Elina Wildwood is CEO and Creative Director of House of Wildwood
VANCOUVER ISLAND – As shoppers search for the perfect gift this holiday season, WeBC is making it easy to spend locally with a new virtual pop-up shop, #WeShopBC, featuring over 450 women-led businesses based in British Columbia.
WeBC, previously Women’s Enterprise Centre, is a non-profit organization that supports BC-based small business owners to access startup and growth capital, business expertise, training and regionally-based mentors. As part of WeBC’s efforts to propel and celebrate women entrepreneurs, the organization has opened a digital pop-up shop to allow shoppers to search women-owned businesses, browsing products and services they can buy directly from local businesses.
“At WeBC, we’re connected with thousands of talented women entrepreneurs across the province, and the holiday season is one of the most important times of year for these small businesses,” says Melanie Rupp, Senior Director, Loans & Advisory Services for WeBC. “We want to encourage shoppers to spend locally by making it as easy as possible to discover and support women-owned businesses in their community.”
The contributions of women entrepreneurs are essential to the health of all BC communities with nearly 70 per cent of women-owned businesses integrating social impact and 63 per cent focused on sustainability. When communities support women business owners, everyone benefits.
The #WeShopBC site features local businesses in a wide range of industries and from every region of BC, including Vancouver Island businesses House of Wildwood™ in Victoria and West Coast Wildflowers in Campbell River.
“Having the support of my community fills me with sunshine; it’s just such a wonderful feeling when others enjoy what I’ve created with my own two hands,” says Elina Wildwood, CEO + Creative Director, House of Wildwood™. “Supporting local businesses, especially during the holiday season, is a great way of boosting the local economy and showcasing to local makers that what they do is appreciated and matters. Plus, you get to take home handcrafted pieces that someone made with thought and love.”
House of Wildwood™ in Victoria, offers artfully recycled garments and furnishings. Every piece is made by hand, slowly, in small batches using recycled and vintage materials, rewilding them back into the fashion ecosystem.
“Our support comes from those who believe in supporting local, buying local and growing our local communities,” says Alissa Assu, Owner of West Coast Wildflowers. “Together, we believe in our neighbours rather than large corporations. This support means we can support other families and women in business. What can be more important than that?”
West Coast Wildflowers is an Indigenous woman-owned business in Campbell River, highlighting BIPOC artisans across Canada with a focus towards ethical, sustainable and female-owned Indigenous businesses. Based on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada’s 94 Calls to Action, West Coast Wildflowers has enacted four scholarships of $2500 each for First Nations, Metis and Inuit to increase access to education. The businesses also raised funds to donate $5,000 to Wet’suwet’en First Nation during the heatwave this past summer.
With over 180,000 women entrepreneurs in BC, women make up nearly 40 per cent of all business owners. It’s imperative for communities to support women-owned businesses because entrepreneurship can provide pathways for addressing inequalities in the labour force for immigrant women, Indigenous women, women in rural and remote communities and women who require greater flexibility.
The #WeShopBC pop-up shop is open from November 16, 2021 to January 3, 2022. Many of the businesses featured on the site are also providing special offers and discounts to BC shoppers as a thank you for supporting local.
All women entrepreneurs in BC are encouraged to register their business by November 30 for free on the #WeShopBC pop-up shop and to explore the many programs and services offered by WeBC to support them in their business development.
Visit #WeShopBC at we-bc.ca/WEshopBC
