The Shops at Carriage Crossing launches business incubator program to offer free retail space to local entrepreneurs
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The Shops at Carriage Crossing launches business incubator program to offer free retail space to local entrepreneurs
Pop Local program provides small business owners and entrepreneurs the opportunity to test out their products and services in a traditional retail space.
COLLIERVILLE, Tenn., July 17, 2023 – Edwards Realty Company, a boutique property management, investment and development firm that operates The Shops at Carriage Crossing, today announced the launch of Pop Local, an award-winning initiative intended to create new opportunities for small businesses and entrepreneurs based in the Mid-South.
The program consists of an application period open to all local businesses where qualified finalists will be selected based on a series of criteria, including overall business readiness, concept and potential longevity as a future Carriage Crossing tenant. Those finalists will then participate in a social media voting competition, interviews with Carriage Crossing leadership and a public Finalist Showcase Day on Saturday, Sept. 23. A winner will be announced in October and receive three months of free rent at Carriage Crossing, $5,000 to jumpstart or enhance their business venture and the opportunity to activate the Carriage Crossing space during the months of November, December and January
“The Mid-South is teeming with innovative businesses and entrepreneurs – Pop Local gives them the support they need to take their business pursuit to the next level by removing hurdles like monthly rent and additional startup costs,” said Ramzi Hassan, president of Edwards Realty Company. “They already have a winning idea – we give them an extra boost to thrive in a physical retail environment with more than 225,000 visitors each month.”
Edwards Realty Company established Pop Local in 2020 in an effort to adapt to the dynamic retail environment. Their creative approach supports small businesses while promoting the local community, creating a balance between emerging brands and concepts with national retailers at their centers. The Pop Local program successfully launched local businesses at other properties in Burr Ridge, Illinois; Orland Park, Illinois; and St. Louis, Missouri.
The proposed timeline for the Pop Local competition is as follows:
Monday, July 17 – Applications open.
Monday, Aug. 14 – Applications close.
Monday, Aug. 28 – Finalists announced and social media voting begins.
Thursday, Sept. 21 – Finalist interviews begin.
Saturday, Sept. 23 – Public Finalist Showcase Day at Carriage Crossing.
Friday, Sept. 29 – Social media voting closes.
Friday, Oct. 6 – Winner announced.
For those interested in applying, visit www.shoppoplocal.com/carriage-crossing to review rules and regulations and to begin the application process.
About Edwards Realty Company
Edwards Realty Company is a leading real estate investment, development and management firm with three decades of experience investing in communities and is based in Orland Park, Illinois. Over the past 30 years, Edwards Realty Company has developed a diverse portfolio of mixed-use properties across the Midwest. Their open-air centers are “Centers of Attention” in their respective neighborhoods and represent an innovative convergence of community, compassion, commitment and commerce. For more information on Edwards, visit www.edwardsrealtyco.com or @EdwardsRealtyCompany on Facebook and Instagram.
About The Shops at Carriage Crossing
Originally opening in 2005, The Shops at Carriage Crossing is an open-air regional lifestyle shopping center in suburban Collierville, Tennessee, just outside of the city of Memphis. For more information on Carriage Crossing, visit www.shopcarriagecrossing.com or @ShopCarriageCrossing on Facebook and Instagram.
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