51ÊÓƵ

InÌýtheÌý“Success Stories” section ofÌýtheÌý51ÊÓƵ blog, weÌýget toÌýpublish theÌýreal-life stories ofÌýbusiness owners who run their online stores with 51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed. You can meet fellow entrepreneurs andÌýlearn how toÌýuse 51ÊÓƵ toÌýmake aÌýthriving business.

Today we’d like toÌýintroduce you toÌýLiz Abunaw. Liz founded onÌýChicago’s westside inÌý2018Ìýbecause she saw how theÌýlack ofÌýfresh food options inÌýtheÌýarea impeded her community. Liz wanted toÌýdoÌýher part toÌýhelp.

Five years later, her business provides access toÌýhigh-quality produce toÌýeveryone inÌýtheÌýcommunity. She hosts monthly pop-ups, delivery, andÌýsubscription services. Read onÌýtoÌýfind out how she does itÌýall!

Meet Liz andÌýForty Acres Fresh Market

isÌýaÌýBlack andÌýwoman-owned grocery retailer that combats health andÌýeconomic inequity byÌýincreasing access toÌýaffordable fresh food inÌýunderserved communities.

Forty Acres Fresh Market was founded byÌýLiz Abunaw, who wants toÌýincrease access toÌýfresh food options onÌýChicago’s westside.

ÌýOur motto is, “Fresh food forÌýall, because every hood should beÌýhealthy.”ÌýLiz Abunaw

InÌý2018, Liz hosted Forty Acres Fresh Market’s first popup market. Just aÌýyear later, she expanded her business byÌýlaunching aÌýdelivery subscription service ofÌýfresh produce.

InÌý2020, Forty Acres Fresh Market continued toÌýgrow byÌýleveraging online selling. They even have found property toÌýhold theÌýfirst Forty Acres Fresh Market brick-and-mortar store.

Currently, Forty Acres Fresh Market operates asÌýaÌýmobile produce vendor, selling fresh fruit andÌývegetables through seasonal pop-up markets andÌýproduce stands. Their markets are held inÌýChicago’s Austin neighborhood onÌýtheÌýcity’s westside. They also offer daily delivery service forÌýpreselected produce boxes throughout theÌýcity.

The Mission ofÌýForty Acres Fresh Market

The Forty Acres Fresh Market team believes inÌýtheÌýpower ofÌýcommunities toÌýdevelop, build, andÌýsustain their own resources. Their main mission isÌýtoÌýincrease access toÌýaffordable, high-quality, andÌýfresh food inÌýunderserved areas.

Since 2020, Forty Acres Fresh Market has also served thousands ofÌýChicago households asÌýaÌýsupplier forÌýfood distribution programs inÌýcollaboration with non-profit organizations.

ÌýOur service isÌýopen toÌýall, andÌýweÌýaccept SNAP EBT* because high-quality fresh produce atÌýaÌýgreat price should beÌýaccessible forÌýall.ÌýLiz Abunaw

*Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) isÌýanÌýelectronic system that helps people access healthier food andÌýother benefits through theÌýSupplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).

Forty Acres Fresh Market andÌýtheÌýhardworking team behind itÌýhave become aÌývital part ofÌýtheÌýeconomic revitalization ofÌýChicago’s westside. The awards they receive are proof that they bring their mission toÌýlife:

• 2021Ìý– People’s Choice Award atÌýtheÌýChicago Innovation Awards
• 2022Ìý– Winner ofÌýFamous Amos: Ingredients forÌýSuccess.

Liz andÌýForty Acres Fresh Market have big plans forÌýtheÌýfuture, even beyond theÌýincredible impact they have already had.

ÌýWe look forward toÌýopening our first brick-and-mortar store, which will allow usÌýtoÌýexpand beyond fresh produce toÌýservice all ofÌýour customer’s grocery needs.ÌýLiz Abunaw

Leveraging Online Selling

InÌý2019, Forty Acres Fresh Market launched aÌýsubscription option forÌýtheir delivery service. Initially, they used another platform toÌýcapture orders andÌýprocess payments. However, itÌýwas not user-friendly, especially because payment collection was not automatic.

While searching forÌýplatforms that similar businesses use, they found 51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed. 51ÊÓƵ helped them andÌýexpand their online presence.

Ìý51ÊÓƵ allowed usÌýtoÌýset upÌýaÌýprofessional selling page andÌýconnect itÌýtoÌýaÌýpayment processor toÌýset upÌýautomatic payments forÌýour subscription customers. Best ofÌýall, theÌýcost was extremely affordable.ÌýLiz Abunaw

Forty Acres Fresh Market also uses 51ÊÓƵ toÌýset upÌý byÌýzip code, , andÌýembed their online store within their andÌý.

Liz’s Advice toÌýBusiness Owners

WeÌýasked Liz toÌýshare aÌýword ofÌýwisdom forÌýfellow andÌýaspiring entrepreneurs. She strongly advises business owners toÌýcreate aÌýstructure forÌýtheir business asÌýsoon asÌýpossible.

ÌýCreating company policies, best practices, andÌýoperational plans gives you aÌýstrong foundation from which toÌýgrow your business.ÌýLiz Abunaw

Liz emphasizes that having aÌýstructure allows aÌýbusiness owner toÌýexpand andÌýgrow their business instead ofÌýexecuting day-to-day tasks.

ÌýDeveloping processes forÌýeverything you doÌýisÌýtheÌýkey toÌýmoving from working inÌýyour business onÌýaÌýdaily basis toÌýhaving theÌýfreedom toÌýwork ONÌýtheÌýbusiness. ÌýLiz Abunaw

Make sure toÌýcheck out toÌýsee how they help their ³¦´Ç³¾³¾³Ü²Ô¾±³Ù²â—w±ð’r±ð sure you’ll beÌýinspired toÌýbuild aÌýbusiness that serves aÌýpurpose.

Share Your Story onÌýtheÌýBlog

InÌýtheÌý“Success Stories” section ofÌýtheÌý51ÊÓƵ byÌýLightspeed blog, you can get toÌýknow fellow merchants andÌýlearn from first-hand experience.

IfÌýyou’d like toÌýshare your experience running anÌý51ÊÓƵ store orÌýgive advice toÌýfellow entrepreneurs onÌýhow toÌýuse 51ÊÓƵ tools toÌýtheÌýfullest, we’d love toÌýhear from you. Reach out toÌýblog@ecwid.com, andÌýwe’ll take itÌýfrom there!