THE WORKSHOP AT MACY’S WELCOMES 2024 CLASS

This spring, Macy’s welcomes 26 business owners to the 2024 class of The Workshop at Macy’s, the retail industry’s longest-running vendor accelerator program designed to propel underrepresented brands to the next level by providing retail industry knowledge, resources, and tools. Throughout the month of May, the class of 2024 will have the opportunity to access Macy’s holistic supplier ecosystem, critical education, and funding resources and engage customers through a pop-up shop on macys.com which runs through June 1. All participants will have an opportunity to enter a pitch competition, from which the winning brand will receive a $100,000 business grant, among other prizes provided by Klarna, Spark Foundry, and Bazaarvoice. Additionally, all participants who complete the program will receive a $5,000 business grant upon completion. Three of the brands are from the menswear industry, Public Art, Rockridge, and Jacob & John.

As part of Macy’s social purpose platform, Mission Every One, The Workshop at Macy’s is vital to the brand’s ongoing commitment to empower underrepresented entrepreneurs. During this year’s session, vendors will have the opportunity to engage with the comprehensive business development program, providing them with a variety of tools to build brand identity, improve their financial management and assortment planning, create a perfect pitch, secure growth capital, and more. Following The Workshop, participants will be introduced to Macy’s buyers and digital marketplace teams for the opportunity to onboard as vendors across Macy’s retail ecosystem.

“For nearly 15 years, The Workshop at Macy’s has leveraged the brand’s resources and retail expertise to empower and amplify underrepresented businesses, creating one of the industry’s most comprehensive vendor accelerator programs,” said Sherieka Smallwood-Morgan, Director of Retail Strategy, Macy’s. “As part of Mission Every One, The Workshop at Macy’s is committed to expanding representation across retail by providing this year’s cohort, as well as future classes, with best-in-class programming and resources to fuel entrepreneurial development and growth.”

Additionally, brands will be introduced to S.P.U.R. Pathways: Shared Purpose, Unlimited Reach, a multiyear, multifaceted funding program to advance entrepreneurial growth, close wealth gaps, and shatter systemic barriers faced by diverse-owned businesses. A partnership between Macy’s, Inc. and Momentus Capital, S.P.U.R. Pathways offers underrepresented businesses and businesses in underserved communities, access to critical funding, as well as a full suite of educational resources, fueling a holistic supplier ecosystem and acting as a catalyst for outsized growth.