Women Businesses Global, Green and Giving Back , finds WBENC survey

Results released in conjunction with WBENC's 2008 Salute to WBEs

Washington, DC– March, 20, 2008 –Women business owners are global, green and giving back, according to over 1,200 respondents of a member survey conducted by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), the leading advocate of women’s business enterprises (WBEs) as suppliers to corporations and government organizations. WBENC will celebrate the accomplishments of women’s business enterprises with its annual “2008 Salute to Women’s Business Enterprises” on March 20 at The Marriott Wardman Park Hotel in Washington, D.C..

The survey found that 25 percent of respondents have gone global or are in the process of going global, an overwhelming 71 percent are trying to make their businesses greener and 53 percent are giving 1-5 percent of their profits to philanthropy. In light of the fact that more women businesses are going global, only 16 percent said outsourcing is hampering their business and 34 percent of those surveyed said outsourcing is helping. When asked if the consolidation of the supply chain is jeopardizing their business, 67 percent said no.

"Three years ago the threat of globalization and the consolidation of the supply chain were top concerns for WBEs, but women businesses have swiftly adapted to this marketplace” said Linda Denny, President and CEO of WBENC, the nation’s largest third party certifier of women-owned businesses. “A mere 1.6 percent of the respondents said going global isn’t possible, which illustrates how women businesses believe they can do anything and they do every day. By saluting the Stars of 2008, we hope to inspire other women business owners to achieve their dreams and enrich their communities."

Respondents selected expanding globally as their top priority for 2008 and giving more to philanthropy was number three on the list.

How Gals Go Global

Of the women business enterprises that have gone global, 65 percent are working in Europe, 43 percent are in Asia and a surprisingly high 43 percent are working in the Middle East, according to the results. Of those women going global, 57 percent are doing so as a first-tier supplier to a corporation, 36 percent as a second-tier supplier, and seven percent as a third-tier supplier.

"For WBEs, going global as a partner with your corporate client creates a win-win," said Denny. "The WBE can leverage the opportunities of doing business abroad, and the corporation can maintain the trusted, premier quality relationship with its woman supplier."

Green is the New Black Among Women Businesses

Of the overwhelming 71 percent of respondents or 863 women’s businesses that are trying to make their businesses greener, 63 percent are using their company’s policies and procedures most actively to have an impact and 60 percent are greening their products (4 or 5 on a scale of 1-5). 36.7 percent ranked education as a 4 or higher on the scale of techniques they are employing, 23 percent are focusing on philanthropy and 22 percent haven’t decided yet how they will go green.

Additional findings include:

• 41 percent of respondents do not have a exit strategy and creating one was number two on their list of priorities for 2008
• 61 percent have been WBENC certified for at least two years
• 39 percent said they reinvest their profits in hiring and compensating their people first

• Founded in 1997, WBENC is the nation’s leading third-party certifier of businesses owned and operated by women, and the leading advocate of women’s business enterprises (WBEs) as suppliers to corporate America.
• The average WBENC certified company has revenues of $7.5M, 49 employees and 14 years of experience.
• More than 60 WBE firms have revenues in excess of $100M, and six certified WBE companies have revenues in excess of $1 billion.
• 248 US corporations are active members of WBENC and representatives of 36 corporations sit on the WBENC Board of Directors, along with nine representatives of its partner organizations and nine WBEs.
• WBENC certification is accepted by more than 700 corporations, representing America’s most prestigious brands, as well as government entities at the state, local and Federal levels.
• WBENC also has developed several highly regarded initiatives for recognizing excellence in corporate supplier diversity targeting WBEs (America’s Top Corporations for Women’s Business Enterprises, The WBENC Applause Awards) and women’s business enterprises (WBENC’s Woman-Owned Business Stars).
• WEBuy@wbenc.org is an online marketplace where corporations and government agencies, as well as WBEs, post RFPs, sources sought, and RFIs.
• WBENC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that seeks and accepts donations from corporations, foundations and individuals that support its mission and programs. 
• WBENCLink is an Internet database, accessed by WBENC corporate members and certified women's business enterprises (WBEs), which contains information on certified women's businesses for purchasing managers nationwide.