Support Women in SC: Woman-Owned Businesses in the Upstate
by Courtney Thomas on Aug 29, 2018
After our Midlands and our Charleston blog posts, we probably don’t need to convince you that women-owned businesses are important, right?
There are about 11.6 million women-owned businesses in the US—approximately 164,000 of those from South Carolina.
And as always, they need our support. Here are some of the women-owned businesses in the Upstate that we recommend you check out.
Duncan Estate
Danielle Eisner, a Brooklyn native, purchased the Estate in 2007 after relocating to Spartanburg, SC. Eisner is only the sixth owner of the property and is the first to use the property as both a residence and event venue. The Estate has hosted concerts, festivals, weddings, and even fashion shows. Since Eisner purchased the property, Duncan Estate has won several awards and received accolades from The Knot, Wedding Wire, The Spartanburg-Area Chamber of Commerce and the Spartanburg Herald Journal.
M Judson Booksellers
Named for Mary Camilla Judson, M Judson Booksellers is the quintessential neighborhood bookstore. From personalized- handwritten book recommendations to Greenville centric décor, this is a southern staple. M Judson is so dedicated to the community that they host Sunday Sit-Down Suppers featuring local restaurants and authors.
The Chocolate Moose Bakery & Cafe
Located inside M Judson Booksellers, The Chocolate Moose is a woman-owned and operated bakery in the heart of Greenville. The most recent version of the bakery was the brainchild of three college friends who left the Upstate to pursue their careers. In 2011 on a trip back to a Clemson football game, Anne Marie O’Hara, Emily Dallam and Elizabeth Gibbs decided to go into business together. The bakery routinely hosts Page Pairings: book-inspired wine tastings with its partner, M Judson.
Nika White Consulting
Nika White Consulting is a diversity consulting firm focused on strategic diversity, intentional inclusion and organizational effectiveness. Since its establishment in 2017 the consulting firm has served clients like Duke Energy, the SC Bar Association, and the Greenville Chamber of Commerce. Dr. White is the author of The Intentional Inclusionist, a guide that teaches industry leaders to become inclusion-minded and build community in the workplace.
Joe’s Place
Joe’s Place is an eclectic bookstore/wine bar/coffee shop named for Mary Bernard’s brother who passed away in 1999. Alix and Mary Bernard created Joe’s Place as a unique destination for book lovers in Greenville, SC. Local authors, artists, and wineries are featured on their shelves and on the bar. Visitors are encouraged to #SitSipRead and even join the monthly wine club.
Motivation Achievement Concepts (MAC)
MAC is a career development company founded by Melissa Anne Cunningham Sereque. Her company offices services such as resume writing, interview coaching, salary negotiation, and public speaking to individuals and organizations alike.
Greenville, SC
No, Greenville is not a “woman-owned business,” but the City of Greenville is committed to building local support of woman-owned businesses. With the understanding that it is in the community’s best interest to support woman-and minority-owned businesses, it established the Minority/Woman-Owned Business Enterprise Program. The purpose of this program is to assist small and minority-owned businesses in becoming vendors with the City of Greenville.
Did we miss any woman-owned spots in the Upstate? Let us know! We are on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.