Women Businesses Global, Green and Giving Back, Finds WBENC Survey

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 inEurope, 43 percent are in Asia and a surprisingly high 43 percent are working in theMiddle 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 an 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

WBENC embarked this year on its second decade with an intensified mission to advance the success of certified women's business enterprises, government agencies and corporate members in partnership with its affiliated women's business organizations. It provides thought leader research; education, networking and the nation's largest conference and business fair to its 248 corporate members and approximately 7,100 women's business enterprises that it certifies across the country. These WBEs are a powerful group: approximately 62 WBE firms have revenues in excess of $100M, and six certified WBE companies have revenues in excess of $1 billion. For more information please access www.wbenc.org.

SOURCE Women's Business Enterprise National Council

Copyright © 2008, PRNewswire
Copyright © 2008, NewsBlaze, Daily News

Tags: ,WRK,ENV,WOM,CSR,LBR,AWD,SVY,DC-Women-Green&, Global

   _   _

           

Is your favorite bookmark site missing? Ask for it.