Renowned profiles strengthen eXpression and Future Retail Lab, a national initiative for strategic innovation and business development for owner-operated companies and entrepreneurs driving the future of retail. Entrepreneur and researcher Annakarin Nyberg, together with former CEO of Visit Umeå Anna Wikholm, will establish the business in Umeå.
Marlene Johansson, CEO of the business incubator eXpression, is pleased that the establishment is taking place in Umeå.
- It was in the face of stiff competition that we brought the initiative to Umeå, and we are proud of that. We highlighted the strength of working in an environment with a focus on creative and cultural industries and in a city where sustainability and critical questioning characterise a large part of our residents' approach to the city and the future, says Marlene Johansson.
Annakarin Nyberg joins as programme manager for the Future Retail Lab and is currently working to set the shape and content of the programme. Among other things, it creates the conditions for new entrepreneurs and existing, owner-operated companies to meet and work strategically together on the challenges and opportunities of digitalisation and globalisation that the industry is currently facing. The programme is an accelerator programme aimed at creative companies that have the courage, will and capacity to test and rethink business models based on sustainable consumption.
- I'm taking over as programme manager for the Future Retail Lab and I'm very much looking forward to the work. A cutting-edge strategy programme is emerging where hand-picked participants and heavyweight expertise come together to shape strategies and tactics that will also be translated into action. We are setting high standards for all involved, both in terms of their ability to invest time and commitment, but also in their approach to the challenge. This is definitely not an easy match, it requires sensitive exploration and probably also new forms of collaboration to be able to face the future in a sustainable way, says Annakarin Nyberg.
Anna Wikholm is employed as a business developer and has, among other things, a background as CEO of the municipal company Visit Umeå.
- I enter my new role with large and well-established networks and an understanding of companies from previous industry work. This is important because it puts us in a position to actually meet the existing owner-managed companies in the challenges they face today. Then we must not forget what a venture like this can mean for our ability to build the city together. It will have exciting repercussions," says Anna Wikholm.
The Future Retail Lab is established at the business incubator eXpression and is funded by the Swedish Commerce Federation, the Köpmannen Foundation and in cooperation with the Swedish Trade Council.
eXpression Umeå is one of the country's leading business incubators in the cultural and creative industries. eXpression offers a creatively stimulating and innovative environment for driven talents ready to develop their entrepreneurship with a strong spirit of DIT - Do It Together.
Contacts:
CEO eXpression Umeå:
Marlene Johansson
Marlene.johansson@expressionumea.se
070 674 95 39
Program Manager Future Retail Lab:
Annakarin Nyberg
annakarin.nyberg@expressionumea.se
070 667 94 25
