Birmingham, Alabama-based delivery service Shipt has opened applications for a new business accelerator program to fuel the growth of local retailers in Atlanta and four other metro areas.
The program, called LadderUp, was announced last year. Shipt will accept applications Feb. 6 through March 6. The program is open to grocery, beverage, health, beauty, floral and gift retailers. The program is also available in Houston, Birmingham, Detroit and Washington, D.C.
Last fall, Shipt CEO Kamau Witherspoon spoke at the White House Conference on Hunger, Nutrition and Health where he revealed a set of commitments to reduce food insecurity and increase access to nutritious foods. LadderUp follows through on one of those commitments by helping expand access to food in underserved communities, particularly for those with mobility or transportation barriers. LadderUp was also designed to support local economies by helping local small businesses, especially ones owned by people of color, grow and compete.
In conversations with local retailers, Shipt learned that business owners face technology gaps and want to participate in e-commerce platforms to better serve their customers, according to a news release.
“Working with small businesses to build up their capabilities is a key part of our commitment to help create healthier, more resilient and equitable communities," Witherspoon said. "We recognize the unique role that we can play in both combating hunger in under-resourced communities and boosting small, local retailers that are so vital to communities across our country.”
As part of the company's commitment to investing in programs focused on leveling the economic playing field for Black and other underrepresented populations in the communities it serves, its goal is to reach at least 50% LGBTQ+ and BIPOC participation in the program.
If selected, small business owners will go through an eight-week course learning from retail industry leaders. Topics will include driving sustainable growth, building financial foundation, building efficiency, marketing, e-commerce 101, using Shipt, and the basic legal knowledge needed to run a business.
Companies that complete the program will receive $5,000 to invest in growing their e-commerce business. Shopify, an e-commerce company partnering with Shipt to teach a course in the program, will provide access to its platform for a limited time at no cost to help retailers build an online storefront, streamline operations and optimize inventory tracking.
“Together with Shipt, we are reducing the unique barriers facing underrepresented business owners,” Crystal Hunt, senior program manger of partnerships diversity and belonging at Shopify, said in a statement. Through the partnership, Hunt said, "we will create community and opportunity for change-makers, disruptors and creators of tomorrow."
Similar to Instacart, Shipt dispatches shoppers to pick out items from local stores for delivery to customers' homes. It partners with a wide range of grocers and retailers from CVS and 7-Eleven to Lidl and Petco. In December 2017, Minnesota-based Target Corp. (NYSE: T) agreed to buy Shipt in a $550 million deal. Shipt is a wholly owned Target subsidiary and operates independently.
