The goal of the project was to strengthen existing entrepreneurs and provide new entrepreneurial opportunities for those starting out in the labor market. The S@TB project aimed to digitally empower entrepreneurs, unite their strengths as a local community, and enhance their capacity (knowledge, skills, and growth) in entrepreneurship. Additionally, it sought to make them more resilient in the context of a pandemic, which had rapidly shifted the market for most local businesses. Staying afloat during the COVID-19 crisis was particularly challenging, especially for those with limited or no online presence in commercial terms. The socioeconomic situation at the time highlighted the need for innovative entrepreneurship development. To promote inclusion and professionalism, an efficient approach was necessary to digitally support the labor market, create new jobs, and stimulate the economy. This was the core of the S@TB project, which aligned with European employment strategies emphasizing entrepreneurship as a key element in employment policy and combating unemployment.
The goal of the SHOP-@-THE-BLOCK (S@TB) project was to help emerging entrepreneurs with a small market presence expand their reach and improve visibility. This was achieved through the development of 8 hubs within the project. Many local businesses involved in S@TB were forced to close due to COVID-19 or other economic factors. By creating an innovative online community, where local entrepreneurs could offer and sell their products/services, we helped prevent them from going under. Our challenge was to create a sustainable shift toward a preventive method that met the needs of both entrepreneurs and customers while adhering to stakeholder requirements and regulations. The primary objective was to assist higher-risk start-ups in creating a joint online community to enhance their viability. With the rise of online shopping, especially during COVID-19, this trend was unlikely to change. However, small entrepreneurs faced barriers in offering their products/services online and managing logistics, a challenge the S@TB project successfully addressed.