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Iowa female entrepreneurs seek community over competition

Iowa female entrepreneurs seek community over competition
TO A CLOSE, WE’RE HIGHLIGHTING WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IN IOWA. WOMEN OWNED 43% OF BUSINESSES IN THE STATE. THE NUMBER OF WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES IS STEADILY GROWING, EVEN OUTPACING THE NUMBER OF BUSINESSES BEING STARTED UP BY MEN. vlog’S JODI LONG EXPLAINS HOW THE PANDEMIC CONTINUES TO BOOST FEMALE ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN TONIGHT’S PROJECT, COMMUNITY. I’M HERE PRETTY MUCH EVERY DAY. OWNING YOUR OWN BUSINESS IS A 24 OVER SEVEN JOB. IT’S TAKEN A LOT OF NURTURING FOR SHANTELL NOEL TO GROW WHAT SHE CALLS HER HAPPY PLACE. SPENT A LOT OF MY TIME WATERING AND, YOU KNOW, PRUNING AND MAINTENANCE ING THEM. AFTER EAST VILLAGE ARTISAN PLANT SHOP PETALS AND MOSS. SHE MANAGES TO KEEP TABS ON ALL THESE PLANTS. I LOVE LEAVES WITH TEXTURE AND THAT SORT OF THING. AND THIS PART OF THE JOB COMES EASY. OTHERS ARE A BIT MORE CHALLENGING. RIGHT NOW THIS ALOCASIA IS REALLY BEEN SPEAKING TO ME. I REALLY LIKE ALLOCATIONS. WE DON’T ALWAYS GET THE EXPOSURE OR THE RESOURCES OR, YOU KNOW, NETWORKING OPPORTUNITIES THAT YOU KNOW THAT OUR COUNTERPARTS GET. SHANTEL HAS NEVER OWNED A BUSINESS BEFORE THE LAST TWO YEARS. SHE DESCRIBES AS TRIAL AND ERROR. SHE RELIES ON THE HELP OF HER MOM AND SISTER TO BUILD HER BRAND AND MAKE CONNECTIONS. YOU HAVE TO DEFINITELY BE INTENTIONAL WITH FINDING YOUR COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY HERE IN DES MOINES. THERE ARE SOME INCREDIBLE BLACK OWNED BUSINESSES, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES. AND YEAH, WE TRY TO DO OUR BEST TO, YOU KNOW, UPLIFT THEM AS WELL. THE IOWA CENTER WOMEN’S BUSINESS CENTER HELPS HUNDREDS OF WOMEN EACH YEAR LAUNCH, GROW AND SUSTAIN THEIR BUSINESS THROUGH CONNECTION FROM WHATEVER PHASE THEY’RE AT. WE MAKE SURE TO HELP THEM. SINCE THE PANDEMIC, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES ARE ON THE RISE. ACCORDING TO THIS YEAR’S WELLS FARGO WOMEN IN BUSINESS NATIONAL REPORT, THE PANDEMIC ALLOWED MORE WOMEN TO LAUNCH CREATIVE BUSINESS MODELS IN A MORE SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT. JENNIFER THOMAS SAYS. THAT’S REFLECTED IN OUR STATE. DEFINITELY. I FEEL LIKE THERE’S MORE OF AN INCREASE LATELY JUST BECAUSE A LOT OF WOMEN MIGHT SEE A SHIFT WITH WHAT THEY’RE CURRENTLY CAREERS ARE DOING, AND THEY’RE ALSO FEELING, I FEEL LIKE MORE EMPOWERED TO. BRIDGET GOOD STARTED HER BUSINESS ON WHEELS DURING THE PANDEMIC OUT OF NECESSITY. I HONESTLY HAD TO GO OUT AND FIND THE CUSTOMERS MYSELF, SO I ENDED UP PURCHASING A TRAILER, A SEVEN BY 14 TRAILER. THIS MONTH, THE 26 YEAR OLD OPENED A CLOTHING RETAIL STOREFRONT IN AMES, A CHILDHOOD DREAM FOR THIS LOVER OF FASHION. WHEN SOMEBODY SAYS, OH, I LOVE YOUR OUTFIT, WHERE DID YOU GET THAT? THAT JUST ALWAYS FEELS SO GREAT. CONGRATULATORY FLOWERS IN HER NEW STORE ARE A BLOOMING REMINDER OF THE CHALLENGES SHE SAYS WERE MADE EASIER BY OTHER WOMEN BUSINESS OWNERS. I FOUND OUT HONESTLY, GROWING TOGETHER AND, YOU KNOW, TRYING NEW THINGS TOGETHER WITH OTHER WOMEN OWNED SMALL BUSINESSES. THAT IS WHERE WE THRIVE. BRIDGET CALLS THAT COMMUNITY OVER COMPETITION. BACK AT THE FLORAL SHOP. IT’S KIND OF TENDING TO SOMETHING, WATCHING SOMETHING GROW. YEAH, THERE’S SOMETHING REWARDING IN THAT. THIS BUSINESS OWNER SAYS WOMEN SUPPORTING WOMEN IS ESSENTIAL. JODI LONG, vlog EIGHT NEWS IOWA’S NEWS LEADER. NATIONWIDE, WOMEN OWNED BUSINESSES EMPLOY NEARLY 13 MILLION PEOPLE AND GENERATE $3.3 TRILLION OF REVENUE EACH YEAR. TO WATCH OUR WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH STORIES, VISIT OUR WEBSITE vlog.COM AND CLICK ON THE
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Iowa female entrepreneurs seek community over competition
Women-owned businesses are among the fastest-growing in the state. They make up 43% of businesses in Iowa, according to the Small Business Association, and continue to outpace the number of businesses started by men since the pandemic.Shawntel Noel giggles as she explains the amount of time she spends at her artisan plant shop, Petals and Moss."I'm here pretty much every day," Noel smiles. "I spend a lot of my time watering, pruning, and maintaining them."Caring for the plants comes easy for Noel, but other aspects of owning a business are far more challenging. The plant shop in Des Moines' East Village opened in 2019. This is the first business Noel has owned and describes owning a business as a trial and error. She relies on the help of her mom and sister to build her brand online and make connections in person."We don't always get the exposure of the resources, networking opportunities that our counterparts get," she said.The Iowa Center's Women's Business Center helps hundreds of women each year launch, grow and sustain their businesses through connection. Since the pandemic, women-owned businesses are on the rise. In the most recent Wells Fargo Women in Business report, it says the pandemic allowed more women to launch creative businesses models in a more supportive environment. The center's director of services, Jennifer Thomas says that's reflected in our state."I definitely feel like there's more of an increase lately just because a lot of women might see a shift with what their careers are doing," says Thomas. "They are also feeling more empowered, too."The center offers monthly training and workshops to help equip small business owners with the tools they need for success.Ames business owner Bridget Good started her businesses on wheels during the pandemic out of necessity by purchasing a trailer and turning it into a traveling store."A lot of people were not shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, and I wondered how I can find customers. So I had to go find the customers myself," said Good, the owner of b.e.good. Earlier this month, the 26-year-old opened a clothing retail storefront in downtown Ames. In order to turn this dream into a reality, Good says she reinvested into her business often and moved in with her mother to save money. The store is a reminder of the challenges she faced as a small business owner that she says were made easier by other women business owners. Good calls that community over competition."I found out growing together and trying new things together with women-owned small businesses is when we thrive," Good said.Nationwide, women-owned businesses employ nearly 13 million people and generate $3.3 trillion of revenue each year.» Subscribe to vlog's YouTube page» Download the free vlog app to get updates on the go: Apple | Google Play

