Retail Incubator Program Helps Hartford Micro Businesses

A dozen Hartford-based businesses are advancing their community presence and operations thanks to a pilot retail incubator program. 

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner and reSET partnered the program, using Launc[H] Hartford funding for an eight-week training course designed to help retailers improve their business models.

“Our goal is to make sure they are well positioned to grow here in Hartford, and beyond,” said reSET executive director Sarah Bodley.

Businesses learned the basics of creating a business plan, the need for flexible spending in a business model, how to understand their customer base, as well as marketing and branding.

The idea is to help businesses grow and shift consumer habits post-pandemic back to the Hartford area. 

Changing Landscape

“Over the last few months they have focused on getting to know their customers, so they can meet the public’s demand and needs in a changing COVID retail landscape,” said Bodley. 

“We can’t wait to see where they go from here.”

The program was free to businesses. 

The 12 participating businesses are micro-enterprises who are women or minority owned, including: 

• Bloom Bake Shop 
• Years of Progress Clothing 
• Ital Creations
• ShadeBySmoove
• Reboot Eco
• Victory Jump 
• Nabii Organics
• Lady Jane
• African Adornments
• Funnybone Records 
• Hartford Gear Company
• Omni Print Plus

The program will culminate with a pop-up event on Pratt Street in Hartford on Oct. 28.