It is now clear which 16 companies will take part in the new round of the eXpression Future Retail Lab accelerator programme. The programme is aimed at new entrepreneurs and owner-managed companies in the retail sector, as well as companies at the interface between the retail, hospitality and experience sectors. The aim is to create the conditions to develop new business models and forms of collaboration and to increase knowledge and growth.
The companies that have been adopted to the programme are a heterogeneous group of new entrepreneurs and owner-managed companies who, taken together, show great drive and clear objectives for their participation. The accepted companies are:
Anettes Building Care
Bryggverket
Design by Björk
The Animal Magnet
Otherwise
Fantasia
Old Salteriet
The Goldsmith
Gårdshem
Hemslöjden
Humlebäck ceramics and cabinetmaking
Ingmar interior
Ingrid's underwear
Malin in Ratan
Food & Event AB
Merete's eco-shop.
The new programme round in Umeå starting at the end of August and it is an even more comprehensive programme is now offered to participants. Among other things, the programme has been extended in time to nine months to allow more time to put their new knowledge into practice and action. In addition, the content has also been adjusted to match participants companies' needs, including export maturity and internationalisation elements for companies that either need to develop to reach out internationally with their goods and services or to develop to meet, for example, incoming international customers. In addition, all programme elements include sustainability issues as an important element.
The program is a so accelerator programme where participants work intensively with industry experts, business developers and researchers. Since the start of the programme in 2019 eXpression Future Retail Lab also supports similar initiatives by sharing sharing their experience of having developed, established and implemented a advanced business development programme.
- We are proud to welcome sixteen new companies to a strong programme with heavy industry expertise, research roots and educational precision in its approach. Participants are given individual opportunities to develop while we also harness the power of bringing together experienced, courageous and driven entrepreneurs. We will see examples of development and collaboration in new and innovative directions - exactly what is needed right now for retail and urban development," says Annakarin Nyberg, business developer and programme manager for eXpression Future Retail Lab.
The programme is an initiative at the business incubator eXpression Umeå, which is implemented together with Umeå municipality, the Swedish Commerce Federation via the Merchants' Association Foundation, Region Västerbotten and EU structural funds. Actors who are currently gathering forces to create conditions for a hard-hit industry. However, during the spring that, precisely because of the pandemic, it would be difficult to fill programme places. But voices from the industry expressed the opposite view.
- We have carried out many visits and conversations with companies who express that the need for new knowledge, innovation and business development is greater than ever. At the same time, we also see that many companies are struggling to survive, and in such a situation it is naturally challenging to recharge, rethink and look ahead. It's a complex and serious situation," says Anna Kjellberg, Business Developer at eXpression.
At the start of the programme on 25 August, the accepted companies will meet for the first time.
For more information:
Annakarin Nyberg, Programme Manager, Business Development
eXpression Future Retail Lab
annakarin.nyberg@expressionumea.se
070-667 94 43