Women-owned businesses are among the fastest-growing in the state. They make up 43% of businesses in Iowa, according to the Small Business Association, and continue to outpace the number of businesses started by men since the pandemic.

Shawntel Noel giggles as she explains the amount of time she spends at her artisan plant shop, .

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"I'm here pretty much every day," Noel smiles. "I spend a lot of my time watering, pruning, and maintaining them."

Caring for the plants comes easy for Noel, but other aspects of owning a business are far more challenging. The plant shop in Des Moines' East Village opened in 2019. This is the first business Noel has owned and describes owning a business as a trial and error. She relies on the help of her mom and sister to build her brand online and make connections in person.

"We don't always get the exposure of the resources, networking opportunities that our counterparts get," she said.

The 's Women's Business Center helps hundreds of women each year launch, grow and sustain their businesses through connection. Since the pandemic, women-owned businesses are on the rise. In the most recent , it says the pandemic allowed more women to launch creative businesses models in a more supportive environment. The center's director of services, Jennifer Thomas says that's reflected in our state.

"I definitely feel like there's more of an increase lately just because a lot of women might see a shift with what their careers are doing," says Thomas. "They are also feeling more empowered, too."

The center offers monthly training and workshops to help equip small business owners with the tools they need for success.

Ames business owner Bridget Good started her businesses on wheels during the pandemic out of necessity by purchasing a trailer and turning it into a traveling store.

"A lot of people were not shopping in brick-and-mortar stores, and I wondered how I can find customers. So I had to go find the customers myself," said Good, the owner of .

Earlier this month, the 26-year-old opened a clothing retail storefront in downtown Ames. In order to turn this dream into a reality, Good says she reinvested into her business often and moved in with her mother to save money. The store is a reminder of the challenges she faced as a small business owner that she says were made easier by other women business owners. Good calls that community over competition.

"I found out growing together and trying new things together with women-owned small businesses is when we thrive," Good said.

Nationwide, women-owned businesses employ nearly 13 million people and generate $3.3 trillion of revenue each year.

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