Despite making up nearly half of new business owners since 2020, women entrepreneurs receive far less funding than their male counterparts. Research shows that women business owners are offered smaller loans with significantly higher interest rates than men, and companies founded solely by women receive less than 3% of all venture capital investments.
This year, let’s leverage our purchasing power and demonstrate why supporting women entrepreneurs isn’t just good for women, but good for everyone. After all, there are 13 million women-owned businesses in the U.S., representing over a third of all businesses and employing more than 10 million workers. By giving women in business a boost, we’ll all feel a little more cheerful, no matter the time of year.
To help us spotlight small businesses to support, we asked Chief Members to share their favorite products made by leaders who identify as women, transgender or nonbinary — and the suggestions didn’t disappoint. From stylish sneakers to consciously-crafted olive oils, the items below are sure to please even the pickiest people in your circle.
Photo Credit: Nhiär Chocolates
FOOD & DRINK
Nhiär Chocolates: These dairy-free, gluten-free, sugar-free and salt-free treats are sourced from fair trade certified organic producers — the perfect gift for a guilt-free indulgence.
West~bourne: Gift your eco-conscious friends these tasty snacks and pantry staples that are made using sustainable agriculture methods and come to your door in compostable packaging via carbon-neutral shipping.
Good Pharma: Founded by two tea industry titans, Good Pharma’s functional coffee and teas are formulated with plant-powered ingredients to help with everything from rest to resilience, all without sacrificing taste.
Adjourn: This Black woman-owned tea company wants help its customers to enjoy adjourning, or pausing intentionally — a mindfulness practice featuring a customized cup of tea.
Michelle’s Maccs: Handcrafted in New York and baked fresh to order, these fair trade chocolate covered coconut treats look as good as they taste.
Calligraphy Wine: Tucked amid the redwood-covered hills between Sebastopol and Occidental, California, this woman-owned vineyard produces a pinot noir that’s elegant and rich.
Diya’s Hot Sauce: Miami Chef Vidya Maharaj combines the flavors of the city’s Latin culture with recipes that have been passed down by her mother, creating a truly unique approach to Indian cuisine. Try a taste no matter where you live with a bottle of her signature hot sauce.
Harridan Vodka: Cheers to this 88 proof vodka, made using organic ingredients grown by family farmers in upstate New York and poured into a recycled glass bottle that would “fit seamlessly on any ancient apothecary shelf,” according to Vogue.
Onya Bars: These organic menopause bites help alleviate hot flashes and other symptoms of The Change. Free of grain/gluten, soy, dairy, sugar and preservatives, the bars also contain 40% of the recommended adult daily calcium needed to help maintain bone strength.
Brightland: The perfect addition to any stocking, Brightland’s artfully- and consciously-crafted olive oils, vinegars and honeys come directly from family-run farms in California and Hawaii.
Kosterina: This line of olive oils, vinegars, olives and olive-infused skincare products is rooted in the power of the Mediterranean lifestyle and packed antioxidants proven to promote longevity.
Win Win Coffee: This coffee roaster and manufacturer aims to lead an industry renaissance by crafting a supply chain that exclusively celebrates the African diaspora. (The brand’s Ethiopian blend, for example, was grown in the town of Uraga in Ethiopia, exported by Black community leaders, and imported by Equatorial Coffee Consultants, which is one of the handful of black coffee importers in the United States.)
Boss Molly: Created by three whiskey loving women, Boss Molly is a bold wheated bourbon with an adventurous spirit, like its founders.
Partake: When Founder and CEO Denise Woodard’s daughter was diagnosed with multiple food allergies, she realized that Black children are at a significantly higher risk of developing these allergies. Determined to provide them with delicious options, she created Partake, a selection of foods and snacks that are certified gluten-free, non-GMO, vegan and are free of the top nine allergens (wheat, tree nuts, peanuts, milk, eggs, soy, fish, sesame and shellfish).
Sage Theory Gifts: Based in Chicago and sourced from local artisans, small makers and emerging brands, Sage Theory’s holiday boxes offer a thoughtful and unique way to celebrate friends and coworkers.
Photo Credit: NYL Skincare
SELF CARE
NYL Skincare: This brand’s formulas are crafted on demand and stamped with an expiration date, with no artificial ingredients, for the freshest-possible skincare.
Brandefy Skincare: Get world-class skincare without the luxury price from Brandefy.
Function Health: With the goal of empowering people to live 100 healthy years, this platform combines a detailed health history and over 100 lab tests to deliver actionable insights from top doctors for its members.
Beauty For Real: Created by world-renowned makeup maverick Leslie Munsell, these no-fuss staples will simplify your beauty routine.
Thistle Farms: This company’s collection of candles, essential oils, and home products support women survivors of trafficking, prostitution, and addiction.
Equilibria: Give the gift of zen this year with these science-backed CBD wellness products developed just for women.
Melanin Grace: Looking for clean beauty products developed just for melanin-rich skin? Shop Melanin Grace, which offers one of the widest selections of Black, Brown and Women-owned mindful beauty brands available.
Paint Box Press On Nails: Save time and skip the salon with these natural looking, non-damaging press-on nails.
NTRL by Sabs: Feel good about gifting your friends high-quality, eco-friendly beauty goods from this Black/Latinx/Queer woman-owned brand that manufactures its products in the USA.
Bright Endeavors: Rest easier knowing these bath salts and candles help support young moms as they progress toward housing stability, economic mobility, and family well-being.
