October is National Women’s Small Business Month, and as a small business owned by a woman, SJC Marketing wanted to share some thoughts about it with you.
Did you know: One of the earliest successful women’s small businesses dates to the Revolution. Mary Katherine Goddard was a publisher, editing, managing and printing The Maryland Journal and Baltimore Adviser in 1774. Then, in 1777 her print shop was the first to publish the full text of the Declaration of Independence, listing the names of all signers.
Goddard later served as postmaster of Baltimore for 14 years, before she was removed because the Postmaster General believed the job was too taxing for a woman. There was a public outcry, but the city’s approval of Goddard wasn’t enough to save her position. Goddard went on to operate a bookstore and before she died, she freed her slave Belinda and left everything to her.
Goddard’s Legacy: If this is the first you’ve heard of Goddard, you’re not alone. She’s not usually included in history books or retellings of the Revolution. From her trailblazing business success to her decision to empower her only slave, Goddard demonstrated courage and integrity.
Today, women business owners make up a significant part of the U.S. economy, with nearly 40% of all small businesses owned by women. This percentage represents more than 14 million businesses, employing approximately 12.2 million workers.
Women are on the Move: There’s a lot of momentum for women-owned small businesses. In the period between 2019 and 2023, the growth rate for women-owned businesses outpaced those owned by men by over 94%. Women are moving fast with employment, as well, with women employing workers at a rate of over 250% over men.
SJC Marketing began when Susan Campbell launched a copywriting business, which quickly developed a reputation for quality work and creative ideas. Before long, the company expanded into a full-service marketing agency with Susan heading a team of marketers, web developers, graphic designers, videographers and writers.
As a women-owned small business, SJC Marketing loves to work with other small businesses. We’re excited to hear about your plans for your company and then see how we can help you achieve your goals and drive growth. If you’re ready for some new plans to help your brand shine, SJC Marketing is here to help.
Recognizing October as National Women’s Small Business Month gives us an opportunity to take a minute to consider women like Goddard and their struggle to use their talents and skills in a rewarding small business endeavor. It’s not easy to launch a business today, but in a time when a woman was not considered sturdy enough to be a postmaster, it must have seemed nearly impossible!