007 - Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs in eCommerce

In today's blog post, we will explore the inspiring world of female entrepreneurs in the realm of online business. We will delve into the challenges they face, the statistics that showcase their growing influence, and the opportunities provided by the digital age. Join us as we celebrate the accomplishments of women in business and encourage others to seize the moment and embark on their own entrepreneurial journey.

The Journey of a Woman in Business

Many women, like myself, have experienced moments of self-doubt and undervaluation while pursuing their dreams in the business world. In industries such as e-commerce and technology, the dominance of men can often lead to feelings of being undermined. However, these setbacks have become powerful motivators for us to claim our rightful place and pave the way for other aspiring women entrepreneurs.

The Power of Statistics

It's incredible to discover that women now constitute around 40% of new entrepreneurs in the United States (source). This statistic showcases the remarkable influence of women in business, and it pleasantly surprises me. The notion of women thriving in entrepreneurship is further supported by a Forbes article that confirms this 40% figure (source). Interestingly, when compared to 1972, there are 3000 more women in business today (source). While these statistics are based on data from a few years ago, they undoubtedly suggest that the number of women-owned businesses has continued to rise significantly.

The Impact of Women in Business

In 2019, the American Express State of Woman Owned Businesses report revealed that 42% of all businesses in the US are owned by women (source). This finding provides us with an updated and encouraging statistic. The growing recognition and celebration of women's achievements in the business world is indeed good news. It demonstrates that we are making significant progress towards gender equality and women empowerment.

Enablers of Success

The digital age has played a pivotal role in empowering women entrepreneurs. It has opened up countless tools and opportunities that allow us to break through the glass ceiling. The emergence of social media and online networking platforms has created spaces where like-minded women can connect and support one another. Attending events specifically tailored for women in e-commerce, for instance, offers a unique chance to exchange experiences, challenges, and opportunities.

E-commerce: A Catalyst for Progress

E-commerce platforms have emerged as powerful tools that shatter the glass ceiling for women in business. Amazon, one of the leading e-commerce giants, reports that 32% of their sellers are women (source). Even more impressive, Shopify boasts a remarkable 53% of women owning Shopify stores (source). These statistics showcase the tremendous potential for women entrepreneurs to thrive in the e-commerce industry. They debunk any preconceived notions and highlight the increasing number of trailblazing women who are leaving a lasting impact.

Seizing the Moment

These statistics and the overall trajectory signal a growing trend of women making their mark in the business world. The opportunities presented by e-commerce platforms are too significant to ignore. If you are considering starting an online business, now is the perfect time to dive in. The digital era has created an environment where women can establish and grow their own online stores. The statistics speak for themselves, and your business could be part of this empowering movement.

Embracing Growth

As an entrepreneur in the e-commerce industry, these statistics and trends fuel my determination to expand my business further. The success stories of other women entrepreneurs inspire me, and I hope they inspire you too. We are in an era where women are rewriting the rules and reshaping industries, and it is a privilege to be part of this journey.

Conclusion

The rise of female entrepreneurs in the world of online business is a cause for celebration. The statistics and trends we have explored in this blog post clearly illustrate the increasing influence and achievements of women in business. The digital age has provided us with invaluable tools and opportunities to overcome obstacles and reach our fullest potential. Whether you are already in business or considering venturing into the e-commerce realm, remember that now is the time to seize the moment. Together, we can inspire and support more women to embark on their entrepreneurial journey and create a future where gender equality thrives.

Episode Transcription

007 - Breaking Barriers: The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs in eCommerce

Suzie (00:00):
Welcome e-commerce empresses to this episode of Women Powering Ecommerce. Join me every Tuesday and Thursday as I take you behind the scenes of my journey as a female e-commerce entrepreneur. Together we'll explore the highs, the lows, inspiring you to take action and achieve your own business goals. So let's get started.

