Applications are now available for the Macy's Vendor Diversity Accelerator program.
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Heads up! Macy's is currently on the lookout for up-and-coming retail businesses for its 2024 version of The Workshop at Macy's, a program aimed at empowering underrepresented entrepreneurs. This four-week extravaganza, centered on education and mentoring by Macy's bigwigs and industry partners, is designed to propel businesses towards growth.
The Workshop at Macy's welcomes U.S.-based businesses run by women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or people of Black, Hispanic/Latino, Native American, Asian-Indian, or Asian-Pacific origin. Application period is now open and runs until November 30. Finalists will be announced in February, with the program set to kick off in May. The grand finale? A pop-up shop on Macy's.com for participants.
This program, established in 2011, has a rich history. It has nurtured over 220 businesses, offered more than 500 hours of educational training, and doled out over half a million dollars in business grants.
Michelle Wang, Macy's vice president of retail diversity strategy, spilled the beans to Retail Dive. She shared that the upcoming program will be a hybrid offering, taking place both virtually and in person at Macy's Herald Square store in New York City.
Wang proudly stated, "For over a decade, The Workshop at Macy's has embodied our unwavering commitment to elevate and empower underrepresented businesses by offering a top-notch development program. Through our Mission Every One initiative and programs like The Workshop at Macy's, we are dedicated to redefining and reshaping diversity in retail by equipping participants with the tools and resources needed to surge."
Graduates rave about the program's diverse course offerings that delve beyond the basics, exploring topics focused on business growth, such as creating a solid brand identity, mastering financial management, honing the perfect pitch, and accessing growth capital.
Post-graduation, participants have the chance to join Macy's as vendors and present their products to the retail giant's customer base via Macy's digital marketplace. A whopping 45 brands that have been through the program are already available on Macys.com.
Wang also emphasized that participating brands are introduced to the company's S.P.U.R. Pathways program, a multi-year, multi-faceted funding initiative committed to fostering entrepreneurial growth, closing wealth gaps, and obliterating barriers faced by underrepresented business owners.
Recent collaborations, like the AMP Beauty partnership, showcase Macy's persistent ambition to highlight underrepresented brands by curating retail placements and integrating accelerator partnerships.
- Macy's is seeking innovative retail businesses for The Workshop at Macy's 2024 edition, aiming to help underrepresented entrepreneurs break into the industry.
- The program, which runs from May to June, offers four weeks of education and mentoring from Macy's executives and industry partners.
- Eligible businesses include those run by women, veterans, individuals with disabilities, members of the LGBTQ+ community, or people of certain ethnic origins, and the application period ends on November 30.
- Established in 2011, The Workshop at Macy's has amplified over 220 businesses, providing educational training and business grants totaling more than half a million dollars.
- In 2024, the program will be a hybrid event, taking place both virtually and in person at Macy's Herald Square store in New York City.
- Participating brands gain access to the S.P.U.R. Pathways program, a multi-year initiative aimed at fostering entrepreneurial growth, closing wealth gaps, and eliminating barriers faced by underrepresented business owners.
