Spring 2025 Retail Lab Graduates 14 Local Entrepreneurs

A new group of fourteen local entrepreneurs recently completed the Spring 2025 Retail Lab Boot Camp. This six-week program equips aspiring and early-stage business owners with practical tools and insights for launching and growing a retail venture. The program concludes with participants pitching their business ideas for a chance to receive grant funding.

The curriculum covers essential topics such as business strategy, branding, marketing, e-commerce, point-of-sale, and inventory management. Participants gain hands-on experience and mentorship from local entrepreneurs and industry professionals. This spring’s cohort showcased a diverse array of retail concepts, reflecting the creativity and determination of our local small-business community.

For participant Shanicqua Blake, owner of Simply Care Box LLC, the Retail Lab experience was transformative: “Being a part of the Retail Lab really helped change the dynamic of my business. Each week we learned something new from laying the foundation of a successful business, the importance of organization, e-commerce (which was especially important to me) and even about how to find retail properties. I came in being just a business owner and left being a successful entrepreneur! I will always be grateful to the Retail Lab Program.”

The Retail Lab Boot Camp is a collaboration between the Small Business Center at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College and the Flywheel Foundation, with generous support from Wells Fargo. This partnership aims to strengthen the local economy by empowering entrepreneurs with the knowledge and resources to succeed.

Graduates receive a complimentary three-month membership to Flywheel Coworking, providing access to the Cabarrus Center’s professional workspace and ongoing support from partner organizations, including the Small Business Center, Cabarrus Economic Development Corporation, and the Cabarrus Chamber of Commerce.

Applications for the next Retail Lab cohort will open in Fall 2025. For more information about the program, please contact Grant Colgan at the Flywheel Foundation.