**Expanded Implementation Timeline for Boaz Trading PLC**
### **Q1 2024: Secure Suppliers & Finalize Designs**
**Objective**: Establish a resilient supply chain and culturally resonant product line.
**Key Activities**:
1. **January**:
- **Supplier Contracts**:
- Sign agreements with **Arba Minch Organic Cotton Cooperatives** (Southern Ethiopia) and **Kombolcha Textile Mills** (Amhara).
- Partner with **Bahir Dar Natural Dye Collective** for plant-based dyes.
- **Material Testing**: Conduct quality checks on organic cotton batches and natural dyes.
2. **February**:
- **Design Workshops**:
- Collaborate with Addis Ababa-based artists (e.g., **Afewerk Tekle Foundation**) to integrate Aksumite and Omo Valley motifs.
- Host focus groups with Addis youth to refine designs (e.g., Amharic slogans, unisex fits).
- **Prototyping**: Produce 50 sample T-shirts (25 Cannes, 25 Everyday) for feedback.
3. **March**:
- **Finalize Production**:
- Approve designs and lock in bulk orders for 10,000 units (7,500 Everyday, 2,500 Cannes).
- Secure AGOA compliance certifications for export-focused Cannes Collection.
- **Ethical Audits**: Verify labor practices at partner farms and factories with **TIDI** (Textile Industry Development Institute).
**Deliverables**:
- 100% supplier contracts signed by March 15.
- 50 approved designs (30 Everyday, 20 Cannes).
---
### **Q2 2024: Launch Addis Store & Begin Local Marketing**
**Objective**: Establish brand presence in Addis Ababa and drive initial sales.
**Key Activities**:
1. **April**:
- **Store Build-Out**:
- Lease and renovate 200 sqm space in **Lideta Mercato** (Addis), incorporating recycled materials and AR fitting rooms.
- Train 10 staff members (sales, tailoring, logistics).
- **Inventory Stocking**: Receive first production batch (5,000 Everyday Line units).
2. **May**:
- **Soft Launch**:
- Invite influencers, local media, and community leaders to a pre-opening event.
- Test TeleBirr payment integration and inventory management systems.
- **Local Marketing Kickoff**:
- Launch TikTok campaign #WearYourSheba with Ethiopian athletes and musicians.
- Distribute free samples to university students via campus ambassadors.
3. **June**:
- **Grand Opening**:
- Officially open store with a Meskel Festival-themed event (live music, artisan demos).
- Offer “Founders’ Discount” (20% off) for first 500 customers.
- **Community Partnerships**:
- Collaborate with **Sheger FM** for radio ads targeting Addis commuters.
- Sponsor **Addis Ababa Marathon** with branded hydration stations.
**Deliverables**:
- Store operational by June 1.
- 1,000+ units sold in June.
---
### **Q3 2024: Cannes Activation & International Sales Rollout**
**Objective**: Elevate global brand recognition and secure premium international buyers.
**Key Activities**:
1. **July**:
- **Cannes Pre-Launch**:
- Ship 1,000 Cannes Collection units to bonded warehouse in Marseille, France.
- Finalize partnerships with Ethiopian filmmakers (e.g., **Yared Zeleke**) for red carpet appearances.
- **Diaspora Outreach**: Launch pre-order Shopify site for U.S./EU customers.
2. **August**:
- **Cannes Pop-Up Activation** (May 14–25, 2024 retrofitted to Q3):
- Construct bamboo-and-linen pop-up on Croisette Beach with VR cotton farm tours.
- Host private dinner for buyers featuring Ethiopian cuisine and coffee ceremonies.
- **Media Blitz**: Secure coverage in *Vogue Arabia*, *The Africa Report*, and Cannes live streams.
3. **September**:
- **International E-Commerce Go-Live**:
- Launch Amazon storefront and optimize Shopify for USD/EUR pricing.
- Partner with **DHL** for express shipping to diaspora hubs (e.g., Washington D.C., Dubai).
- **Post-Cannes Sales**:
- Auction T-shirts worn by celebrities at Cannes, with proceeds funding **Design Ethiopia** scholarships.
- Release behind-the-scenes documentary on YouTube to sustain buzz.
**Deliverables**:
- 500 Cannes units sold during/after Cannes.
- 10,000+ social media followers gained.
---
### **Q4 2024: Review & Scale**
**Objective**: Optimize operations and prepare for regional expansion.
**Key Activities**:
- **Post-Launch Audit**: Analyze sales data, customer feedback, and supply chain efficiency.
- **Holiday Campaign**: Release limited-edition *Timket Festival Collection* and bundle deals.
- **2025 Planning**: Secure contracts for East African expansion (Nairobi, Kigali).
---
### **Risk Mitigation & Contingencies**
- **Supplier Delays**: Pre-qualify backup suppliers in Sidama region.
- **Low Cannes Demand**: Redirect unsold stock to luxury boutiques in Dubai’s Mall of the Emirates.
- **Tech Failures**: Manual payment fallback (cash/TeleBirr) during system outages.
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This timeline balances ambition with pragmatism, ensuring Boaz Trading PLC transitions seamlessly from local launch to global spotlight while embedding Ethiopian culture at every stage.