Shopify has entered into a collaboration with Operation HOPE to provide the 1MBB program that seeks to fund Black businesses by imposing early investment on the 1MBB entrant. This is a program that gives Black entrepreneurs the key necessities be it products or information and 120 days of free service to ensure their businesses reach a new level.
This blog post will provide the most current information on the Shopify 1MBB campaign and tell you what you need to do to get the most out of this partnership. This campaign is one of the best avenues to engage with the Black business community and advance together.
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What is Shopify 1MBB?
Shopify 1MBB, or “1 Million Black Businesses,” is more than just a program – it’s a movement. This progressive effort is designed to address the key issues of Black business owners, who have struggled to achieve success for some time now. It steps up as a digital gateway to making dreams into realities.
Another key principle of 1MBB is that everyone getting into business should be given equal opportunity to succeed, regardless of their ethnicity. The Shopify 1MBB program is a home for dreams where they are fostered and grow, where creativity is combined with diversity.
An important feature of this program is its 120 days of free trial. As opposed to the usual free trial of 14 days most companies offer, this is a fair chance for Black-owned businesses to test the platform not only for their operations to start but to grow and flourish without the need to pay right away.
What is a Black-Owned Business?
A business is considered Black-owned when it is owned and managed by Blacks or people with a Black background. When used in isolation, the term “Black-owned” can mean that more than 50% or the majority of the business is owned by Blacks or any other entity that is owned by the Blacks.
BusinessDit reported that in 2022 Black’s own businesses contributed only 9,75% out of the total number of businesses in the United States. Despite this reality, the number of Black-owned businesses increases year on year while they remain in the minority.
Moreover, a recent and comprehensive study conducted on Black-owned businesses on the Shopify platform believed that these black-owned businesses have the possibility of injecting about $190 billion into the economy. However, these businesses are confronted with numerous obstacles, such as financial constraints, traditional obstacles, racism, and biases that hinder their progress.
Challenges of Black-owned Businesses
Black-owned businesses consequently, encounter many challenges that are anchored on historical, social, and economic factors. Some of these challenges include:
#1. Access to Capital
Black business people suffer from the lack of funds and impaired access to the traditional sources of funding including banks and Venture Capital organizations. This could be as a result of low incomes, negative credit history, racism and/or rejection by financial institutions, and no connections to request loans from other institutions within the financial sector.
#2. Systemic Discrimination
Black businessmen may face barriers in different capacities in the form of discrimination, such as in the provision of credit or loans, access to business networking occasions, and procurement escalations.
#3. Limited Resources
A significant number of black entrepreneurs are limited to capital and have difficulties acquiring funding when compared to others. Such practices may inflate current revenues and profits but would not allow the ‘JV Partners’ to invest more in marketing, technology, and infrastructure that are essential for long-term growth.
#4. Racial Bias and Prejudice
The black businesspersons could face some racial discrimination and prejudice in its relation with customers, suppliers and business partners, which may lead to negative implications on their image, sales customers as well as, business relationships.
#5. Legal and Regulatory Barriers
The legal and regulatory burdens refer to legal framework in form of licenses which a business has to obtain, laws on where the business is allowed to set up and regulatory costs which may prove unbearable to black-owned businesses particularly the small ones.
#6. Cultural Stigma
There may be a social prejudice attached to black business owners and as such, there may be some assumptions made that may hinder their ability to thrive in the business venture you are considering.
Despite the odds, black-owned businesses are still relevant and adapting. The best ways to ensure that they are protected in the business environment is by ensuring that there is a change of policies in organizations and institutions, enhancing affordable capital that can support them, and supporting diversity.
How Black-owned Businesses Benefit from Shopify 1MBB?
Educational Empowerment
The Shopify + 1MBB Ecommerce Certification program gives customers details of courses that centralize issues that Black-owned businesses can meet online. It comprises modules that cover various aspects of store establishment, stock control, and promotion techniques to enable the apprentice learner to acquire relevant knowledge and skills, in planning and setting up the business.
Upon the successful completion of the program, participants are awarded an official certification by the Shopify Partner Program and the Operation HOPE Organization.
