Shop local this Small Business Saturday in Boise, Coeur d’Alene, and Spokane
Small businesses are the lifeblood of Northwest communities. This month, in honor of Women’s Entrepreneurship Day on Nov. 19, and Small Business Saturday on Nov. 26, we’re highlighting a few of our favorites led or owned by female executives.
In Coeur d’Alene, we count among our many blessings, not one but two excellent women-owned restaurants, Vine and Olive and Vicino Pizza. Vine and Olive Eatery and Wine Bar, located in Riverstone offers a unique small plate dining experience. Vicino’s, located right next door, has been serving up wood-fired, Neopolitan-style pizza since 2020, a testament to the owner’s tenacity and talent through the pandemic.
Our region stands out as a great place to do business, regardless of gender. The Spokane Journal in 2020 reported more than 11,500 women-owned businesses in Spokane County. The Lilac City has long been recognized nationally as a great place to live because of its affordability, job opportunities, and recreational options. Last year, SpokaneEats.com put together a great list of women-owned restaurants in the community, including Arbor Crest Wine Cellars and Queen of Sheba Ethiopian restaurant.
It’s not just the hospitality and food and beverage industries where women-owned businesses shine. Women are at the helm of several large health care organizations with $20 million+ budgets, including Health West ISU in Pocatello, a federally-qualified network of community clinics, and Terry Reilly Health Services in the Treasure Valley. Caitlin Copple Masingill of Boise is the founding partner at Full Swing Public Relations, a fast-growing small business with national clientele and an all-remote team. Route Networking Group is another successful small business founded by female entrepreneur Jessica Cafferty. Boise-based, women-owned Saalt has made national headlines for its reusable period products.
To ensure women-owned businesses in your community succeed year-round, here are a few ideas:
- Be a patron at women-owned businesses.
- Promote women-owned businesses on social media. Give them a like or a follow and share their initiatives with your network.
- Leave a positive review on Google, Facebook, Yelp, or TripAdvisor for a woman-owned business you love.
- Talk to your financial advisor about how you might invest in women-owned companies, including startups in your own community.
- When looking for professional services such as a CPA, attorney, healthcare provider, or dentist, consider women-owned options in your area.
As a majority-female law firm disrupting business-as-usual when it comes to rampant sexism in the legal industry, we’re proud to work with women and allied entrepreneurs on everything from contracts to mergers and acquisitions to providing general legal counsel for their businesses’ growing needs. Get in touch if you’d like to learn more about how we can help your business grow and succeed.