Sales in brick-and-mortar stores plummeted by as much as 23 percent at the beginning of the pandemic. But while Covid-19 forced the mass closure of physical stores, online businesses saw growth. However, it turned out that tens of thousands of small business and service point owners, who had no prior e-commerce experience, were cut off from revenue for weeks, sometimes even months. One of the businesses significantly impacted by Covid is the store Pleciona.pl, founded in 2013 by spinning fishing enthusiasts. In its extensive offer, every spinning angler will find something for themselves, whether they are looking for their dream equipment or the most effective lures for predators. Pleciona.pl – From Passion to Business Pleciona.pl specializes in the sale of specialized fishing equipment. It operates both online and in a physical store. The store's owners are true enthusiasts. In addition to spinning and casting fishing methods, they also have extensive experience in catfish and sea fishing. In winter, they enjoy ice fishing. They translate their knowledge and experience into their commitment to curating the store's product selection. As a result, every fishing enthusiast, regardless of whether they are a fan of spinning, sea, or any other type of fishing, will find everything they need at Pleciona.pl. To grow their business and reach as many clients as possible who share their passion, the owners decided to participate in a Mastercard acceleration program. Mastercard Supported Polish E-commerce The acceleration program, which Pleciona.pl participated in, was implemented as part of the "E-business vs. Lockdown" project, co-funded by the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth. A grant of $200,000, allocated by Mastercard for this initiative, enabled the launch of a dedicated acceleration program as well as a nationwide informational and educational campaign. The Fundacja Impact was responsible for implementing these activities. It was the first non-governmental organization in Central and Eastern Europe to receive a grant from the global Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth program. The Pleciona.pl store was one of 20 small and medium-sized enterprises that gained access to the acceleration program. Its goal was to facilitate the digital transformation of selected companies. The program ran from January to May 2021. Participants received not only expert guidance but also essential digital tools, such as access to an e-store platform and a digital cloud. Each company could count on 100 hours of support from a Fundacja Impact expert. This business consulting focused primarily on tools helpful in building and developing an e-store, as well as effective online promotion – two areas particularly crucial for entrepreneurs taking their first steps in e-commerce.

Sales in brick-and-mortar stores dropped by as much as 23 percent at the beginning of the pandemic. But while Covid-19 was closing physical stores en masse, online stores were experiencing growth. It turned out, however, that tens of thousands of small shop and service point owners who had no prior e-commerce experience were cut off from revenue for up to several weeks. One of the businesses significantly affected by Covid is the clothing store Moda Męska do 6xl. This is a specialized store offering clothing for men in many, including rarely available, sizes. Moda Męska do 6xl – A Personalized Approach to the Customer The operators of the Moda Męska do 6xl store place great importance not only on the quality of their products but also on customer service. Therefore, they strive to approach each order individually. The clothing available in the store is carefully selected from trusted manufacturers and distributors. It features, among other things, a very large offering of Polish-made products, which is a rarity nowadays. The entire assortment of Moda Męska do 6xl – as the name suggests – is available in standard sizes as well as plus sizes. The store is a continuation of a family business. Therefore, the people running it possess many years of experience in selling men's clothing. The Covid-19 pandemic prompted businesses like this store to seek ways to strengthen their market position in e-commerce. The Mastercard acceleration project helped the enterprise develop in this direction. Mastercard Supported Polish E-commerce The acceleration program, which Moda Męska do 6xl participated in, was carried out as part of the "E-business vs. lockdown" project, co-financed by the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth. A grant of $200,000, allocated by Mastercard for this initiative, enabled the launch of a dedicated acceleration program as well as a nationwide information and educational campaign. The Impact Foundation was responsible for the implementation of these activities, being the first non-governmental organization in Central and Eastern Europe to receive a grant from the global Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth program. This specialized men's fashion store was one of 20 small and medium-sized enterprises that received access to the acceleration program. The program aimed to carry out the digital transformation of selected companies. The program ran from January to May 2021. Participants received expert guidance as well as essential digital tools, such as access to an e-store platform or a digital cloud. Each company could count on 100 hours of support from an Impact Foundation expert. This business consulting primarily focused on tools helpful in building and developing an e-store, as well as effective online promotion – two areas particularly important for an entrepreneur taking their first steps in e-commerce.

Sales in brick-and-mortar stores plummeted by as much as 23 percent at the beginning of the pandemic. However, while Covid-19 was causing mass store closures, online sales experienced growth. It turned out, however, that tens of thousands of owners of small shops and service points, who had no prior e-commerce experience, were cut off from revenue for even several weeks. One of the businesses significantly affected by Covid is the enterprise EcoBobo Marta Celińska. This store specializes in selling ecological accessories and clothing for children. EcoBobo – Eco Gadgets for Children and Parents The founders of the EcoBobo store have been running it for 5 years. Until now, they dedicated most of their time to the physical store, but they very much wanted to be visible online as well. The coronavirus pandemic and the restrictions on physical store operations forced them to accelerate the realization of these plans. Facilitating customer access to the online offer for EcoBobo customers was supported by the Mastercard acceleration program. Currently, the online store offers products from several hundred brands. EcoBobo's wide assortment includes toys and accessories for the youngest, children's room furnishings, and children's clothing, but not only. Parents will also find something for themselves at EcoBobo; ecological candles or teas can help them relax after a day of childcare, or friends of expectant parents can find gift sets for baby showers. Mastercard Supported Polish E-commerce The acceleration program, in which EcoBobo Marta Celińska participated, was implemented as part of the “E-business vs. lockdown” project, co-financed by the Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth. A grant of $200,000, allocated by Mastercard for this initiative, allowed for the launch of a dedicated acceleration program as well as a nationwide information and educational campaign. The implementation of these actions was the responsibility of the Impact Foundation, the first non-governmental organization in Central and Eastern Europe to receive a grant from the global Mastercard Centre for Inclusive Growth program. The efforts of EcoBobo's creators were among the 20 small and medium-sized enterprises that gained access to the acceleration program. Its aim was to carry out the digital transformation of selected companies. The program ran from January to May 2021. Participants received not only expert guidance but also essential digital tools, such as access to an e-commerce platform and a digital cloud. Each company could count on 100 hours of support from an Impact Foundation expert. This business consulting primarily focused on tools helpful in building and developing an e-store, as well as effective online promotion – two areas particularly important for an entrepreneur taking their first steps in e-commerce.