Women-owned businesses account for 40 percent of all US businesses. As one of the fastest-growing types of small businesses, they are key to the success of local economies and communities. In 2019, women started 1,821 net new businesses every day.
Supporting local, women-owned businesses is one of the easiest ways to help them continue to grow—from shopping local, to following them on social media, or simply by learning their stories. In honor of International Women’s Day—a global initiative dedicated to honoring women’s achievements, we’re highlighting a number of female entrepreneurs bringing a strong sense of community to the town of Hopewell, NJ.
On Broad street, you’ll find Morpeth Contemporary, an art gallery and custom frame shop touting 30 years of quality framing services. Co-owner Ruth Morpeth reflects; “It’s unusual how many female business owners there are in Hopewell. We’re all very like-minded, good-hearted, and supportive.”
Bobbie Fishman owns and operates children’s bookstore, The Bear and the Books. Fishman is proud to be a part of such a welcoming community and finds joy in sharing good books with young people.
Rory Philipson, of The Blue Bottle Café, echoes these sentiments. Philipson organizes Hopewell Restaurant Week (March 16-22) to collectively lift all the businesses. For Philipson, “this is not a competition, it’s a camaraderie.”
Sisters Lyn Farrugia and Michelle Hamilton recently renovated Aunt Chubby’s Luncheonette to bring back the beloved breakfast gathering spot. Aunt Chubby’s is a registered nonprofit focused on helping the Hopewell Fire Department.
In addition to their commitment to Hopewell, all of these business owners share a link to locally headquartered Beyond for their credit card processing needs, in large part because of the efforts of another local businesswoman, Kefi Godfrey. In the words of Farrugia, “Kefi is really an integral part of us. She’s part of the community. She’s helped us get set up, offers help whenever possible, and always shows up at off hours. Her services go above and beyond what any other businessperson would do.”
Heidi Wilenius, the entrepreneur behind the thoughtfully curated collection of American handcrafted goods at Dandelion Wishes, supports dozens of talented artists—giving many more women a space in the local economy. Wilenius pointed out that Beyond’s commitment to supporting underprivileged and foster children aligns with her own desire to give back.
For Godfrey, Beyond Business Advocate, working with these women has been just as impactful to her. “I am thrilled to see so many local women business owners supporting this program,” says Godfrey, “these are my friends and neighbors and I love that they are willing to lead the way.”
At Beyond, we’re proud to work with clients like these who are empowering women and making a difference in their communities. Whatever your business needs, we can help—learn more.
