March 8th – International Women’s Day is a worldwide celebration that recognizes the progress of gender equality and raises awareness of women’s challenges. It’s a special day to empower women-owned businesses, as they play a crucial role in driving economic growth and creating job opportunities. In recent years, there has been a growing focus on supporting women entrepreneurs and the gender gap. Many of them have become successful and innovative leaders in their own fields. 

In this blog post, we delve into the dynamic realm of marketing for women owned business. As champions of innovation and resilience, women entrepreneurs are reshaping industries, and it’s time to amplify their impact. Join us as we explore insightful strategies, share success stories, and uncover the keys to unlocking unparalleled growth in the vibrant landscape of Marketing for women-owned businesses.

By supporting and empowering women-owned businesses, we can help create a fair and prosperous world for everyone. Sounds amazing? Let’s jump in!

Everything about International Women’s Day you should know

International Women’s Day (IWD) is a global day dedicated to celebrating the outstanding achievements of women in all areas of life – from politics to sports, from science to art. Moreover, it’s also a chance to honor the women’s contributions to society and recognize their strength and determination in facing challenges.

The history of International Women’s Day can be traced back to the early 1900s – when women in the labor movement started organizing for better working conditions and equal rights. Since then, IWD has grown into a big worldwide movement to support gender equality and discuss the issues women still face today.

women-owned businesses

Every year, on March 8th, people of all genders, ages, and backgrounds from around the world come together to celebrate IWD in different ways. Some hold rallies and marches to call for women’s rights and highlight the progress made. Others organize conferences and workshops to educate and raise awareness of gender equality. Not to mention, many also leverage this day to raise money for women-focused charities and support causes empowering women and girls.

What’s the International Women’s Day 2023 campaign theme?

The theme for the International Women’s Day 2023 global campaign is #EmbraceEquity. We can foster change and create an equal world for all through collective activism. But what is it about embracing equity? It means deeply valuing and seeking out the difference as a necessary and positive component of life. 

And it also means recognizing that true equity goes beyond mere equality. It requires understanding the specific challenges they face and working to address them fairly and equitably for everyone.

Hashtags to use for this campaign #EmbraceEquity, #IWD2023.

Women-owned businesses: The case for an eCommerce store to celebrate IWD 2023

International Women’s Day is an increasingly popular occasion for eCommerce stores, with 71% of global online shoppers being women as of 2018. 

women-owned businesses
Source: Statista 

With that said eCommerce stores should take advantage of this opportunity to engage with a large female audience and attract male shoppers looking to purchase gifts for the women in their lives.

So, if you’re an eCommerce store owner, here’s why you should include International Women’s Day as a part of your marketing for women owned business strategy: three reasons that can’t be ignored.

Shattering gender-based stereotypes

International Women’s Day is an excellent opportunity to break down gender-based stereotypes and challenge prejudices that have persisted for too long. As an eCommerce store, you can build a brand image that promotes gender equality and shatters harmful stereotypes.

One great example of this kind of activism comes from UN Women Australia, which launched the “When Will She Be Right?” campaign to encourage the country to work towards achieving gender equality by 2030. The campaign cleverly turns dismissive, saying “She’ll be right” on its head, asking an important question about when we can expect to see real progress toward eliminating gender inequality.

Opportunity to support women-owned businesses

In addition to breaking gender-based stereotypes, International Women’s Day is also an ideal opportunity for eCommerce stores to support women-owned businesses. Besides, it’s well-known that women-owned enterprises face significant challenges, including lack of access to capital and resources and systemic discrimination.

As an online retailer, you can support women-owned businesses by collaborating with them and providing them with a platform to reach a wider audience. This not only empowers women-owned businesses but also helps to boost their businesses and increase their visibility.

women-owned businesses

Show appreciation for your female customers

Including International Women’s Day in your marketing calendar is a great way to show your female customers that you care about them. You can make them feel extra valued and appreciated by offering sales, discounts, and special deals on this day. Besides, to make these deals even more special, eCommerce stores can add a touch of personalization.

