Nouns Deli - Let's Keep Cooking ⌐◨-◨
Nouns Deli - Let's Keep Cooking ⌐◨-◨
Since our initial proposal over 14 months ago on March 16, 2023, Nouns Deli has emerged as a beacon of proliferation and innovation within the Nouns ecosystem. With our budget of $202,000 from Proposal 254, we've proved the power of an IRL presence for the DAO. Our commitment and dedication is hard to deny, we have transformed one of our reputable venues into something 'Nounish'— the business, a gift to the DAO to undertake this experiment together.
Nouns Deli has made headlines in major media publications such as Broadsheet Melb, NFTnow, Timeout and UrbanList. We were recently featured in The Age, a renowned national newspaper and Sydney Morning Herald, Australia's most read newspaper. This exposure has seen our social media accounts across all platforms earned followers, likes, and plenty of additional visibility for the deli. This widespread attention has not only showcased Nouns DAO within the web3 community but introduced it to an entirely new demographic, broadening our impact and reach.
We’re not saying that it has all been smooth sailing; encountering snags with council approval resulted in lengthy delays that threw a spanner or two in the works. We didn't let these challenges stop us, as a team we're committed to sharing the Nouns core values with our community and demonstrating what crypto can truly do for society.
Off the back of our experiences to date, we are excited to present this follow-up proposal. Structured around the DAOs key values Public Good, CC0, Proliferation, and Having Fun — we are requesting funding to use the Nouns Deli as a base to activate these pillars within the community over the next 12 months and further proliferate the Nouns DAO.
Part 1 - Public Good ⌐◨-◨
Introduction: Interactions at the deli reveal a strong sense of connection and enthusiasm toward the DAOs value of 'public good’. Discussions with guests about initiatives like Glasses for Kids, School in Africa, and the Variety Christmas Party demonstrate the fun and creative ways crypto can have a beneficial impact on the public. We want to engage more directly in initiatives of this nature, generating Nouns Deli first-hand stories and building awareness of this positive community contribution.
Implementation Strategy: Here's what we're cooking up
- Hospitality Training: In partnership with TipJar, a local charity focused on helping disadvantaged individuals launch their careers, we will offer complementary specialist coffee training sessions led by our very own Lambie, a former competition barista and latte artist who has worked and competed for some of the biggest coffee roasters in Australia. With over a decade in the specialty coffee industry, Lambie has represented prominent brands like Aeropress, Breville, and Moccamaster to name a few. These free training sessions aim to equip participants with vital industry skills, fostering career development within the hospitality sector.
- International Cheeseburger Day AKA Noun Burger Day: ‘Nounifying’ International Cheeseburger Day (September 18th) into an annual Nouns Deli celebration. We plan to offer free cheeseburgers at Nouns Deli, funded by this proposed budget. This event not only serves our community but also supports Ronald McDonald House. This charity operates globally in 64 countries supporting families with sick children and on a personal note, this charity holds a special place in my heart as my family has experienced firsthand the incredible support by the charity. Our aim in the near future is to have a borderless celebration, similar to those organized by PizzaDAO, where Noun Burger Day events pop up globally, compounding the effects the event creates. Donation Mechanism: Each cheeseburger sold at Nouns Deli on the day is priced at $10.50USD, which we propose is to be covered by the DAO. The cost of goods for each burger is $3.50, this will be retained by Nouns Deli to cover base production expenses. The remaining $7 from each burger sold will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charity.
- Monthly Community Engagement: Nouns Deli will commit to a minimum of one charitable activation per month. We envisage this to be activities including our staff preparing meals for the homeless in nonprofit kitchens or the Deli catering charity events. We will partner with local charities such as The Big Umbrella and FareShare in Melbourne to broaden both Nouns Deli and the DAO's impact.
Each initiative showcases our dedication and eagerness to make a positive impact and leverage our platform to actively contribute to the community. We want to make a splash in the Melbourne hospitality scene and build upon the Noun DAOs reputation for public good in the process. This is just scratching the surface of the activations we plan to implement, and we’re excited.
Funding Request: We are requesting $60,000 from Nouns DAO to support our charitable initiatives, promoting the spirit of public good. This budget will cover food costs for donated meals, staff wages, administrative fees, and tasteful PR and marketing to enhance visibility.
Part 2: CC0 - "Better Between Bread" ⌐◨-◨
We are excited to present the "Better Between Bread" YouTube series, a culinary initiative that embodies the CC0 ethos. A high-quality cooking series and an accompanying cookbook of recipes straight from the Deli menu. This project will produce engaging content with a side of education, exhibiting the innovation of open-source principles.
Opening the kitchen doors and inviting the customer into the world of Nouns Deli flavor, “Better Between Bread” will feature 6 episodes, each 2-3 minutes long, delving into the ‘how to’ of Nouns Deli favorites as well as some global classic sandwiches. We are thrilled to work with Chef Joel Baylon, whose charismatic persona and culinary talent make him the ideal host of our series. Joel's innovative approach and dedication to his craft aligns perfectly with the DAOs values, and his standing in the Australian hospitality scene adds significant credibility. To ensure this content surpasses community expectations and clocks up a huge following, we have partnered with a highly skilled commercial TV and advertising team.
To accompany the video series, our team will create and publish a cookbook comprised of all recipes from the series. Each copy will feature detailed illustrations from Nouns Deli resident artist Lambie, highlighting our commitment to the arts and supporting local artists.
