Why we buy women-owned and how you can do it too
Being an insurance brokerage, most people tend to group our business in with bankers, accountants, and sometimes even car salesmen. This inevitably comes with images of men selling things in suits definitely not any of us. We’re a women-owned and operated business with a completely non-traditional model. The last time we checked, most of those businesses weren’ zipping around in electric Smart Cars and chairing fundraising for Women’s Marches. All of us have faced our own fair share of sexism from men in suits both in, and beyond our industry.
So what’s a woman to do?
SUPPORT WOMEN-OWNED BUSINESSES
31% OF BUSINESSES IN THE US QUALIFY. ALL IT TAKES IS 5, MAYBE 10 MINUTES OF INVESTIGATION, TO FIND GO-TO OPERATIONS. IF YOU MAKE SHOPPING WOMEN-OWNED A HABIT EVERY TIME YOU NEED A PRODUCT OR SERVICE, YOU’LL SOON HAVE AN ENTIRE DIRECTORY.
DON’T FORGET TO INCLUDE SERVICES YOU USE ALL THE TIME, BUT RARELY CONTACT. INSURANCE IS A GREAT EXAMPLE.
How to find women-owned businesses
- Check Social Media – If you suspect a business is women-owned, it’s easy to shoot the company a quick message for verification.
- Poke around websites – In the “About” section companies will often disclose who they were founded by and/or who their owner is.
- Google It – Just search “Women owned [insert what you’re looking for] businesses”. Sometimes you even find entire lists for one service/product.
- Put out an Ask – Send an inquiry to friends, or post on your own social media to find out who your associates know about in the community.
One day devoted to buying women-owned
8:00am Get ready for the day with Paula’s Choice Cosmetics.
8:45am Stop for coffee and breakfast at Biscuit Bitch.
9:00am Hit the office and unpack laptop from Prism sourced backpack.
12:00pm Grab a cupcake from Cupcake Royale and swipe on some Moon Valley Organics lip balm.
1:00pm Head back to work where you use office supplies from Keeny’s.
5:00pm Leave the office, hit up Cone and Steiner for some groceries.
5:45pm Get home and open package from Floating Leaves.
6:15pm Make dinner with cookware from Mrs. Cook’s.
7:00pm Binge on your dating app Siren while enjoying a beer from Spinnaker Bay Brewing.
8:00pm Pick up some last minute dessert from Marjorie.
8:30pm Light a candle from The Dank Crystal and read a book by your favorite female author.
We’re fortunate to live in an area where women-owned businesses are one stop away. Women making headway in business requires a willingness to take chances and support others in doing the same. Together we create a diverse web of equitable and innovative operations. All it takes is some awareness and a drive to put our money where our mouths are!
Share your favorite women-owned operations and say hi on social media.