How Afterpay's Global Mentorship Program Can Unlock Your Business' True Potential

Taking your business to the next level involves more than just amplifying what you’re doing now, for many it means heading into unchartered waters, which can be daunting. Sure you can minimise your risk through a test and learn approach, but wouldn’t it be better if you could just ask someone who has already been there, someone who has already defined what works and what doesn’t… well thanks to Afterpay, you can.

Afterpay wants to celebrate their small business community and help them take their business to the next level. That’s why they recently launched their exciting new initiative, The Global Mentorship Program, which is set to have a huge impact on 100 lucky merchants.

Here’s why this is a big deal.

Designed with small businesses in mind, Afterpay’s new program provides up and coming merchants the chance to access the exposure and advice they need.

Taking the form of a competition, the program is set to offer the opportunity of a lifetime with one lucky winner being personally mentored by some of the world’s most successful retail minds. We’re talking Brian Sugar, the Co-Founder and CEO of POPSUGAR the massive pop culture media company, Hilton Seskin Executive Chairman of Next Athleisure which owns Glue Store and Global Retail Advisor,and Paul Greenberg who founded the NORA Network.

Taking on a mentor can have a significant impact on your ability to grow. For many businesses, they’ve found that it’s absolutely crucial, with 93% of small to medium businesses indicating that it helped them succeed.

Think of the last business challenge you had and imagine how confident you would have been making it if you could have ran it past the likes of Paul or Brian first. With access to great minds like Brian Sugar, Hilton Seskin and Paul Greenberg you’ll be able to tap into the sort of knowledge and experience that you just can’t find in books. And it’s more than just experience, business mentors can also open up tremendous opportunities through their extensive networks.

And if aligning your business with three incredible mentors wasn’t enough, Afterpay is also offering the winner a trip to one of the world’s top retail shows Shoptalk Retail 2021 with flights, accommodation and entry all paid for. They’re also throwing in a six month digital strategy and marketing package and investment pitch presentation coaching!

Excited? You should be, this really is a money can’t buy prize.

So I know what you’re thinking, how do I apply!? Well the great news is that if you’re an Afterpay merchant, you don’t have to do anything, well at least not right now. If you meet Afterpay’s criteria -- you’re an Afterpay merchant based in Australia or New Zealand, and transact less than $2 million through Afterpay (see Afterpay’s full eligibility criteria here) -- then the great news is that you’re already in the draw.

How this works is that every quarter Afterpay will look at all of their merchants and select 25 based on the following categories:

• Daily Average Sales Growth
  Highest quarter on quarter percentage growth in Daily Average Sales Value processed through Afterpay. (Separate categories for AU and NZ)
• Growth in Average Transaction
  Value Highest quarter on quarter percentage growth in Average Afterpay Transaction Value.
• New Merchant Growth
  Largest value of sales processed through Afterpay, up to the first 30 days of a merchant joining Afterpay, within the relevant quarter.
• Fastest Cross Border
  Growth Largest Value of Sales processed through Afterpay ANZ Cross Border Trade within the relevant quarter.
• Love your Local
  Favourite local in-store merchant as chosen by Afterpay customers.
• Showing Best Practice
  Merchants who are practicing excellence in integration of Afterpay marketing assets across social, digital, and where relevant in-store channels.

The 25 merchants selected in these categories will be awarded the quarterly prize of a two-week digital campaign, showcasing their business to Afterpay’s customer base -- they'll be announcing the winners of the first quarter on 6th October, so keep an eye out. At the end of the fourth quarter all 100 chosen merchants will be invited to submit an online entry for their chance to take out the grand prize.

Your businesses won't align with all seven of the categories but they’ll definitely be a few you can chase. So, start thinking about which categories you’re strongest in and what you can do to take home that incredible quarterly prize and more importantly, get a chance to have a crack a the major prize.

If you’re not an Afterpay merchant, the program is open until June 2020 so there’s still time to sign up (and even a category especially for you). Applying to be an Afterpay merchant is easy and can be done directly from your cpanel, just head to ‘payment options’ under ‘settings & tools’ and start the set up process.

Good luck!

For more information on The Global Mentorship program, check out Afterpay's FAQ.