A Buying Shame
The number of companies buying from women-owned businesses is disgraceful.
Fifty percent of American corporations still spend less than 3 percent of their purchasing dollars with businesses owned by women, according to a Center for Women's Business Research study. Will things ever change? "It's going to take a general education campaign," says Susan Phillips Bari, president of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) and sponsor of the study, "We all live within comfort zones. Most purchasing offices-in business and in government-tend to do 'business as usual.'"
To help educate corporations, Bari says, "every single woman business owner should be aware of what is going on in the [subcontracting] market and do what she can to provide information to clients she deals with about the benefits of buying from women and minority-owned businesses." WBENC does this through its annual search for "America's Top Corporations," which recognizes corporations that do business with women-owned companies.
Continue reading this article - and everything on Entrepreneur!
We make some of our best content available to Entrepreneur subscribers only. Become a subscriber for just $5 to get an ad-free experience, exclusive access to premium content like this, and unlock special discounts.
Entrepreneur Editors' Picks
-
Kale Was a Garnish Before This Creative Genius Made It Famous. Here's How She Did It — and What She's Planning Next.
-
Telling Your Brand Story Is Crucial. 4 Steps to Ensure That It Resonates.
-
This Baker Was Told Not to Speak Spanish With Colleagues, So She Started Her Own Cake Company That Values Employees Just as Much as Customers
-
Improving Yourself Takes 9.6 Minutes of Work Each Day
-
Meet the Women Behind Some of McDonald's Most Iconic (and Essential) Ingredients — and How They're Setting New Standards
-
Remote Work Shouldn't Be Up for Debate
-
Employees Are Over Foosball Tables and Free Snacks. Your Company Culture Needs This Instead.
