April 25, 2024
(press release)
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Retail store owners from Alabama, Illinois, Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Texas will participate in an 8-week course, have access to one-on-one mentorship opportunities, and receive a $5,000 grant upon program completion Shipt is excited to share our next class of LadderUp participants! While these 10 local retailers are based all over the country, they all share a commitment to serving their communities, whether that’s ensuring their neighbors have access to healthy, nutritious food, providing a marketplace to support local artisans, or creating a meeting place where everyone feels welcomed and included. Shipt launched LadderUp to support the growth of small and local retailers around the country by providing them with the tools needed to adapt in an ever-changing marketplace. We’ve been inspired by the business owners we’ve met through this program and their dedication to the communities they serve. LadderUp is also a key component of our commitment as a company to combating food insecurity and boosting local economies. “As we enter the second year of LadderUp, we are thrilled to welcome another impressive class of small and local businesses from around the country,” said Khadijah Abdullah, Vice President of Economic Development and Social Impact at Shipt. “Shipt believes strongly in strengthening communities and developed LadderUp to help small businesses compete in a rapidly evolving marketplace where e-commerce and other technological innovations are of increasing importance. We look forward to partnering with these retailers to provide additional knowledge and skills to reimagine the shopping experience in support of the communities they serve.” "This program is an absolute godsend for my business right now,” said Marcus Kirby, owner of Chicago-based The Succulent City and LadderUp 2024 cohort member. “Customers are expecting small businesses to provide faster and more efficient customer service, ordering, and delivery—similar to that of larger companies. Being able to talk to and learn from mentors who have experience with logistics at this caliber is so helpful.” Over the next few months, these selected businesses will embark on an 8-week course covering a wide range of topics including e-commerce 101, digital merchandising, social media marketing, driving sustainable growth, and more. Participants will also be provided with one-on-one mentorship opportunities and receive a $5,000 grant upon completion of the program. Read on to learn more about our 2024 cohort! Red Bird Produce (Birmingham, AL): Red Bird Produce provides its surrounding communities with accessible, healthy, and inspiring food while supporting local farmers. Wright’s Market (Opelika, AL): Wright’s Market is an independently-owned conventional supermarket that has serviced the Opelika area for over 40 years. Andale Market (Chicago, IL): Andale Market is a love letter to the bodega, providing a neighborhood corner store where customers can find whatever they need in a quick pinch. Bon Femmes (Chicago, IL): Bon Femmes is a shop of art, homewares, jewelry, and much more, all made by women. Destiny African Market (Rudolph, MA): Destiny African Market is a family-run African grocery store and catering company servicing the Randolph, MA, and South Shore area with authentic tropical, African foods and goods. On Centre (Boston, MA): On Centre is a “mini department store” with a little bit of everything for everyone, providing a rotating assortment of whimsical clothing, funky jewelry, funny gifts, and beautiful stationery. Small Places (Houston, TX): Small Places’ mission is to nurture a culture of health, renewing the bond between people, place, and food in the communities they serve. Kobi Co (Minneapolis, MN): Kobi Co. is a luxury candle and wellness company run by a generational mother-daughter team. Since its founding in 2020 by Kobi Gregory at the age of 17, they’ve used a portion of their profits to establish a college fund which has now evolved into an annual scholarship for young BIPOC women.
Here Here Market (Chicago, IL): Here Here Market is helping local artisans and redefining restaurant-to-retail through the creation of a marketplace where culinary creators can sell their products.
The Succulent City (Chicago, IL): The Succulent City is an online and storefront plant shop providing a range of houseplants to area plant lovers.
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