Take Flight
with Roots and Wings
About Roots and Wings
Our goal is to create and implement a formalized local small business program for O’Hare International Airport in Chicago that fosters opportunities for growth in the airport environment, generates a pipeline of brands for our stores, and establishes a path to growth for emerging brands and small businesses via mentorship and collaboration.
Rooted in Community, Soaring with Innovation
The "Roots and Wings" local mentorship program is designed to empower local makers within the 77 neighborhoods of Chicago by providing comprehensive support and guidance through various challenges faced in owning and operating a small business. Build a strongly rooted foundation enabling elevated performance and opportunities for local businesses to soar while driving incremental sales.
Roots
Representing a deep connection to the local community, emphasizing the importance of nurturing and strengthening local businesses while fostering involvement and solidarity.
Wings
Symbolizing growth, opportunity, and the ability to soar, showing empowerment and the potential for success. The mission is to equip local partners with the tools to thrive and expand their businesses.
Program Objectives
Fostering a community of local makers making a difference, providing mentorship, guidance, and support to help small business owners navigate the challenges of ownership.
Mentorship Focus
Providing expertise in marketing, inventory management, supply chain logistics, customer experience, product development, retail strategy, quality assurance, labor management, and financial acumen.
Program Initiatives
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One-on-One Mentorship: Pairing each participating retailer with an experienced mentor who can provide personalized guidance, advice, and support tailored to the specific needs and challenges of their business.
Workshops and Training Sessions: Organizing regular workshops and training sessions covering various topics relevant to small business ownership, such as logistics, marketing strategies, and customer service.
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Networking Opportunities: Facilitating networking events, mixers, or meet-ups where local retailers can connect, share experiences, and learn from each other. This fosters a sense of community and encourages collaboration among participants.
Promotional Opportunities: Providing opportunities for businesses to showcase their products or services through promotional events, pop-up shops, or marketing campaigns, both within the airport and in the local community.
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Access to Resources: Providing access to resources and tools that can help businesses streamline operations, such as templates for business plans, budgeting spreadsheets, marketing guides, ticketing/labels and industry reports.
Feedback and Evaluation: Conducting regular feedback sessions and performance evaluations to assess the effectiveness of the program and identify areas for improvement, ensuring that it remains responsive to the evolving needs of participating businesses.
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Continued Support and Follow-Up: Maintaining ongoing communication and support beyond the initial mentorship period, providing continued guidance and assistance as businesses grow and face new challenges.
Provide support, merchandising guidelines and planograms to operations.
Outreach and Criteria Principles
Outreach will include (but not be limited to) a grassroots campaign to visit local neighborhoods and connect with small business owners that have an interest in the airport community within the city of Chicago
Town Halls will be held at O’Hare to provide an overview of the airport business: hours of operation, operating standards, staffing, logistics, badging and permitting and how to build a store in an airport. All interested businesses are invited to attend
A dedicated website and application portal will be available to all small businesses. The website will have information on criteria to be considered, application information, class info and training opportunities
Qualified candidates will be invited to interview with our leadership team. Program inclusion readiness will be determined and then an invite to participate will be shared
Length of term will be 1 year for successful applicants. Terms will be staggered between the locations to ensure stores are open and operating
Mentorship and classroom opportunities will be at no cost to the applicants.
Outreach events such as town halls
Goal is to graduate into a pop-up or permanent shop in the program. Meet the Maker Events, seasonal events, signings and tastings etc., (subject to Airport approval) to expand Community representation in the Airport creating opportunities for incremental sales
It’s not just about creating an extensive list of local makers, it is about creating expansive opportunities within local communities and an elevated customer journey in stores.
Close collaboration with CDA and the city’s Small Business Advocacy division to ensure a unified approach and best possible outcome
What We Provide
Corporate/Leadership direction, commitment and support of the program
Develop fixture catalog for store activation and provide resources for purchasing of fixtures and displays
Support for developing graphics, merchandising guidelines, & planograms to stores to tell local stories
Consistent activation and continuation in stores and help with promotional activity and experiential offerings
Webinars, LMS training modules and additional training support for key business learning
Negotiating support for N30 Payment Terms for small local vendors (if applicable)
Access and awareness to millions of people annually
Financial support for select stores to update fixture options
Badging, permitting training and support
Logistics and delivery support and training
Performance tracking mechanism and KPI’s
Quality Assurance procedures for food related businesses
Financial training, labor forecasting and staffing support using current recruiting methods
Quarterly check-in with incubators to discuss progress report, activities and results
Strategic alliances, ACDBE program overview to support business owners who want to become certified
Simplify the process to amplify opportunities
Your Journey Starts Here
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