HARTFORD, CT, October 15, 2021 –reSET, a non-profit entrepreneur support organization, in partnership with Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture building studio, announces the completion of 12 Hartford-based retail businesses from a pilot Retail Incubator made possible by Launc[H] Hartford funding. The Retail Incubator program supports entrepreneurs ready to sell their unique products in Hartford and beyond, focusing on what it takes to create a strong, agile business that can adapt to the changing times of the COVID era. The program culminates with an October 28 Floor-Plan Pop Up Event at 88 Pratt Street at 6 pm, as part of the larger Know Good Nights event. 

The Retail Incubator is one component of the larger initiative led by Breakfast Lunch & Dinner called Floor-Plan in response to a lack of local retail options. This initiative brings a broad array of community partners together in order to create large-scale retail activations throughout Downtown Hartford and into the city's neighborhoods. Vacant storefronts and pedestrian areas will partner with existing programming such as community events and live music to create new programming to drive foot traffic and help the wider community begin to shift their consumer habits back to Hartford. 

"As a young, black male, I am very grateful to see this program come alive after weeks of planning with the talented team at reSET. Our goal with Floor–Plan is to create a staircase that any entrepreneur or small business can access and ascend at their own pace. We're excited to see this cohort advance and look forward to exploring new ways to offer connectivity within our community and retail landscape." 

Joshua Jenkins, Partner BL&D

The program, free for participants, ran from September-October 2021 led by Dawn Leaks, a reSET Impact Accelerator alumna and founder of Lioness Magazine. Dawn holds three professional certifications and an MBA in Entrepreneurial Thinking and Innovation as well as a Master's in Communication and Information Management. She was named “Top Woman in Life/Business Coaching” by Western Mass Women Magazine and honored with the BusinessWest “40 Under Forty” award. Dawn successfully sold Lioness Magazine after years of building a strong company foundation. 

Over the 8-week program, participants learned the basics of business planning, emphasizing the need for a flexible business model and resiliency. Topics included creating a business plan & elevator pitch, understanding your customer, developing an online presence, marketing & branding, pricing your products, getting to market, and understanding and accessing resources to grow. The pop-up event is a chance for participants to demonstrate their progress in the community and be able to sell locally. 

“I've been so impressed with the drive and passion of these entrepreneurs over the last few months. Our goal is to make sure they are well positioned to grow here in Hartford, and beyond. 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. We can't wait to see where they go from here.” 

Sarah Bodley, reSET Executive Director

Participants were individuals and micro-enterprises (businesses of 5 people or less) who were looking to scale their product based business to the next level. The program prioritized Hartford residents, Hartford-based businesses, businesses owned by women and people of color, and businesses that primarily serve Hartford residents. 

The graduating cohort includes:

• ShadeBySmoove- ShadeBySmoove is a unisex sunglasses business that provides an immediate confidence boost and outfit enhancement. 
• Nabii Organics - Looking for cleaner, greener, natural products ? Check out NaBii Organics for high quality body butters, soaps, serums and more! 
• Ital Creations - Ital Creations is a natural body care line providing body butters, scrubs, soaps, oils and other care items.  All products are uniquely crafted by hand. 
• Hartford Gear Company - custom and hand-sewn lightweight, durable bags and accessories that can be used for backpacking, hiking, or in everyday life.
• Lady Jane - Black & female led Cannabis Company. Our vision is to create a luxurious hospitality and retail experience for our guests while delivering the highest quality cannabis and cannabis infused products. 
• Reboot Eco - Reboot Eco is a refillery and zero waste shop with a mission to reduce single use plastics and plastic waste. We strive to make sustainable, low waste living more accessible with education and our reusable, plastic free, and zero waste alternatives.
• Years of Progress Clothing - YOP - An EastCost premium urban clothing brand spreading a worldwide aura of peace, perseverance & progress via garment and accessory. Progression is a lesson, let your essence be your reference.
• Victory Jump - Victory Jump is a pop and geek culture accessory and apparel store focused on fandoms from a wide variety of media, including anime, video games and comics.
• Bloom Bake Shop - At Bloom Bake Shop our goal is to spread joy to our community through our baked goods. Bloom is a pop-up bakery offering everything from farmers' market pastries to wedding cakes. Our baked goods are made from scratch and custom made to order.
• African Adornments  - African Adornments is an African-Woman Owned Business that aims to celebrate sisterhood by sharing African culture through empowering pieces. We sell handmade waistbeads made by women in Ghana and Nigeria, including beautiful handbags, accessories, and more.
• Funnybone Records - Funnybone Records is a community-based independent record label and promoter out of Hartford, Connecticut. No jerks allowed.
• Omni Print Plus - Traditional + Digital + Social. A Community Print Shop with a Purpose!

Floor-Plan Pop Up:

When: October 28 @ 6 -10 pm, Press conference begins at 5:30 pm

Where: 88 Pratt Street, Hartford (as part of Know Good Nights)

*No rsvp necessary

About reSET

reSET is a nonprofit organization in Hartford, CT, whose mission is advancing the social enterprise sector. reSET specializes in social enterprise ― impact driven business with a double or triple bottom line. In addition to providing coworking space, accelerator and mentoring programs, reSET aims to inspire innovation and community collaboration, and to support entrepreneurs in creating market-based solutions to community challenges. reSET’s goal is to meet entrepreneurs wherever they are in their trajectory and to help them take their businesses to the next level. www.reSETCo.org

About Breakfast Lunch & Dinner

Breakfast Lunch & Dinner (BL&D) creates collective culture by building unique, diverse ventures that bring people together authentically. We leverage the assets of the Connecticut region to bring the best of the community forward to offer to our in-house ventures and the projects of our partners and clients. Hartford, like many cities, is receiving revived interest from Government investors that will change the city. Breakfast Lunch & Dinner positions our work to make sure everyone is a part of that revival. https://www.breakfastxlunchxdinner.com/