This not only creates a great customer experience for female shoppers but also increases the chances of repeat purchases and builds customer loyalty. So, you’ve learned why your eCommerce store should include International Women’s Day on your marketing calendar. And now, it’s time to take action and empower women-owned businesses! 

Below are some creative promotion ideas your store can adopt to make the most of this special occasion. Let’s take a look!

Marketing For Women Owned Business: 7 Ideas for Women’s Day

Highlight Women’s Achievements in Your Company

Take advantage of Women’s Day to recognize the hard work and achievements of the women in your company. Even if your colleagues may already know women’s vital role in your business, it’s a chance to provide a platform to share that recognition with the public.

One way to show appreciation is to present a remarkable Women’s Day story or announcement on your eCommerce site, introducing your female staff to customers. This gives customers an inner look at who runs your business and lets your female employees feel seen and valued.

women-owned businesses
Source: Women of Achievement Awards – 11th November 2022

Smart Tips?

Celebrating women is important, and many businesses choose to reward them. As a retailer, this allows you to switch from being a B2B retailer to a wholesaler. Especially during holidays when many companies offer rewards that can be costly.

However, you may want to consider how to adjust the pricing based on the number of customers ordering. This is where the B2B/Wholesale Solution comes into play!

B2B Wholesale Solution for Marketing Women Owned Business

Our all-in-one solution streamlines wholesale business for merchants, providing a seamless shopping experience for B2B customers while allowing merchants to manage their wholesale customers and gain insights. 

In addition, our platform offers customized pricing on select products, establishing solid and long-lasting relationships with wholesale customers. This level of customization helps you differentiate yourself in the marketplace and attract more wholesale clients.

Contribute to a cause supporting Women’s empowerment

It’s time to make a positive impact that goes beyond business success. You have the power to make a difference by contributing to a cause that supports women’s empowerment. There are a lot of organizations that focus on helping women, and you can leverage your business to get customers’ attention. 

All you need to do is highlight these organizations on your platforms to inform your customers about how they can donate or volunteer to help. This can include details about where your customers can donate or volunteer, as well as the mission and impact of your organization. As a result, your customers will appreciate your efforts to bring attention to a good cause, and you can raise awareness of the important work these organizations do.

Besides, if your business can afford this campaign, you can take it a step further and donate a percentage of your profits to a women-run or women-focused charity during  March or even just for a week or a day. No matter what you choose, it’s important to let your customers know about the cause you’re supporting and the details of your contribution. This way, they can understand how their purchase can make a difference.

women-owned businesses

Women’s Day Giveaway for Customer Loyalty

A strategy for marketing for women owned business on International Women’s Day is offering their customers a loyalty program. To achieve this, featuring a Women’s Day giveaway can greatly boost customer loyalty.

Providing gifts through social media is beneficial to customers and businesses. Customers can promote the business for free to their friends and family by sharing gift-related content, creating opportunities for new and existing customer engagement.

To further incentivize customer participation, companies can ask customers to like and share social media posts or run a campaign in which customers post their photos and tag the company. The giveaway should include a valuable prize to encourage participation.

women-owned businesses

As gifts are a popular reason for buyers to campaign for International Women’s Day, promoting a gift card for your gift program is a great idea. Gift cards allow recipients to choose what they want rather than receiving an unwanted gift. 

In addition, the automatic application of product-specific IWD discounts during checkout can encourage sales and increase customer loyalty to the brand.

women-owned businesses

Smart Tips?

Not sure how to launch a Shopify referral program to increase customer engagement? No need to worry! 

BLOOP: Referrals & Loyalty makes it a breeze for store owners to build and launch a referral program on Shopify in less than three minutes. Our app streamlines the referral process and leverages the power of word-of-mouth marketing to expand lifetime value through rewards. With features such as email notifications, social sharing, and direct link sharing, Bloop Rewards & Referrals makes it easy for your customers to refer their friends and grow your business.

