Hartford, CT – October 7, 2024 – reSET, the Hartford-based entrepreneur support organization committed to nurturing businesses with a social mission, is excited to announce the ten businesses working in the fourth cohort of the Floor–Plan Retail Incubator this fall. The public is invited to hear their business pitches and meet the eleven entrepreneurs at the Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch Showcase which will be the culminating event for the program on October 30th in Hartford.

“reSET is exceedingly proud of the hard work that these entrepreneurs have put in to grow their businesses and contribute to the Hartford region’s growth and community vitality,” said Sarah Bodley, Executive Director of reSET. “This year’s cohort is an incredibly creative group with a contingent of fashion brands, boutique products and experiential popups. We’re excited to see them engage with impact during the fall and holiday market season, and can’t wait to kick off the season with the Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch Showcase.”

Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch Showcase

The Floor–Plan Retail Incubator will conclude with the Parkville Pop-Up and Pitch Showcase on October 30 from 5:00-8:30 pm at reSET’s office at 1429 Park St. in Hartford. During the event, 11 entrepreneurs will present their 10 companies via live business pitches, a mini pop-up market and networking with Hartford’s small business community. The public is invited to attend and experience these exciting emerging businesses! Tickets and more information are available at: http://bit.ly/ParkvillePUP A discount price for early ticket purchases is available through Friday, October 11.

The ten businesses in this year’s Floor–Plan Retail Incubator are:

• Anderson + Joy founded by Tricia Ross, Anderson + Joy is a handmade, certified vegan and cruelty-free bath and body care, pet care, and home fragrance collection featuring products that are free from parabens, sulfates, phthalates, and mineral oil.
• Big Red Book Truck, led by entrepreneur Jennifer Wilder, is a mobile bookstore bringing a diverse selection of books to the community and making literature accessible and inclusive. With its signature red truck and Jennifer's red cowboy boots, the Big Red Book Truck inspires readers of all ages and backgrounds.
• Ham Choi Market, named from a Vietnamese phrase meaning "always wanting to play and not work" which reflects the playful and carefree spirit behind this Connecticut pop-up shop founded by Valerie Truong. Ham Choi Market offers vintage finds and promotes sustainability through mindful consumerism and passing joy to customers as a friendly alternative to fast fashion.
• K’Quema Play, Breaking away from the norm of fashion, K’Quema Play is a clothing line founded by Saint, and encourages customers to embrace and express their inner child.
• MARS222, Founded by Jovanni Celli and Olivia Oppenheimer is a Connecticut-born streetwear brand that uniquely integrates urban culture with music to create versatile apparel that speaks to the creative spirit of the community. 
• REIZER•CO, Features cut-and-sewn premium clothing, founded in honor of Ruben Johnson, who passed away from brain cancer at the age of 16. This brand exists to carry on his legacy and promote the values he stood for: embracing individuality and being true to yourself.
• Sassy Black Yarns, founded by Lakisher Hurst and located in Manchester, CT, specializes in providing vibrant, high-quality yarns to fellow crafters. Each skein is meticulously hand-dyed in small batches, ensuring every product is one-of-a-kind.
• The Zen Dealer, Through alchemy of plants and our inner selves, founder Arlene Torres strives to make the world a better place by healing ourselves and then healing others. The Zen Dealer cultivates little treasures to unlock deep healing and unshakable presence in your belief. It all starts with you! 
• Ulterior Motive, Founded in 2020 by Ravi Ajodhi, Ulterior Motive seeks to redefine luxury streetwear through artistic mediums and create clothing that transcends fashion and fosters a community of open-minded individuals who appreciate the balance between simplicity and complexity.
• VAINCRE Cancer, Led by Shawn Trott, VAINCRE, meaning "to vanquish" in French, provides hypoallergenic organic cotton hats to boost confidence and offer comfort to those undergoing treatment. Each purchase helps donate hats to cancer warriors, supporting their battle. 

Floor–Plan Retail Incubator

The Floor–Plan Retail Business Incubator is a partnership between reSET and Hartford-based Breakfast Lunch & Dinner, a community venture-building studio. Now in its fourth year, the three-month program provides entrepreneurial technical support to early-stage retail businesses. Participants work to understand customer needs, define pricing strategies, address key legal and financial topics, and prepare their businesses for new market opportunities. Entrepreneurs gain insights from industry experts, access a supportive community, and receive practical tools to enhance their business acumen. Through the Floor–Plan initiative, businesses are also connected into market opportunities such as Winterfair and the newly launched Know Good Place operating at reSET’s Parkville location.

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. Visit reSET | Where Great Companies Grow (resetco.org).

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