Supportive Community
The participant gets access to the Black Entrepreneurial Network, whose purpose is to provide practical assistance and connect entrepreneurs. This community is designed as a learning-enhancing collaboration for its members, which implies forming unity for strength.
Extended 120-day Free Trial of Shopify
Such entrepreneurs from America, Canada, and Britain can avail of the huge 120-day free trial offer of Shopify for their enterprises in the e-commerce sector. This extended trial period provides a lot of time for the entrepreneurs to learn about the platform, test different approaches, as well as adjust their strategies and business models without a direct implication on their financial status.
Extended Exploration
A 120-day free trial also provides business owners with enough time to dive deeper into Shopify and its features, instruments for website design and customization, products and stock management, payment options, etc.
Seamless Transition
Switching from the free plan to the paid one is easy, therefore, businesses can conveniently continue running their stores and enhancing sales operations. There are also existing features to help business owners transfer their progress and data when moving to another platform to ensure they do not have to stop their operations.
In a nutshell, the Shopify 1MBB initiative offers exclusive assistance to black-owner businesses to grow, from education to community involvement, and a 90-day free trial for Shopify’s e-commerce solution. This is a comprehensive approach that seeks to solve the problem of black entrepreneurs succeeding in today’s market.
Guide To Access A 120-Day Free Trial of Shopify 1MBB
Signing up for the 120-day free trial of Shopify 1MBB is quite easy as shown below. Follow these steps to get started:
Step 1: Go to Shopify’s Dedicated Landing Page
- Visit the Landing Page at www.shopify.com/1mbb.
- Click “Start Free Trial” on the top right corner
Note: This trial offer is only valid for businesses located in the United States, Canada, or the United Kingdom.
Step 2: Fill Out the Survey
After clicking the “Start Free Trial” button, you will be directed to the online survey page. Since it is a program for Black Entrepreneurs, you have to ensure you state your Black Heritage for you to apply for the program.
The curriculum covers all the key areas like store creation, product acquisition, stock management, customer acquisition, conversion rate optimization, and efficient marketing strategies.
This information can be changed later in your Shopify Admin Dashboard if you wish to do so.
Step 3: Choose Your Plan
After you get to the dashboard of your specific store, there is a button that says “Select a plan”, which is located at the bottom of the website (it’s also available during the trial period).
Step 4: Select the Monthly Plan
When choosing your subscription, make sure to go for the monthly subscription and not the yearly subscription.
At the pricing table, there will be a 120-day Free Trial option shown if all the conditions of the Shopify 1MBB program are met.
Step 5: Verify and Add the Payment Method
On the billing page, you have to adjust your plan and business address.
Finally, input your payment method which could be a Credit Card or PayPal account.
By following these steps you will be headed in the right direction in making the most out of the Shopify 1MBB 120-Day Free Trial so that you can have the ideal e-commerce solution to launch your business.
How to make use of Shopify 1MBB 120-Day Free Trial
The 120-day Free Trial of Shopify provides numerous advantages for aspiring Black-owned entrepreneurs:
- Extended Exploration: It provides you with an extended trial period and gives you all the time you need to evaluate Shopify without making any financial commitments.
- Comprehensive Access: Shopify has many tools and features available for their users which include setting up the look and feel of the site, inventory, and payment systems.
- Testing and Experimentation: Try out this period with the actual approaches, tools, promotions, and even business models, while perfecting them.
- Confidence Building: Build up confidence in handling your business, and marketing, and enhancing the overall sales during the trial.
- Seamless Transition: If you opt to continue using Shopify after the trial, the switch to a paid plan is seamless and includes all your progress and information.
This Shopify 1MBB 120-Day Free Trial program is an excellent chance to test and try Shopify’s complete e-commerce solution. Thus, spend this time at least creating a website, trying out various settings and configurations, adjusting various parameters, and achieving what you want, an excellent shopping experience for your customers.
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Shopify 1MBB Successful Stories
Here are some standout success stories from the program:
Loaded Juice
The company, Loaded Juice, opened by Arnika is a perfect example of how the 1MBB initiative on Shopify made a difference. Arnika overcame hardships, to imagine the goal where her company would offer a healthy conscience and tasty juice products. And with the help of the Shopify 1MBB program, she was able to transform this vision into a very successful business.
