The Detroit Pistons and Shopify are teaming up to launch SHOP313, an immersive, first-of-its-kind small business platform focused on amplifying and supporting small businesses in Detroit.
Shopify, a leading commerce platform powering more than 1.7 million businesses, and the NBA team developed SHOP313 to promote Detroit’s local entrepreneurs and those interested in entrepreneurship.
SHOP313 will provide each participating business and entrepreneur with complimentary access to Shopify, educational programming and resources, grant opportunities, and networking events throughout the 2021-2022 NBA season. Select businesses also will be given complimentary access to Pistons advertising inventory, including social media posts, in-game signage, radio advertisements during game broadcasts, presence on Pistons.com and the Pistons App, concourse activation space, and more.
“The Detroit Pistons and Shopify share a commitment to promoting and supporting small businesses throughout their communities,” says Mike Zavodsky, chief business officer for the Pistons. “We are thrilled to team up with them to launch SHOP313. Detroit is full of creators and innovators. SHOP313 will provide regional entrepreneurs with a platform to achieve a new level of brand awareness and success in the marketplace.”
To launch the SHOP313 initiative, the team produced a video featuring players Saddiq Bey, Killian Hayes, and Isaiah Stewart. The trio visited local Detroit small businesses, interacted with customers, and got behind the counter to showcase their own small business operating skills. Bey visited lemonade shop Bea’s Squeeze while Hayes visited downtown clothing store Detroit is the New Black, and Stewart spent the day at local custard shop The Custard Company. The video can be viewed here.
“Shopify believes the future of Detroit is entrepreneurship,” says Ritu Khanna, managing director, U.S. East at Shopify. “We’re proud to partner with the Detroit Pistons to support those shaping that future for themselves and for their community.”
To be eligible for the SHOP313 platform, businesses and entrepreneurs must be founded in and/or operating in the Detroit area, be an independent, non-franchised business, be formally incorporated, and must formally submit their business through the Pistons SHOP313 application, which can be found here.
Additionally, RingCentral will be supporting the SHOP313 platform by providing access to business communication resources and contributing $60,000 in grants and complimentary MVP (meeting, video, and phone) subscriptions for select businesses.
