VCU opens SHIFT Retail Lab, which offers student entrepreneurs retail and office space

RICHMOND, Virginia (WWBT) – Virginia Commonwealth University will open a Shift Retail Lab, giving former and current students of the university the opportunity to showcase their work and provide them with retail and office space.

Entrepreneurship students can test their products, services and ideas with real customers in a 2,700 square meter laboratory.

It is operated by the VCU da Vinci Center for Innovation, which is in partnership with the VCU School of Arts, School of Business, College of Engineering, College of Humanities and Sciences, and VCU Health.

“While the student founders can sell their products in the Shift Retail Lab, the main objective is to provide a space for them to test and experiment,” said Garret Westlake, Ph.D., executive director of the da Vinci Center. “The Retail Lab is a place where founders can engage in iterative design and test key assumptions about pricing, branding, and packaging. Shift customers have the opportunity to purchase available products and are encouraged to provide feedback on early-stage ideas to help founders turn their ideas into action. “

The laboratory will be located at 1235 West Broad Street across from the Stuart C. Siegel Center of the VCU. The grand opening will take place on November 10th at 5 p.m.

Students who are interested in having their work shown at the opening can apply here until October 15th.

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