(00:33):
So I want to talk today about female entrepreneurs in the world of online business. I don't know if you've already felt like this, but personally I've underestimated myself, undervalued myself sometimes for being a woman trying to be in business, especially in the e-commerce industry. It's there a lot of men. And I also have another business in tech, and I feel that's even more, like there are not a lot of women in there. So some people will feel undermined by that. But yes, I'll feel sometime a little bit, how can I say, frightened or I feel like I shouldn't take my place, but eventually after a few seconds, I'm like, no, this is a perfect time to take my place and pave my way, and just make sure other women know that we do have a place in whatever the industry is. But I'm not going to lie, I felt sometimes like that and I find that difficult.

(01:44):
But more and more I'm just realizing that part of my mission is to be there as a woman, not let other people make you feel you should not be there. So I'm definitely there. Even personally or tech business sometimes, especially where there are not a lot of women, that's actually a really good driver for me. I want to prove to myself that I want to be a pioneer in the area, even though there are still already some women, but we need more. Okay, let's put it like that. So I want to be there. I want to be part of these women that will help increase those stats. And talking about stats, I read an article the other day on how women are actually revolutionizing online business. I'll just read it here. It said, "According to recent studies, women now make up around 40% of new entrepreneurs in the United States, which is an impressive statistic that showcases the growing influence of women in the business."

(02:57):
So I never actually stopped myself to think what percentage of the businesses were composed of women, and reading that, I thought it was less, to be honest. So I was kind of really surprised in a good way. So once I read that, I'm like, "Let's do a little bit of research and see what other stats come up." So I found this article in Forbes and it confirmed this, it confirmed the 40% of new entrepreneurs in the United States were women. So I thought that's good, but it also this, and I thought that was interesting. If we compare it to the year 1972, there are 3000 more women in business today, and that was in the 2018 State of Woman Owned Businesses report done by American Express. And that's in 2019. We're in 2023 today, so that's still five years old, and I just didn't find more recent report, but for sure it's much more than that.

(04:12):
I actually found a report, the 2019 State of Woman Owned Businesses report by American Express, and they stated this, that 42% of all businesses in the US are woman owned. So yes, that's true. I had found something more recent. So that's an additional 2%, and that was 2019. So more and more people are recognizing and celebrating the achievements of women in business. So this is actually very good news. I was super happy to read that. And I'm just wondering where do you think that is? I mean, there are a lot of things we can say, but for sure the digital age, there are so many tools, so many opportunities now that help women break through the glass ceiling. I'm sure it has to do with that. There's just so much going on on social media, there are so many online networking opportunities. I went to one the other day just for women in e-commerce.

(05:16):
I loved it. It was so nice to connect with other like-minded women, and we could just share our businesses, where we came from or challenges or current opportunities and just exchange. It was nice. I loved it and we need more of that. But all of this is, we can say we can be grateful for it. All the digital age we're in, it's great. So e-commerce specifically seems to help shatter the glass ceiling because research, again, some other stats, I was just diving in and I just couldn't stop myself. So look what else I found Amazon, they say that 32% of their sellers are women. That's not too bad, but even better Shopify, they boast a more impressive statistic of 53% of women owning the Shopify stores. That's more than half, which is great. So I just had to share that with you. I thought that was very positive.

(06:28):
And I personally thought it was maybe less than that, so I was very surprised in the good way for the stats. But what I'm seeing is an increase. So this is good. So there are more and more trailblazing women out there. That's what it's telling us. And it's also telling us that e-commerce platforms are really helping women thrive in business. So what is your e-commerce platform? And if you're not in business right now, what are you waiting? This is such a great era to be in business as a woman, to have your own online store. The stats are proving it, and maybe your online store is part of those stats, or maybe you're thinking about possibly starting an e-commerce business, but now is the time to do it. And in my case, where I do have my e-commerce business, this just makes me want to grow it more.

(07:31):
So tell me what you think, I'd be interested, but that's my 2 cents for today. I just had to share those stats with you. And that's it. So before we wrap up, again, if you could take a moment to read and share this podcast or episode, your support is so crucial. We want to reach out to more women in the e-commerce space, and we need your help to inspire more and more of those women.

(07:57):
Thank you for being part of this journey with me. I hope you gain some valuable insights and inspiration today to keep learning, growing, and taking action towards your goals. See you in the next episode.