STACKTˣ retail pop-up launches in Ottawa’s ByWard Market

The brand behind Toronto’s retail and community space STACKT market, is expanding across Canada — with its first stop in the nation’s capital.

The retail venture will support over 11,000 small businesses across Canada, wrote STACKT in a news release.

The brand launched STACKTˣ — a digital and physical community platform designed to accelerate Canadian small businesses — in October 2023, both online and in-person within STACKT’s Toronto flagship location.

Expanding across Canada this spring, the STACKTˣ retail pop-up in Ottawa is set to open to the public on Friday, June 14 in Ottawa’s ByWard Market, located at 55 ByWard Market Square.

The new venture will give local businesses — including The Gift Shop 3.0 — an opportunity to showcase their work in the heart of Ottawa’s ByWard Market.

Founded by Imani Busby, the Gift Shop 3.0 is showcasing art from multi-faceted Black artists.

“With a focus on support around small businesses, STACKTˣ is a new venture of STACKT that will include three new retail pop-up locations in Ottawa, Calgary and Vancouver,” Matt Rubinoff, founder, told CityNews Ottawa in an interview.

Established in Toronto in 2019, STACKT market has welcomed over 2,000 businesses — offering flexible, short-term shop leases to provide an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their products and gain experience.

“STACKTˣ will be a one-stop destination for small business owners in Canada to gain the resources, tools, learning, and connections they need for their ventures to thrive,” the news release.

According to the company, only 33 per cent of small businesses succeed in Canada, and STACKT wants to change this reality.

The new venture is providing opportunities, grants, and resources — including a turnkey physical storefront designed by DS Studio — beginning with Ottawa’s ByWard market, offering a free one-month lease.

“STACKTˣ is an accelerator program that supports small businesses. It’s everything from resources, education, mentorship, in-person social events, conferences, as well as a retail component,” noted Rubinoff.

While anyone can apply for a one-month lease, it is intended to give small businesses a chance to innovate, thrive and try out retail, he added.

The program helps eliminate financial barriers associated with long-term retail leases, giving small business owners the opportunity to test out retail and gain business experience.