Arnika got the opportunity to use the core e-commerce tools that are necessary to create and develop an online shop, control the stock, and carry out successful promotion campaigns. This broad access provided her with great power to try out different outlet approaches and adjust her business strategies and marketing tactics and approaches, thereby resulting in customers and ultimate sales.
While the growth of Loaded Juice is indicated by its financial performance, it is a company that also takes pride in its impact on the people. A promising business with the concept of offering healthy drinks and an excellent example of a successful Black female entrepreneur.
The Lip Bar
The Lip Bar is a company co-founded by Melissa Butler, which introduced the beauty industry to the concept of beauty products for all skin colors. It should be noted that at the beginning of the creation of The Lip Bar, Melissa sought to disrupt the beauty standard and make products for every skin tone.
With the help of Shopify solution, Melissa has developed a strong and versatile online store. She was able to organize her products appropriately using the inventory management feature from Shopify tools and resources and effectively market her store online. Lip Bar proved that it is possible to achieve success with the innovative approach and the company’s focus on diversity, and the start immediately gained its fans.
The Lip Bar has grown into a symbol of positivity in the beauty world – encouraging consumers to celebrate their individuality. Melissa’s case is a clear example of how e-commerce foundations such as Shopify hold black-owned businesses to great success.
Jungalow
The term “Jungalow,” a creative blend of “jungle” and “bungalow,” epitomizes a captivating trend in interior design. Central to Jungalow’s aesthetic is a vibrant celebration of coziness, warmth, and an explosion of hues. However, what truly distinguishes it is its emphasis on lush greenery, transforming spaces into sanctuaries for botanical enthusiasts seeking to bring the outdoors inside.
The Jungalow journey commenced in 2009 when Justina Blakeney embarked on her plant-centric living room blog named Jungalow. From this modest inception, it has blossomed into a flourishing lifestyle brand, offering a diverse range of products, from planters to wallpaper.
Their mission is as compelling as their designs – they aim to inspire individuals to uncover their unique style and infuse their homes with a radiant and uplifting ambiance. With the Jungalow ethos, living spaces evolve into canvases for personal expression and tributes to the inherent beauty of the natural world.
FAQs – Shopify 1MBB
1. What happens after free trial ends?
When your trial concludes, two scenarios are possible:
1. If you haven’t selected a payment plan, your account will be paused. This means you won’t be able to sell products or make changes to your store until you choose and pay for a plan.
2. If you have chosen a plan, Shopify will begin billing you after the trial period ends, charging the regular price for the plan you selected.
Importantly, Shopify will not delete your store when the trial ends. All your store’s data and configurations will remain intact.
2. How to extend your Shopify free trial?
To extend your Shopify free trial, you have several options:
1. Sign up for an Extended Trial
Shopify occasionally extends its free trials; however, these kinds of promos are seldom, and the validity is usually limited. These services are only available during certain short periods, and you have to sign up to make the most of them.
2. Contact Shopify’s Support Team
Another approach is to ask Shopify’s support team for an extension of the time within which they expect you to complete the given task. Contact their customer support and give them the URL of your store and tell them why you need more time. They may or may not allow a tape extension.
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3. Work with a Shopify Development Partner
A Shopify Development Partner can help you set up a store in “development mode” to test features, themes, and apps before they go live. This simply means that this setup is the “unlimited free trial” kind of deal.
If you have any questions or any help needed regarding this issue, please do not hesitate to contact our team at BSS Shopify Commerce. Our team will be happy to assist you with any problem, as well as give professional tips on using Shopify.
The Final Words
To sum up, the Shopify 1MBB program is clearly a valuable and positively impactful program for Black-owned businesses in the United States of America. Indeed, 1MBB has been instrumental in the growth and diversification of Black business ownership due to the comprehensive program it offers, including financing, counseling, and camaraderie.
Thus, the program continues to be a force that inspires change, helping Black business proprietors achieve their goals and dreams and contributing to the diverse and vibrant business world with their endeavors.
