Women-owned Businesses are on the Rise

ST. LOUIS, MO — For the past two decades, women-owned firms have continued to grow at around two times the rate of all firms. Today, nearly 10.4 million firms are owned by women, employing more than 12.8 million people and generating $1.9 trillion in sales. Sallie Ervin is proud to be part of this trend.

Ervin founded Ervin Marketing Creative Communications, Inc., a privately held company, in 1988.

“I started Ervin Marketing to fill a need for experienced, creatively driven marketing communications partners, who could deliver customized advertising and promotions programs for clients on a highly cost-effective basis,” said Ervin, CEO and Chief Creative Officer. “Today the company’s expanded services include change management, training and employee communications.”

Of all women-owned businesses, 3% have revenues of $1 million or more compared with 6% of men-owned businesses. Women-owned firms with revenues of $1 million or more are more likely than other women-owned businesses to market their products and services nationally. With that said, it should come as no surprise that these firms embrace financial measurements as management tools and produce more financial reports with greater frequency. Also, women owners with $1 million or more in revenue are more likely to belong to formal business organizations, associations or networks than other women business owners.

Ervin Marketing is among the 3% of women-owned businesses with more than $1 million in annual sales, and the company’s services are marketed both nationally and internationally. Ervin is a dedicated member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the American Marketing Association, the Advertising Club of St. Louis and the Promotion Marketing Association (PMA).

With the expansion of technology and business growth, the vast majority (83%) of women business owners are personally involved in selecting and purchasing technology for their businesses. And, contrary to common misconceptions, women business owners are as likely as men business owners to be willing to adopt new technology. Women business owners value technology as a means to create workplace flexibility. For example, 61% use technology to integrate the responsibilities of work and home. Also, 44% use technology to enable employees to work offsite or to have flexible work schedules.

Finally, women and men business owners often have very different management styles. Women tend to emphasize relationship-building and fact-gathering. They are more likely to consult with experts, employees and fellow business owners regarding business ventures and decisions facing and affecting their company.

“I have found women-owned businesses to be very giving organizations both in terms of the way they treat their employees and in giving back to the community,” said Cherie Burroughs, senior copywriter at Ervin Marketing Creative Communications, Inc.

View the company’s WBE Certification on Ervin Marketing’s Web site.
Source: CFWBR, www.cfwbr.org

Posted: April 23, 2008