Let’s talk about putting your money where your values are. This Small Business Saturday, we’re hitting the streets of Grand Rapids with Congresswoman Hillary Scholten to shine a spotlight on some kickass women-owned businesses. And before you ask – yes, this is a big deal.
Despite making up half the population, women only own about 20% of all employer firms. Let that sink in for a minute. It’s 2024, and we’re still dealing with these kinds of numbers. But here’s the good news – women-owned businesses are growing twice as fast as those owned by men, and minority women business owners are leading that charge with a 14% growth rate.
This Saturday, we’re visiting some of Grand Rapids’ finest:
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- New Design Floral, where Geniene is redefining what a family-owned floral business can be
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- Basic Bee Boutique, where Renise Warners has been bringing unique style to GR since 2020
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- Dime & Regal, where Samantha McIntosh is creating more than just jewelry – she’s building a community of women artists
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- Sable Candle Co., where Courtney is lighting up our lives with conscious creation
This isn’t just about shopping. These women are economic powerhouses. Women-owned businesses employ over 10.1 million people and generate $1.8 trillion in receipts. That’s not pocket change, folks.
Yet…we’re still fighting for equal access to capital, resources, and opportunities. Sure, the SBA’s Office of Women’s Business Ownership helped over 88,000 businesses last year and supported more than 86,000 jobs. But we need more. More support, more investment, more recognition.
So here’s our challenge to you this Small Business Saturday:
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- Find women-owned businesses in your community (trust me, they’re there)
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- Spend your dollars with intention
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- Share their stories on social media
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- Come back after Saturday – these businesses need our support year-round
And for all you female entrepreneurs out there grinding every day – we see you. We support you. And we’re not shutting up about the importance of shopping women-owned businesses until those statistics look a whole lot different.
Remember: every dollar you spend is a vote for the kind of world you want to live in. Make it count.
Now if you’ll excuse me, we need to go make room on our credit cards for Saturday. These women entrepreneurs aren’t going to support themselves.
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