Knock, Knock
Certification of women suppliers opens procurement doors.
In 1997, one-third of all U.S. businesses were owned by women,
yet most major corporations had no concrete strategies for working
with these entrepreneurs.
In fact, when the Women's Business Enterprise National
Council (WBENC) polled 765 companies about their supplier programs
for women, only 7 percent of those surveyed responded, and only 55
percent of that percentage reported how much business they
conducted with women entrepreneurs. Of that total, 65 percent spent
less than 5 percent of vendor dollars with women; 13 percent spent
5 to 10 percent; and 22 percent spent more than 10 percent.
More education will improve these numbers, says WBENC president
Susan Phillips Bari, whose organization is one of those attempting
to change the status quo. WBENC was founded in 1997 to enlarge
opportunities in major U.S. business markets for women's
business enterprises. Two of its key achievements have been the
development of a national certification program for, and a database
of women business owners. Since its founding, the council has
gained pledges from 46 corporate members and amassed a list of more
than 245 companies and state and local government entities that
accept WBENC's certification.
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Acutely aware of the possibility of duplicating services other
women's business organizations provide, Bari is keeping WBENC
within its initial niche. In addition to developing and overseeing
the national certification process, the organization educates the
public about supplier diversity practices. And as part of its
ongoing campaign to increase the number of corporations and
government entities purchasing from women, WBENC unveiled two
recognition programs at its first national gala in March. The
Applause Award will recognize those companies promoting the use of
women suppliers. The organization also plans to publish a list of
the top corporations that do business with women-owned
businesses.
Bari is confident WBENC, in partnership with other
organizations, can achieve its ambitious goals. "Pooled power
is a very important resource in this effort," she says.
"The more women who get certified and knock on doors, the
sooner the doors will open."
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