It is now clear which 16 companies will take part in the new round of the eXpression Future Retail Lab accelerator programme. The programme includes participants from Örnsköldsvik to Piteå and surrounding municipalities and is aimed at new entrepreneurs and owner-operated 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 for developing new business models and forms of collaboration, as well as to increase knowledge and create growth.

The companies admitted to the programme are a heterogeneous group of new entrepreneurs and owner-managed companies that together show strong drive and clear objectives for their participation. The accepted companies are:

• Backpacking Light
• Industrial goods
• Members
• Researchers
• Gallery Oss
• Cloakrooms
• Healthy in Skellefteå
• Idunn Wine
• Iron stove food stall
• Mini and the Planet
• New Makeriet
• Boarding house
• Root
• Sofia Karolina
• Tavelsjö Farm Mill
• Wow Hairdressing

The new round of programmes will be carried out digitally and in analogue, based in Umeå, starting on 31 August. Round three has been expanded in terms of content with even more topical and relevant features. The programme is being shaped partly in the light of previous experience of running the programme for some years, and partly on the basis of qualitative and quantitative studies of the current knowledge needs and challenges of owner-managed companies. For example, in light of the corona pandemic and changing demands on sales channels and communication strategies, work on social media is being intensified. Similarly, there is a focus on so-called exploratory business development, which has become an increasingly common strategy. Simply put, new business ideas and concepts are developed, launched, and evaluated in parallel without sacrificing sustainable business practices. This places new demands on the organisation of work, for example.

The programme lasts nine months with an additional three months for further business development. The time aspect is very important as it takes time to create the conditions to put new knowledge into practice and action.

The programme is a so-called 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 around Sweden by sharing its experience of having developed, established and implemented a unique and advanced business development programme.

- It is with pride and great expectation that we now accept sixteen new companies to a strong programme with heavy industry expertise, research anchoring and educational precision in the arrangement. The participants are given individual conditions to develop while we also utilise the power of bringing together experienced, courageous and driven entrepreneurs. We will see challenging and explorative development as well as collaboration in new and exciting directions. This is exactly what is required right now in the retail and hospitality industry," 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 being carried out with funding from Umeå Municipality, the Swedish Trade Federation via the Swedish Merchants' Association Foundation, Region Västerbotten and EU structural funds - actors who are currently joining forces to create conditions for a hard-hit industry. During the spring, however, fears were expressed that, precisely because of the pandemic, it would be difficult to fill the programme places. But voices from the industry expressed the opposite view.

- We have conducted many visits and conversations with companies that 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 fighting hard for their survival and in such a situation it is of course challenging to constantly reload, think new and look forward, says Anna Wikholm Kjellberg, business developer at eXpression Umeå.

At the start of the programme on 31 August, the accepted companies will meet for the first time. The programme will be delivered digitally and in analogue format and may be adjusted during the programme round depending on the development of the coronary pandemic in society and the guidelines presented by the Public Health Agency.

For more information:

Annakarin Nyberg, Programme Manager, Business Development
eXpression Future Retail Lab
annakarin.nyberg@expressionumea.se
070-667 94 43