Celebrate Women
This year’s International Woman’s Day theme is #BalanceForBetter – which ties in nicely with one of Carol’s favorite quotes:
Business women and entrepreneurs are a force to be reckoned with.
And, these women are working hard and making names for themselves. One in five firms with revenue of $1 million or more is woman-owned. And 4.2% of all women-owned firms have revenues of $1 million or more.* But with 50% of the population being female, there is room, lots of room for more women to step into leading positions within companies as well as follow their dreams into starting their own businesses.
Carol’s Cookies was started by one woman, Carol, with a love of baking, and a belief that she was making something people would love. It was started out of Carol’s home kitchen, and debuted to consumers at a local grocer who thought their customers would like her cookies. That was 40 years ago. Now, Carol’s Cookies hires a staff of 30+ employees, ships her handmade cookies to all 50 states, and retails across America at huge grocers like Whole Foods and Sprouts. There were growing pains, 3 bakery upgrades, and some failures (does anyone remember the Oat Bran Cookie?). But throughout, Carol believed she brought something unique to the market that would speak for itself.
Today, we want to celebrate Carol, and all the other women in the workforce who are giving it their all because they believe in what they’re doing and what they bring to the market. Whether that be services they provide, or a product.
Chicago is lucky to have so many female-owned or run businesses. Check out Bossy Chicago to discover some of these businesses and help encourage women entrepreneurs in their endeavors by thinking of them when you are choosing where to spend your money. Hopefully you’re able to celebrate International Woman’s Day by checking out some of your local woman owned/run businesses.
If you’re in Chicagoland, why don’t you check out some of these awesome companies, rocking it with female leads.
BFF Bikes
Black Dog Gelato
The Book Cellar
Chicago French Press
Flora Chicago
Lifeway Kefir
Little Hands Art Lab
Stephanie Izard’s Restaurants
Vosges Haut-Chocolate
*Infograph statistics provided by National Association of Women Business Owners