{"id":13680,"date":"2024-07-31T15:55:39","date_gmt":"2024-07-31T15:55:39","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.l3corp.net\/wordpress\/?p=13680"},"modified":"2024-07-31T15:55:39","modified_gmt":"2024-07-31T15:55:39","slug":"5-local-small-businesses-named-finalists-in-competition-for-free-retail-space","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.l3corp.net\/wordpress\/2024\/5-local-small-businesses-named-finalists-in-competition-for-free-retail-space\/","title":{"rendered":"5 local small businesses named finalists in competition for free retail space"},"content":{"rendered":"

Original Article By: St. Louis Business Journal\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

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Five finalists \u2013\u00a0including a luxury shoe brand and a plant-based skincare business \u2013 have been named finalists in Pop Local, a competition in which one entrepreneur can win a rent-free storefront space for three months and a design stipend for their concept.<\/p>\n

Edwards Realty Co., a property management, investment and development firm and owner and operator of The Boulevard mixed-use center in Richmond Heights, conducts the Pop Local program. The initiative is aimed to promote local entrepreneurship and create new opportunities for small businesses in the St. Louis area, according to company officials. The Pop Local program began in 2021, when local apparel company\u00a0Series Six won the inaugural competition<\/a>.<\/p>\n

The five finalists were announced Tuesday from over 75 applications received by the July 8 deadline. \u201cThere is incredible creativity and innovation within the St. Louis community, and we\u2019re excited to see such interesting small businesses emerging in the region,” Edwards Realty President Ramzi Hassan said in the release.<\/p>\n

The winner of this year’s Pop Local will receive three months of free rent to test a brick-and-mortar space at The Boulevard, which Edwards Realty says offers the small business increased visibility and access to sales and center-wide events. The winning emerging brand can test their concept in a 1,380-square-foot, “premium, light-filled retail space” within The Boulevard complex during October, November and December, one of the year’s busiest shopping seasons, the real estate firm said in a press release.<\/p>\n

The Pop Local winner also will receive a $3,500 stipend “to help turn their vision into a reality” inside their space, as well as marketing support to bring in foot traffic, officials said.<\/p>\n

The public can participate in selecting the Pop Local winner by\u00a0voting on the program’s website<\/a>\u00a0from Tuesday to Aug. 22. The winner is expected to be announced at the end of August and to move to The Boulevard in October, officials said.<\/p>\n

This year’s Pop Local finalists are:<\/p>\n

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