NEW YORK — After two highly successful courses, The Workshop at Macy’s, the retailer’s innovative business of fashion program, is accepting applications for the next class via macysinc.com/workshop.

The mentoring program for up-and-coming minority and women-owned businesses is aimed at helping the enterprises achieve and sustain positive and successful vendor relationships.

The initiative begun in the Spring of 2011 has resulted in six current vendor relationships with previous graduates, who have seen their goods hit the market at select Macy’s stores.

The Workshop at Macy’s is a 4-1/2-day intensive training course developed by a consortium of experts from Macy’s Learning & Development, Macy’s Multicultural Merchandising and Vendor Development, Babson College, a leading business school for entrepreneurship, and with select Macy’s merchants and vendors.

The program allows selected participants to collaborate with fellow aspiring vendors, gain access to industry experts and solicit one-on-one business coaching. The coursework includes classes on merchandising and assortment planning, marketing, EDI, financial management, and access to capital. 

The inaugural workshop saw more than 1,000 applicants, 22 of whom were
selected for the program.

Businesses ranged from makeup/skincare companies to confectionaries, home textiles and ready-to-wear designers.

The most recent program featured 17 new businesses. The workshop team continues to follow all past participants as they progress through the opportunities outlined during the course for potential graduation to Macy’s vendor status.

To be eligible, an applicant must be the majority (51 percent or more of equity) owner, co-owner or otherwise have operational control of a business that has been in operation for a least two consecutive years and be its primary decision maker.

Applications must be submitted online or postmarked by Feb. 3, 2013. The program will take place in New York City in early May of 2013.

“This program was created to develop minority and women-owned businesses that make great product, but need real-world knowledge and experience in the arena of a large scale nationwide retailer,” said Shawn Outler, Macy’s group vice-president of Leased Businesses, Vendor Collaboration and Multicultural Business Development.

“This program helps reinforces Macy’s long-standing commitment to vendor diversity and to providing customers with unique goods and services that meet their lifestyle.”