South Carolina ranked #4 in the U.S. for women-owned businesses last year; with ~11.6 million women-owned businesses in the country, and 164,000 of those here in S.C. (generating ~$15.7 billion in sales).
CommunityWorks – a GVL-based nonprofit offering financial services to underserved populations – prides itself on supporting underrepresented (i.e. women + minority) entrepreneurs in the Upstate + across S.C. They’ve given $3,973,995 in loans to small business owners in less than 10 years, meaning they know a thing or two about small businesses.
Here are 8 small, women-owned businesses they’ve supported or watched grow in the Upstate + across S.C.:
- Noteability (music school)
- The Vintage Barber (barbershop)
- Once Upon a Dream (princess parties)
- Bohicket Road (beach life in a bag)
- Au Courant Interiors (home decorating whiz)
- Fresh Vibes (juice bar and coffee shop)
- Facez by Cynthia (specializing in threading and lash extensions)
- XF Studio Salon (hair salon)
We also asked you on Instagram for your favorite women-owned businesses. Here are a few:
- @splashonmain: “Love seeing how many amazing women-owned businesses we have here...a few of our faves: @blossomshoesgvl @monkeesofthewestend @cottonrougeandco @cacheandcompany @katekandelsalon @katecarlyle @hennesseyinthehome @hennesseehaven @paularallishome @southern_girl_chic
- @localstature: “@milkandhoneymrkt @thebarnatpostoak @cindymcgrath_makeup @figleafandco @rosasgvl @leachstudio @buildandborrow @wranglingrealtor864 @barre3fiveforks All women who are killing it here in Greenville! 💚🎉”
- @coregrowstrong: “@vannandliv @just__blend @bootybarfitness @augustatwenty”
- @emily_jeffords: “Sooo many.... 🙌🏽🙌🏽 @annafduncan, @haleyelisehughes, @kateasireflowers, @laurelcreekflorals @_kristenelrod @laurie_buck @willowflorals”
- @purebarregvl: “@swamprabbitcafe @just__blend @kukajuice @augustatwenty @monkeesofthewestend”
- @indigoflowart: “@thevillagegrind @sixpencesalonandspa @rockerbelles @lizodesign @kukajuice @artandlightgallery @janinaellisstudio @maya_movement_arts.... there are SO many female biz owners in the Village!!”
...and those are just six of the 780+ comments. See all of them (and tag your additional fav women-owned businesses) on our Instagram post. Our recommendation: Bookmark it on your browser for the next time you need to pick up a gift or a gift certificate and want to support local women. 💪
If you’re a woman looking to start your own biz, learn more about CommunityWorks’ small business loans here. Ⓟ