Bloop Referral and Loyalty

Women’s Day Email Campaigns

Valentine’s Day is a popular holiday that often comes with discounts and marketing campaigns. But because you can’t have these promotions overlap with International Women’s Day, it’s best to start your email marketing for Women’s Day after Valentine’s Day has ended.

Leading up to International Women’s Day, you can send out simple and effective email subject lines celebrating women. For example, you can use subject lines like:

  • Women rock! Let’s celebrate with a special deal just for you.
  • Happy International Women’s Day! Our gift to you inside.
  • Women are superheroes too! Join our Women’s Day celebration.
  • Cheers to strong women! Join us for our Women’s Day event.
  • Celebrate women with our special Women’s Day sale.
  • Women’s Day is here! Let’s make it special together.
  • Happy Women’s Day! Treat yourself to something special.

women-owned businesses

  • Email example for IWD 2023

Besides, to give you a better idea of how to create an effective personalized email for IWD 2023. We’ve written an example to inspire you. 

Subject: Celebrate International Women’s Day with Us!

Dear [Name],

Happy International Women’s Day! 

At [Your Business], we’re proud to support women and the causes that matter to them. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to succeed, so we’ve made it our mission to [explain your mission or values].

We’re offering an exclusive discount for all our female customers to celebrate this special day.

For the entire week of International Women’s Day, you can enjoy [X%] off any purchase made on our website using the code WOMENSDAY at checkout. 

We’re also donating [X%] of our profits this week to [name of women-focused charity or organization] to support their important work.

So what are you waiting for? Head to our website today to start shopping and take advantage of our special offer. And don’t forget to share the love with the women in your life. After all, today is all about celebrating them!

Thank you for your continued support, and happy Women’s Day!

Best regards,

[Your Name]

[Your Business]

[Another CTA link]

Add a Happy Women’s Day Banner to Your Website

You don’t need to be physically present to celebrate Women’s Day with your customers. Making small changes to the way your website looks can have a big impact and also show how your support for Women’s Day.

One idea is to greet visitors to your site with a “Happy Women’s Day” banner. You may want to use purple, green, and white to align with International Women’s Day’s official colors.

women-owned businesses
Purple, green, and white are the 3 main colors of International Women’s Day.

Besides, you can consider linking your banner to a charity or website with more information about International Women’s Day, so your customers can learn more about the cause.

Another way to support Women’s Day is to update your website with images or graphics highlighting women’s achievements. Also, you could feature content on your blog or social media that showcases influential women throughout history or the present day.

Highlight scarcity and urgency to drive sales

Scarcity marketing is a strategy used by Shopify stores to make their products seem more valuable by making them seem rare or hard to get.

When shoppers know a product is only available for a limited time, they’re more likely to take action and make a purchase.

Therefore, If you want to maximize the impact of your International Women’s Day campaigns, consider using live notifications and countdown timers on your product images. This will create a sense of urgency, then encourage customers to take action before time runs out.

women-owned businesses

Moreover, you can add labels to your product images that highlight their limited availability, such as:

  • Limited edition
  • Only X left in stock
  • Limited stock available
  • Don’t miss out
  • Last chance to buy
  • Exclusive offer
  • Going fast
  • Limited time only
  • Act now
  • Rare find

Smart Tips?

Are you looking to grab your customers’ attention and promote your products on IWD 2023? Look no further than BSS: Product Labels & Badges

BSS Product Labels & Badges for marketing for women owned business

With BSS Product Labels & Badges, you can quickly motivate customers to make purchases with catchy labels and badges that highlight the limited availability of your products. Our app offers a pre-designed library with various categories, including Women’s Day, and you can even upload your images for a truly unique shopping experience.

Moreover, we provide different display conditions for your Women’s Day campaigns so that you can target the right customers at the right time. 

So why wait? Take advantage of the opportunity to make a lasting impression on your customers this Women’s Day. Let BSS Product Labels & Badges bring your sales to a new level!

