Why female-founded businesses matter
Talking Tables is proud to have joined Buy Women Built. It shines a spotlight on female-founded brands and the benefits of buying from them.
Why Support Female-Owned Businesses
Did you know that women drive the economy – making or influencing 70 to 80 per cent of all buying decisions?
Yet when it comes to entrepreneurs, women are underrepresented - with one in five of businesses female founded. The good news is that the number of female businesses are growing – and you can help them succeed.
With venture capital providing only 2 per cent of its investment to women, clearly women are doing it for themselves. As was the case with Talking Tables. Our founder Clare Harris grew the business organically from her kitchen table to one that is stocked in major retailers like John Lewis and Barnes & Noble as well as leading independents and has a Kings Award for International Trade.
Clare's love of bringing people together around a table and entrepreneurial spirit prompted her to launch Talking Tables
Transforming the approach of the private equity firms may be beyond our individual reach but we can all make a positive and effective contribution – by shopping with female owned businesses.
Buy Women Built estimate that if women started and grew businesses at the same rate as men, £250 billion could be added to the UK economy. That’s a lot of extra jobs and income.
The Benefits of Shopping with Female-Owned Brands and Retailers
Supporting female-founded businesses matters for economic, social, and commercial reasons. It's not about favouring one group over another—it's about ensuring talented entrepreneurs have the opportunity to contribute, innovate, and grow. Here are some key reasons to shop female-founded businesses:
· When women have equal opportunities to start and scale businesses, they create jobs, generate wealth, and contribute to local and national economies. More successful businesses mean stronger communities and more vibrant high streets.
· Many women start businesses after spotting a gap in the market or creating a solution to a problem they've experienced themselves. These lived experiences often lead to innovative products, more inclusive services and stronger customer relationships.
· Many female entrepreneurs are building businesses that balance profitability with purpose. Success can mean sustainable growth, flexible working, positive workplace culture or social impact—not just expansion for expansion's sake. Talking Tables is a B Corp, which means it has to deliver on environmental and social standards. And Buy Women Built brand The SeepCompany.co.uk, for example, offers micro plastic free cleaning products – a great option for eco conscious hosts.
|
 |
Talking Tables products are eco-conscious - like our recycled plastic totes.
How to Find Women-Owned Businesses
First stop by the Buy Women Built website which has a brand directory. Our favourite is loveyourcompany.co.uk, where you’ll find sets of conversation card starters for all sorts of gatherings. You can also:
- Look for ‘female-founded’ or ‘women-owned’ labels
- Follow female entrepreneur networks
- Use AI to search specifically for women-owned brands in a particular category, like gifts
- Check out the About Us sections on websites.
Female-Owned Gift Businesses to Shop
There are many big businesses founded by women - like Charlotte Tilbury (valued in the billions), SpecSavers, The White Company and Sweaty Betty. But it is perhaps in the independent sector that you will find the most vibrant representation of female founders.
Here are just some of the female-founded retailers we work with who we thoroughly recommend:
Home by Julia Nairn, Port of Monteith
Early Bird N16, North London (@earlybirdn16)
Zoey Bates Upholstery, Manningtree
Ways to Support Female Entrepreneurs Beyond Purchasing
- Leave reviews
- Recommend brands and retailers to friends
- Follow and engage on social media
- Share their content
Every purchase is a choice. By supporting female-owned businesses, consumers help talented entrepreneurs grow their brands and stores, create jobs, and bring fresh ideas to the marketplace.