Photo Credit: Saysh
FASHION & ACCESSORIES
Saysh Three CHIEF Limited Edition: Clearly we’re a bit biased, but we loved collaborating with Olympic Medalist Allyson Felix to create these stylish everyday sneakers. Get them while they last!
Brenna Colvin: The eponymous jewelry brand aims to balance off-kilter novelty and minimal simplicity, along with a focus on quality and workmanship.
Chloé Kristyn by Bettina Loungewear: Made from a soft rayon modal satin, you’ll want to wear these luxe lounge sets year-round.
The Sol Collection by Brilliant Earth: For a personal touch, you can add your recipient’s name or initials to this capsule collection of carefully crafted fine jewelry.
Re-Inc: Founded by U.S. women’s soccer champions Megan Rapinoe, Tobin Heath, Meghan Klingenberg, and Christen Press, Re-Inc offers eco-conscious fashion and creative goods designed for all gender identities and body types.
Gifted by Freeform: These beautiful candles and holiday gift boxes help support survivors of intimate partner violence. So do the sweatshirts that proudly proclaim, “Peace, love and reproductive justice for all.”
Harlem Toile Collection by Sheila Bridges: Interior designer and Harlem resident Sheila Bridges always loved French toile with its pastoral motifs from the late 1700s, but she couldn’t find any designs that celebrated the African-American experience—so she created her own. The one-of-a-kind designs are featured on homewares from Le Creuset, Williams Sonoma, Wedgwood and more.
Shop Consciously: From earrings to ottomans, these fair-trade products are handmade by women artisans and entrepreneurs across Africa.
National Women’s History Museum: There’s no better way to uplift women than by purchasing a gift made by a woman, that celebrates women, and supports a museum dedicated to women’s diverse contributions to society.
Made by DWC: Founded in 1978, the Downtown Women’s Center was the first and only organization in Los Angeles focused exclusively on empowering women experiencing homelessness and formerly homeless women. Help support their mission by purchasing the organization’s coffees, candles, fashion accessories and more.
Branded by Williams: Looking for a gift for your entire team? This agency specializes in branded merchandise, from water bottles to ball caps and much more.
Oiselle: Know a woman who loves to run? Gift her some gear from this Seattle-based athletic apparel company dedicated to making great products, improving the sport, and building the sisterhood.
Mark & Graham: Elevate your gift game with the stylish monogrammed options—from home goods to hats and travel accessories—at Mark & Graham, an offshoot of Williams-Sonoma that’s led and designed by women.
Yard & Strand: This artisan's mercantile curates elevated basics for everyday life from an array of small brands and makers.
Chica Mala: This Guatemalan-American owned eco-friendly lifestyle shop offers home decor, vintage textiles, and accessories that are handmade in rural Guatemala and incorporate the region’s rich Mayan history.
Georgie & Lou: Take your game to the next level with the pickleball accessories from Georgie & Lou, including what’s been described as “the perfect pickleball bag.”
Hotel Lobby candle: Give the gift of travel without the price tag: These luxe candles exude the scent of your favorite destinations, from the electric energy of Miami to the romance of Paris.
Roseate Jewelry: Pamela Cloud, the former Chief Merchandising Officer at Tiffany & Co., founded this sustainable jewelry brand that focuses on saltwater pearls, because responsible saltwater pearl farming protects and nurtures marine ecosystems.
Goal Five: This brand’s athletic apparel is made exclusively for women and helps support programs that get more girls on the soccer pitch.
Nina McLemore: This eponymous fashion collection offers executive women and senior professionals high-quality clothes with style and great fit.
Classic Six: This capsule collection of timeless designs are essential for any wardrobe, impeccably crafted, and meant to be worn for years to come.
Hart Jewelry: Craft a custom charm bracelet or pick a personalized accessory from among this brand’s collection of soul-boosting, high-quality jewelry.
Rocks, Pebbles, Stones: This handcrafted jewelry is made with semi-precious stones, diamonds, and other jewels.
Drew Tye Ruby-Howe: Blending hands-on application with thick, fresh acrylic, artist Drew Tye Ruby-Howe creates bold, textural abstract pieces that look great in any home.
Yard Sale: Don’t know where to start for gifts? Browse this site’s eclectic collection of clothing, homegoods, jewelry, and more from emerging designers, curated by trend forecasters and fashion insiders. The best part: A portion of proceeds goes to the Global Fund for Women.
The Paradise Antiques: Look here for impeccably maintained antique furniture and more, from all over the world.
Ginger’s Naps: For the dog-loving social activist in your life: Content creator Ginger offers a collection of tees and hoodies with slogans like, “Pets Are Political.”
Lillie’s 80: Shop for apparel, home decor, skincare and more at this adorable online boutique with a brick-and-mortar location in Duluth, Georgia.
Photo Credit: The Moth
ENTERTAINMENT
Trust.: Responsible AI, Innovation, Privacy and Data Leadership. In this new book, Dominique Shelton Leipzig reveals how to align your data practices with long-term strategic goals, build an ethical data culture focused on trust, avoid costly legal missteps, and drive revenue through responsible AI implementation.
Women on Course Membership: More than a way to learn to play golf, Women on Course offers travel and networking events across the country, to help its members connect and build friendships.
Skills: The Common Denominator: This book by Asha Aravindakshan shows you how to determine your transferable skills and present them to potential employers to differentiate yourself as a job candidate.
The Flowered Press: Harvested from her home gardens in Connecticut and the New England countryside, this collection of cards and print showcases plant art by lifelong gardener Marguerite Alpert.
The Moth Presents: A Game of Storytelling: This interactive card deck uses true stories to encourage lively conversations.
