After a lengthy chat tonight with someone I respect, I have some questions for you.

Is it really important that we have a physical space for "The Learning Locker" or could a similar idea work on the web?  Basically think of an Amazon-like site (or maybe even THROUGH Amazon) where teachers could go and order material.  Is that less useful?  Or just as useful?

The costs of maintaining a physical store and staff would eat into the product we could supply teachers.  It's overhead that would be hard to avoid.

I can't think of a real reason for a physical presence now that I have been offered this alternative.  Would need some central office somewhere to mange things, but beyond that everything could be cyber-based.  Get shippers like FedEx and UPS to ship free.  Partner with an existing company with on online store to fill the orders - just build a specific portal for the teachers.

Maybe at this point we don't even partner with individual companies - we seek funding from someone like the Gates Foundation, and just buy stuff outright in bulk and ship it.  Less time begging - more time to serve customers.  I don't know anyone with an in to the Gates Foundation, or anything similar - do you?  It would be an interesting new approach to the problem.  The portal could allow teachers to request things, express thanks, explain what a difference the program made, etc.  It is a MUCH more software centric approach, and would require more software resources.  But almost no hardware resources.

What do you think?  Let me know in the comments.

Rob