter's Initiative for a Competitive Inner City and The Boston Consulting Group estimate the domestic inner-city retail market at nearly $90 billion, or 7% of all U.S. retail spending. This makes the inner city retail market larger than that of all of Mexico. Yet because of a lack of understanding of the needs and wants of inner- city residents, the market is underserved by at least $21 billion.
Inner-city neighborhoods represent approximately 12% of the total U.S. households, or nearly 8 million households. Additionally, nearly 100 million consumers do not have access to credit cards and 37 million lack basic bank accounts. At the same time, retailers and service providers who recognize the opportunity are searching for ways to overcome the barriers of cost, culture, and physical presence.
CityKi plans to roll out a dozen kiosks in pedestrian-heavy locations in Boston within the next 24 months. The sponsor-supported Internet-accessible terminals will eventually permit individuals who wish to take advantage of online shopping, yet who do not own credit cards, to pay in cash. Other online activities available include email accounts and one-click access to sponsoring retailers, social services and non-profit organizations, financial services, government information and community-generated content such as job boards.
The Company intends to operate in a socially responsible manner that promotes the growth of local merchants and increases the technological know-how of inner-city residents, while at the same time promoting the business members of the CityKi network through grassroots marketing and point-of-purchase advertising.
Early supporters of CityKi include local business and political leaders, community groups, and Fleet's First Community Bank.
LEADERSHIP
CityKi was founded in August 2000 by Eric Bobby, formerly a management consultant within the high-technology and e-business practice at PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). While at PwC, Mr. Bobby worked as a volunteer and liaison to Michael Porter's Initiative for a Competitive Inner City (ICIC), helping inner-city businesses establish marketing strategies and business controls. Prior to joining PwC, Mr. Bobby spent ten years with United Technologies, responsible for technical sales, marketing, and operations, including significant P&L and labor-relations experience. Mr. Bobby has a Bachelor's degree in Operations Research and Industrial Engineering from Cornell University and a Masters of Science in Management from the Krannert Business School at Purdue University. He is a member of Business for Social Responsibility.
"The inner city is full of promise thanks to its vibrant, hard working, and entrepreneurial residents," said Eric Bobby, founder and CEO of CityKi. "CityKi will build on these strengths to break down the barriers, real and perceived, that still exist, and to enable connections that allow some of the benefits the mainstream enjoys to be realized by inner-city folks."
CityKi can be found on the web at www.cityki.com. For press interviews contact Victor Cruz, mediaPR.net, at 508 785-1590 or vcruz@mediaone.net. For more information contact CityKi at 20Park Plaza - 4th Floor, Boston, MA 02116.