While excited to mint our recipes on Base, we aim to reach both web3 enthusiasts and a broader audience. This proposal will cover the first print run of 2,000 books. These copies will be available for FREE to foster the CC0 values of openness and sharing. Customers worldwide can order a copy online and only pay the cost of shipping. In addition to this we will produce a limited coffee table edition which will be available to mint for physical.
To maximize the series' reach, we'll use proposal funds for targeted advertising campaigns across multiple platforms. This strategy is designed to boost engagement, promote the cookbook, and spotlight the CC0 ethos, increasing visibility across the web3 community and beyond.
Funding Request: We are requesting $95,000 from Nouns DAO to support our "Better Between Bread" series. The budget includes $65,000 series creation, and $17,500 for the cookbooks production including hand-drawn artwork. We request an additional $12,500 to fund the targeted advertising and marketing campaign. This level of funding is essential to uphold Nouns DAO’s high standard of content.
Part 3: Proliferation - Beyond the Brick-and-Mortar ⌐◨-◨
As Nouns Deli expands beyond the four walls of the Malvern location, we are excited to have tentatively secured exclusive catering rights for the upcoming NFT Melbourne event, scheduled for August 23rd and 24th. This sizable event will offer an incredible opportunity for reconnection and engagement amongst the NFT community after a notable lull in large-scale web3 gatherings in Melbourne.
In the effort to maximize Nouns presence, we plan to sponsor this event and provide a compelling visual and culinary showcase. The event sponsorship begins with an exclusive industry night, serving complimentary food to key figures in the Australian crypto scene, elevating our brand and demonstrating the Nouns DAO's achievements. A public event the following day will allow us to extend our reach to both newcomers and the established NFT community.
In order to set ourselves up for these and future successes in event catering we have set up a strategic collaboration with a well-established events company. Operating in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane, this partnership provides us with access to extensive equipment and resources, ensuring we can maintain high quality and cost effective operation. The company has committed to creating and storing custom Nouns Deli signage, assets and skins, enabling us to quickly adapt our setup for various events throughout the year. This flexible setup will allow us to cater to a wide range of events, whether related to web3 or other community gatherings.
Funding Request: We are requesting $62,500 from the DAO to support our presence at the NFT Melbourne event and facilitate year-round activities. This includes $5,000 for the NFT event sponsorship covering visual displays and exclusive food rights, $7,500 for operational costs including produce, staffing, and logistics, and $20,000 for production and storage of custom signage. The remaining $30,000 will fund operation of our event ‘pop up’ setup in Melbourne, Sydney, and Brisbane, reinforcing our status as Australia’s top Web3 catering brand.
Part 4: Have Fun!
As a gesture of gratitude for representing the DAO daily at Nouns Deli, we would like to request a Noun#603, affectionately known as the "Deli-Gate," -. It would allow our staff to actively participate in governance, with at least three members contributing reasoned votes on each proposal. This not only enhances team engagement but also deepens their understanding and provides them with discussion points for interacting with guests about current DAO activities. We hope the DAO supports this initiative in recognition of our dedication.
I am requesting a modest operations salary for the next 12 months to support my increasingly active role at Nouns Deli. This role extends beyond typical hospitality management tasks, requiring extra hours to advance the Nounish concept and ensure our community remains engaged. This compensation will enable me to dedicate the necessary time to effectively promote the DAO's mission, maintain momentum, and enhance our impact.
Our journey at Nouns Deli has not been the smoothest ride. Unexpected council pushbacks impacting crucial design elements key to proliferating the DAO increased costs and caused lengthy delays. These issues halted construction and incurred high out-of-pocket expenses to cover rent, insurance, additional planning permits and re-designs, which was compounded by missing the peak hospitality season.
Due to the impending fork #0 and the tense atmosphere at the time, Proposal 254 was written without any buffers or contingency funding for unforeseen circumstances. Unfortunately, these unanticipated challenges led to additional costs, which had to be covered using personal and business reserves. The team wanted to demonstrate we could meet the goals laid out in Proposal 254 before submitting any further proposals for additional funding. We are proud of Nouns Deli and the achievements we have accomplished over the past 14 months. It has been heaps of fun despite the hurdles.
Funding Request: We are requesting $55,000 from the DAO towards Nouns Deli's ongoing success. $30,000 will cover loans obtained to cover operational costs like rent, insurance, equipment lease, planning permits, and design updates during council delays. Additionally, we request a $25,000 salary covering the next 12 months to manage and promote the Nounish concept effectively. The final request is for Noun #603, as symbolic payment to the team for their dedication. This funding will allow us to settle debts, enhance operations, and continue contributing to the community with renewed energy.
Conclusion ⌐◨-◨
This proposal sets the foundation for Nouns Deli to actively promote and proliferate the Nouns core pillars over the next 12 months. It equips us with the necessary tools to spark meaningful conversations and continue facilitating onboarding pathways amongst new audiences. With these resources, we aim to significantly extend our impact and foster innovation and positive change across Australia. While these funds will benefit broader initiatives, we believe they will also indirectly enhance operations at the Deli by increasing our exposure. Despite past setbacks, our unwavering commitment to the DAO's goals remains strong. Our success with Proposal 254 showcases our capability to deliver, and we trust the DAO will support us to replicate this success in the coming year. Let’s keep cooking!