Host an IWD Event, Collaborate with Women-Owned Businesses

International Women’s Day is a chance for businesses to show their support for women and make their clients feel like they belong. Even though online promotions work well, it’s great to organize an in-person event. This can help you connect with your clients and raise brand awareness.

There are numerous options available for Women’s Day events. For example, organize a volunteer day at a local women’s shelter to make a meaningful difference in your community. Alternatively, you could invite a group of successful businesswomen to speak about their experiences. 

women-owned businesses
Betty Hines founded Women Elevating Women to empower and connect women in business.

Collaborating with another women-owned business is a great idea to keep the direction of your event. You can also ask your customers directly what they are most interested in via email or social media and schedule your event accordingly.

Discover more: 5 Key Pillars of Shopify Social Media Marketing to Boost Your Brand

Our favorite women-owned Shopify stores example

If you’re looking for inspiration for women-owned Shopify stores, look no further! We’ve compiled a list of our top favorite stores. All are run by amazing women entrepreneurs who have taken their ideas and turned them into successful businesses.

Soko Glam

women-owned businesses

Soko Glam is a Korean skincare company founded by Charlotte Cho. She specializes in beauty products and wants to introduce people to the skincare, beauty trends, and cosmetics of Korea. Besides, the company offers a wide range of skincare items, from cleansers to face masks, and even has a line of makeup products.

Soko Glam has been featured in various publications, including Vogue and Allure, and is a go-to destination for anyone looking to revamp their skincare routine.

Pink Moon 

women-owned businesses

Lin Chen, a founder of Pink Moon, created a product that embodies sustainability, philanthropy, and empowerment. Her vision was to create a company that promotes self-love, self-acceptance, inclusivity, and community. All of this aims to support meaningful causes.

As a wellness store, Pink Moon provides all-natural, vegan, and cruelty-free skincare and beauty products. Plus, Chen firmly believes in the transformative power of self-care. That’s why she is dedicated to offering customers products that are safe and eco-friendly for their skin.

Love Powered Co.

women-owned businessesLove Powered Co. is a company that creates affirmation cards and other products designed to empower and inspire women and children. And the third women-owned business on this list is Anna Lozano. She is passionate about helping people build their confidence and self-love, so they can lead with love and inspire others to do the same.

And Love Powered Co. is a shining example of a women-owned business that’s positively making an impact on the world.

The Lip Bar 

women-owned businesses

The Lip Bar is a beauty brand that offers vegan and cruelty-free makeup products for women. The company was founded by Melissa Butler, who was inspired to create a beauty line that celebrates inclusivity and diversity.

The Lip Bar has a range of lipsticks, lip glosses, and other makeup products that come in a variety of shades and colors. This makes it easy for every woman to find the perfect product for her skin tone.

By Maria

women-owned businesses

Maria is a women’s fashion brand founded by Catalina Jossen Cardozo, who wanted to create a fashion line that combines style and sustainability. 

She started the brand with the idea that fashion doesn’t have to harm the planet or exploit workers. Maria uses eco-friendly fabrics and partners with ethical factories to create fashionable and sustainable shoes.

But By Maria isn’t just about making shoes, the brand believes in creating a better world through its efforts. From start to finish, the company’s focus strives to promote fairness and equality. That means ensuring everyone is treated well and the environment isn’t harmed.

The bottom line

In summary, International Women’s Day presents a prime occasion for businesses to champion and uplift women-owned enterprises, all while enhancing brand promotion and product visibility. By incorporating these 7+ marketing for women owned business strategies, businesses can commemorate this significant day and forge impactful connections with their customers, truly embracing the spirit of marketing for women-owned businesses.

Whether hosting an event or collaborating with women-owned businesses, these strategies can help showcase your support for women entrepreneurs. Moreover, it can highlight your company’s commitment to gender equality. 

Thank you for reading our blog post about marketing ideas to empower women-owned businesses on IWD 2023. If you have any other questions about your business or need any more help, please don’t hesitate to contact us at BSS Commerce Shopify. Our team is always here to support you.