Downtown Dayton’s first-floor businesses – boutiques, shops, cafes, yoga studios, restaurants, pubs, and more – are the lifeblood of our downtown community. These entrepreneurs create the amenities, connections, and experiences that make our downtown a vibrant place to live, work, and play.

The Retail Lab invites business owners to advance their first-floor concept through an intensive series of workshops, pitch events, and strategic business improvement projects. Each program element connects participants to new mentors, experts, ideas, capital, and resources that will help the businesses thrive and grow in downtown Dayton.

Business Outcomes
Business owners who complete the program will…

Retail Lab Partners & Collaborators

Program Format
Cohorts of approximately 10 businesses are selected for each round of the Downtown Dayton Retail Lab. Participants work together with Retail Lab mentors and experts to advance their business through a series of 12 weekly workshops. Businesses will then test their progress with creative pop-ups, promotions, or marketing campaigns as a capstone to their Retail Lab experience. The program concludes with a Demo Day in which participants have a chance to pitch their business to downtown developers, supporters, and other stakeholders who can help them take their business to the next level. Participants will have ongoing support from the Downtown Dayton Partnership and program partners as they search for the resources and space to succeed and grow.


Timeline

Cohort 2
February – April 2021 | Weekly Workshops
May – July 2021 | Capstone Project & Service Provider Support
August 2021 | Demo Day

Cohort 3
July 2021 | Application & Selection Process
Deadline to apply: Tuesday, August 3, 2021 at 11:59pm
August – October 2021 | Weekly Workshops (tentatively Tuesdays from 9am to 11am)
November – January 2021 | Capstone Project with Service Provider Support
February 2022 | Demo Day Presentations

Contact
AJ Ferguson – ferguson@downtowndayton.org

Learn More

If you would like to learn more before you apply, please contact AJ Ferguson at ferguson@downtowndayton.org or fill out the interest form below.

Retail Lab Interest Form

Project Support

In addition to the generous contributions of time and expertise from our partners and collaborators, the Retail Lab is made possible by the financial support of the Entrepreneurs’ Center’s Entrepreneurial Services Provider (ESP) Program. Thank you!

The Downtown Dayton Partnership is a proud partner of the Launch Dayton community. Launch Dayton partners believe everyone, regardless of their background, should have the opportunity to determine their own economic prosperity. This community exists to support and inspire all Daytonians who are building businesses. Launch Dayton partners collaborate to build an easily accessible environment, run high-caliber programming, and connect a network of champions, mentors, and resource providers.