APPLICATIONS ARE CURRENTLY CLOSED. CHECK BACK IN EARLY 2024!
Have you ever dreamed of having your own storefront? Do you have a unique concept you’d like to bring to your community? Or an online shop you’re ready to take to the next level? Citizens Bank of Edmond and the Independent Shopkeepers Association have partnered to take your shopkeeping experience to the next level!
Citizens Bank of Edmond has created a retail incubator program with ISA that will provide one shopkeeper the opportunity to set up a pop-up retail space for the low program fee of $50 per month. The program fee will also include a dedicated desk at Vault 405, Citizens’ co-working space, for the duration of participation in RISE. For three months, the selected shop will get a unique opportunity to join the vibrant, established shopping scene in downtown Edmond.
If you are a new local concept ready to launch, now is your chance to win a space in Citizens RISE, a retail incubator for shopkeepers.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW:
Winner will set up shop in the Citizens Bank of Edmond building for three months. The storefront is located on Broadway Ave in downtown Edmond. The program fee is $50 per month, which includes electricity and wifi, and is ready for you to bring merchandise in and open up shop. It will also include a dedicated desk at Citizen’s neighboring co-working space called Vault 405.
A selection jury will review all properly submitted entries and select the winner through a ranking system based on experience, product selection, inventory and merchandising plan. Finalists will meet virtually with the jury for an interview.
Fall Timeline:
Applications will be open Aug. 14 - Sept. 15, 2023. We will reach out to finalists to schedule interviews in mid-September and have a decision made by the end of the month.
Move-in is scheduled for early October with a tentative opening date of Oct. 14. The shop will be set up in the space until early January 2024.
Eligibility and Requirements:
Selected winner(s) will be required to sign a vendor agreement and be responsible for following all City, County and State business requirements as well as obtaining proper insurance coverage and licensing prior to the move-in date.
Eligibility:
Must be an Oklahoma-owned business
Applicants can either be an existing shop looking to open a new location, or an online shop or maker looking to open their first brick-and-mortar.
Businesses not eligible to apply include:
Dispensaries
Liquor stores
Food and beverage
Full-service restaurants
Political or election content
Explosive materials, such as fireworks
Adult entertainment products
No strong odors (candles…)
The winner will receive the following:
Retail space for three months, located in front of the Citizens Bank of Edmond building. Utilities and wifi included. Fee is $50 per month.
A first-year membership to the Independent Shopkeepers Association
The winner will be responsible for the following:
Signage, staff, merchandise and interior merchandising
Adhering to hours of operation and design specifications agreed to with Citizens Bank of Edmond.
Adhering to all rules, including: no smoking within 20ft of entryway, no drinking, keeping space tidy at all times, no covering of fire alarms, keeping a family-friendly atmosphere, no burning candles or incense and following Citizens Bank of Edmond’s COVID-19 protocols at all times.
What do I need to know before applying?
The application has a total of 14 questions. Some are quick and easy, some require more details. Read through the questions below so you know what to expect before starting the application process. Here’s what we’ll ask:
General info like your name, contact information, website, social media accounts…
A detailed description of your business and background. We want to know thinks like: When did you launch? What made you want to start your business? What’s your shop’s mission? What are your goals and dreams for your business? The more details you provide so we can get to know you, the better!
Relevant experience: events you’ve participated in, online sales, previous or current brick-and-mortars you’ve operated.
A description of the products you carry.
Average price point.
How much merchandise, in dollars, you plan to bring into the pop-up.
What you envision for the space/your merchandising plan.
What makes you the best fit for this pop-up.
Follow @rise_cbe and @isaokla on Instagram for updates
About Citizens Bank of Edmond and the Independent Shopkeepers Association:
Citizens Bank of Edmond is an award-winning community bank proudly operating at the same downtown Edmond location where it was founded in April 1901. Citizens Bank of Edmond is a nationally-recognized leader in community engagement, known for its pioneering techniques to spur community engagement and economic activity, from originating Cash Mobs to support local retail businesses; and launching Heard on Hurd, a family-friendly festival with a $30 million local economic impact; to establishing Vault 405, Edmond’s first co-working space.
The Independent Shopkeepers Association (ISA) is a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization launched in January 2020 with the mission to support, educate and celebrate the growth of local retail in Oklahoma. With 70 members across the state, ISA has worked tirelessly to provide a necessary platform for local shops to navigate the current health and economic crisis.