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Retail Lab Graduate to Open Its First Brick-and-Mortar Location

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

Rockers Rejoice! Local Guitar Shop Opens in Downtown Kannapolis! The Cabarrus Center is thrilled to announce the grand opening of J. King Guitar at 201 Oak Avenue in downtown Kannapolis on Saturday, September 3 from 11:00am to 6:00pm! J. King Guitar founder, Jack King, graduated from the Cabarrus Center’s Retail Lab Boot Camp earlier this year. This program provides early stage and pre-launch retailers in Cabarrus and Rowan counties with six weeks of immersive, application-based training focusing on business...

J King Guitar, Retail Lab, Retail Lab Boot Camp

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Cabarrus Center Retail Lab Graduates 10 Local Entrepreneurs, Awards 5 Grants

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

Ten local entrepreneurs are celebrating their graduation from the Retail Lab Boot Camp—a new program created in 2021 to address the complex nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The 10 graduates of Retail Lab completed an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp on May 4. The following week, five of the graduates chose to pitch for members of the Entrepreneurship Council for $2,500 micro-grants. All five of them were successfully awarded the grants. Bethann McGinnis, owner of Little Beautiful...

Retail Lab, Small Business Center at RCCC, The Flywheel Foundation

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Cabarrus Center Celebrates Retail Lab Pop Up Store Grand Opening

Posted in Press Releases, Retail Lab.

Six Retail Lab graduates launch their businesses inside new co-op store in Downtown Concord On Wednesday, April 13 at noon, new local retailers will cut the ribbon to officially open the Retail Lab Pop Up Store at the Cabarrus Center in downtown Concord. The idea for the Retail Lab Pop Up Store was birthed after the completion of the Cabarrus Center’s first Retail Lab Boot Camp program in the fall of 2021. Members of the cohort were offered the opportunity to pitch for the use of the Retail Lab space in the Cabarrus...

Retail Lab Pop Up Store

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Cabarrus Center Launches Team-Based Entrepreneur Mentorship Program

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Venture Mentoring Service.

10 local ventures and 25 mentors join the pilot of Cabarrus Center VMS, licensed by MIT After months of planning, training, and recruiting, the Cabarrus Center Venture Mentoring Service (VMS), licensed by MIT, has launched its pilot program with 25 local mentors and 10 new ventures and existing small businesses. The Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship, located in historic downtown Concord, has been the hub of entrepreneurial development since it opened in March of 2021. However, key stakeholders in...

venture mentoring service, vms

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Cabarrus Center Launches Second Retail Lab Boot Camp

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Programs, Retail Lab.

Applications Open to New Retail Entrepreneurs on February 1, 2022 The Cabarrus Center for Innovation and Entrepreneurship announced the Spring session of its Retail Lab Boot Camp and is accepting applications starting on Tuesday, February 1, 2022. The Retail Lab was created to address the complexities of starting and operating a retail business. The Retail Lab serves early-stage retail business owners in Cabarrus and Rowan counties. It is an application-based, six-week immersive Boot Camp, followed by an opportunity...

Retail Lab

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The Cabarrus Center Retail Lab Program Graduates 14 Local Entrepreneurs

Posted in Cabarrus Center News, Press Releases, Programs, Retail Lab.

CONCORD, NC – On Wednesday, November 10, fourteen local entrepreneurs will complete the inaugural Retail Lab Boot Camp—a brand new program created to address the complex and sometimes daunting nature of starting and operating a retail establishment. The graduates of Retail Lab completed an application-based, six-week immersive boot camp, and are preparing to compete later this month for grant funding and an opportunity to test their concept in a pop-up retail space for six months. The entrepreneurs will each pitch...

Flywheel Cafe, Flywheel Coworking, Retail Lab, Small Business Center at RCCC, The Flywheel Foundation

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The Women-Owned Small Businesses of Gibson Mill

Posted in Blog, Our Partners.

Did you know that Gibson Mill is home to a unique variety of women-owned small businesses? The once thriving 20th century manufacturing facility was purchased by local friends in 2004 and restored to offer an array of retail, office and warehouse space for local entrepreneurs. The reinvention of the space has given many female entrepreneurs the opportunity they need to take their innovative ideas to the next level by starting up a new business. As we close out National Women’s Small Business Month, take a moment...

Gibson Mill, women-owned

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Explore the Women-Owned Small Businesses of Downtown Kannapolis

Posted in Blog.

The newly revitalized downtown Kannapolis district offers a wide variety of attractive, vibrant spaces for female entrepreneurs to start and grow their small businesses. The picturesque downtown district is now home to an array of women-owned small businesses ranging from boutiques and art studios to delicious food and treats. As we celebrate National Women’s Small Business Month, we invite you to explore the small businesses that female entrepreneurs have created in downtown Kannapolis, so you can support them now...

Entrepreneurship, Small Business, women-owned

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Celebrating Women-Owned Small Businesses

Posted in Uncategorized.

October is National Women’s Small Business Month, which serves as an excellent opportunity to reflect on the work of female entrepreneurs everywhere. The Rise of Women-Owned Businesses According to the 2019 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report by American Express, there are 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S. alone. Compare that to 1972 when there were only a little more than 400,000 women-owned businesses in operation at the time. Over the last two decades, female entrepreneurship in the U.S. has increased...

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