- The new space for the joint initiative, located in Mallplaza Egaña, receives 10 entrepreneurs from different sectors, who sell their products in an open prominent space with all safety measures.
20 January 2021 – In line with its ongoing commitment to the country’s entrepreneurs, Mallplaza has committed itself to the implementation of the Plaza Emprende Shops, an unprecedented initiative that allows groups of entrepreneurs to use premises in the company’s shopping centers.
In this context, the company launched a new store, this time along with the Chilean Association of Entrepreneurs (Asech), a space where 10 entrepreneurs from the association as well as the Plaza Emprende program display and sell their products in an open and prominent space with all safety measures.
After a tour of the store, which allowed her to meet some of the entrepreneurs who benefited from the initiative, Mallplaza Corporate Affairs Manager María Irene Soto said that “as a company we acknowledge the contribution that entrepreneurs make to the country and the communities they are in. That’s why we decided to formally incorporate them into our shopping centers’ value proposition, in spaces specially dedicated to them. In this way we offer them support that helps to boost their businesses and we give them the tools to directly reach the thousands of visitors who visitors who visit our urban centers every day.”
The Plaza Emprende – Asech store represents another step in the collaborative relationship between Mallplaza and the Association, which in 2020 was translated into the holding of over 50 webinars aimed at entrepreneurs and focused on the topics of greatest interest for the growth of their businesses.
Asech President Marcos Rivas said about this work that “for us as the Chilean Association of Entrepreneurs, it is an obligation to participate in everything that supports and promotes opportunities for Chilean entrepreneurs, especially at such a difficult moment, with a scenario that is totally adverse for entrepreneurs, the majority of whom do so out of need in our country and not as an opportunity. We believe that co-construction is the way today; it is a challenging year for the entire commercial sector, for large companies and above all for our SMEs.”
In addition to encouraging other large companies to support entrepreneurship, the Asech representative added that “we greatly appreciate this initiative promoted by Mallplaza, which breaks with all paradigms and opens a space for small businesspeople, showing that if we expand our perspectives there is not just one business model. Rather, it’s about how we can create joint opportunities.”
La Reina Mayor José Manuel Palacios agreed, in addition to highlighting that support for small entrepreneurs is even more important in the current health context. “The pandemic has caused entrepreneurs to go through very difficult times. That’s why we highlight this type of initiative that supports them and allows them to make use of these premises.”
With these alliances and new formats available to those starting out or who want to scale their businesses, the Plaza Emprende program consolidates itself as an entrepreneurial ecosystem that seeks to strengthen the company’s social role and contribute to local economic reactivation.
“We want to contribute to the dynamization of local commerce, bolstering the product and services offering in territories and creating sustainable and resilient communities. In addition, through entrepreneurs we can offer those who visit us a different shopping experience that highlights local identity and builds an ecosystem that we are all part of,” María Irene Soto added.
A total of 15 Plaza Emprende Stores were opened in 11 Mallplaza shopping centers throughout Chile in December 2020. It should be noted that Mallplaza reached over 6,300 entrepreneurs through 316 points of sale over the last year, generating transactions for over CLP 850 million. In addition, 72 training courses on 18 different topics were held, which over 1,400 entrepreneurs participated in.
