In September 2019, eXpression Umeå's accelerator program Future Retail Lab starts. The programme is an initiative at the eXpression Umeå incubator, which creates conditions for entrepreneurship in creative and cultural industries. The Future Retail Lab will work with new entrepreneurs and existing owner-operated companies to focus on the sustainable retail of the future.
On 7 May, eXpression and Future Retail Lab hosted an inspirational lecture and workshop at First Hotel Dragonen. The workshop was the third in the series to be held together with the Swedish Trade Council and the speaker was Magnus Ohlsson from We Hunt for Heads.
Together with local retailers, the municipality, the university and other businesses from the Umeå region, topics such as skills supply, the importance of the brand, social and environmental sustainability, and the digital and global transformation that is currently permeating the retail sector were discussed. The workshop was a joint event between Future Retail Lab and the Swedish Trade Council, and the organisers were very pleased with both the attendance and the commitment of the participants.
It's great to see such commitment in Umeå! The number of participants was high and there were many interesting discussions. Among other things, the role of the brand was highlighted as more important than ever, the importance of adding new skills to your workforce and the opportunities that arise from collaborating across industry boundaries, says Annakarin Nyberg, programme manager at Future Retail Lab.
During the morning, the content of the accelerator programme's pilot, which will run in Umeå between September 2019 and January 2020, was also presented. In the spring of 2020, Future Retail Lab will open up for national applications.
We see that the accelerator programme will play an important role in the transformation that is taking place. Now we are creating the sustainable retail of the future," says Anna Wikholm, Business Developer at Future Retail Lab.
The Future Retail Lab programme is a joint venture with the Swedish Retail Federation via the Swedish Merchants' Association Foundation and is also part-financed by EU structural funds.
eXpression Umeå is an incubator that supports the development of ideas and innovations in creative, artistic and cultural industries. eXpression offers an innovative environment for driven creators who are ready to develop their entrepreneurship.
On the cover: Veronica Ottosson, Ingrid's Underwear, Helene Bergström and Helene Fredriksson, H&H, Pia Johansson, Pia Stylist,Lars Åkerlund, Duå.
Contact:
Annakarin Nyberg,
Programme Manager, Future Retail Lab
annakarin.nyberg@expressionumea.se
Anna Wikholm,
Business Developer, Future Retail Lab
anna.wikholm@expressionumea.se
