FedEx Announces the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab in Collaboration with Accion Opportunity Fund
May 13 2021 - 09:00AM
Business Wire
$1 million grant will be used to fund program
to help businesses owned by women and people of color expand
e-commerce operations
FedEx today announced the launch of the FedEx E-Commerce
Learning Lab, a new program developed in collaboration with Accion
Opportunity Fund (AOF), a leading nonprofit organization providing
small business owners with access to capital, networks, and
coaching. The program is designed to help diverse small business
owners who are looking to develop or expand their e-commerce
operations as they continue to adapt their business models in the
wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, with a focus on women and
entrepreneurs of color.
The program will provide intensive hands-on learning to a cohort
of 150 small business owners across the U.S. through a series of
workshops and one-on-one coaching by e-commerce experts. They will
receive free technical support in setting up and maintaining their
virtual stores, as well as support with marketing, managing
promotions, customer service, managing orders and fulfillments, and
product photography. Participants will also receive a $2,000
business grant to launch and grow their e-commerce business. In
addition, AOF and FedEx will also develop a series of virtual
seminars on more advanced e-commerce topics, as well as an online
learning hub featuring on-demand virtual learning courses, open to
any small business owner seeking to expand their e-commerce
expertise.
The FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab aims to support small
businesses owned by women and people of color who have been
disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. As a result of more
consumers shopping online during the pandemic, eMarketer reports
that e-commerce volumes grew by 33 percent in 2020. Through this
program, FedEx hopes to connect diverse small businesses with the
tools, resources, and experts that can help them navigate online
sales and forge a new path to growth.
“It is no secret that the pandemic has had a significant impact
on small business owners, especially women and people of color.
Through our new collaboration with AOF, we are helping to level the
playing field and get these small businesses back on their feet,
which is especially important as record growth in e-commerce
volumes continue,” said Brie Carere, executive vice president,
chief marketing and communications officer, FedEx. “With the launch
of the FedEx E-Commerce Learning Lab, we’ll not only help
individuals meet customer needs in new ways, but also provide
comprehensive programming that will equip them with the tools to
navigate through these uncertain times.”
The intensive, hands-on learning experience will be open to 150
small business owners who are new to e-commerce and is scheduled to
run over the course of five months, beginning in September 2021.
This timeframe will ensure that participants receive support with
holiday marketing and promotions as well as technical support in
all aspects of managing holiday orders, traditionally the busiest
time of year for e-commerce.
Technical support, order fulfillment and initial hosting of
their online stores will be delivered in collaboration with 37
Oaks, a Chicago-based social enterprise founded by Terrand Smith,
that helps small businesses owned by women and people of color
prepare for distribution through diverse growth channels. At the
end of the experience, participants will be prepared to take what
they have learned to launch their own online store. This new
program builds upon the FedEx commitment to support businesses as
they build out their e-commerce operations, which has included a
collaboration with the SCORE Foundation to develop educational
resources for small business on the topic of e-commerce.
“Together with FedEx, we have the opportunity to help elevate
the voices of entrepreneurs that often go unheard,” says Luz
Urrutia, CEO, Accion Opportunity Fund. “By offering access to
resources and opportunities and providing tailored support, we can
prepare these communities for future growth and ultimately develop
more equitable economic opportunities for a diverse range of
businesses.”
Cohort participants must not have an existing active e-commerce
presence, currently produce and sell a packaged product (either
shelf-stable, pre-packaged food or non-food general merchandise
such as fashion, beauty or home décor), earn less than $500,000 in
annual revenue and be willing to commit to full program
participation. More details about the application process will be
available in June, and you can sign up to be notified when the
application is live here.
About FedEx Corp.
FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses
worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce and
business services. With annual revenue of $79 billion, the company
offers integrated business solutions through operating companies
competing collectively, operating collaboratively and innovating
digitally under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked
among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx
inspires its more than 570,000 team members to remain focused on
safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the
needs of their customers and communities. FedEx is committed to
connecting people and possibilities around the world responsibly
and resourcefully, with a goal to achieve carbon-neutral operations
by 2040. To learn more, please visit about.fedex.com.
About Accion Opportunity Fund
Accion Opportunity Fund works to create an inclusive, healthy
financial system that supports the nation’s small business owners
by connecting entrepreneurs to affordable capital, educational
resources, coaching, and networks. Through innovative partnerships
and outreach strategies, we reach entrepreneurs of color,
low-income entrepreneurs, and women, who often lack access to the
financial services they need to build and grow their
businesses.
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Sederia Gray sederia.gray@fedex.com 901.302.6412
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