March is Women’s History Month and Meta’s “Global State of Small Business Study” shows that women-led small businesses are leading the way with online tools, despite being harder hit by the Omicron wave. 

Shifting Business Online: Women-led businesses show up with resilience and have effectively flexed to shift their business online, often more so than their male counterparts.

• Globally, 57% of women-led SMBs report using digital tools to communicate with customers, compared to just under half of businesses led by men

• Nearly half of US women-led SMBs report making at least 25% of their sales digitally, compared to 39% of SMBs led by men

• Over the last year, 73% of Facebook Groups related to entrepreneurship in the US have been created by women

Women-led closure rates have risen six percentage points since July 2021, compared to little to no change for male counterparts. In the US, nearly a quarter (24%) of US women-led SMBs were still not operational in January, compared to 18% of male-led businesses. 

New insights on how female entrepreneurs use Facebook and Instagram also underscore the role of digital tools helping women-led businesses adapt their business online: 

New Woman-Owned Businesses 

• Globally, 40% of woman-owned Instagram businesses have been set up since the start of the pandemic, with similar findings on Facebook.

• Grants for Black-Owned Women Business Owners: Meta is also continuing to invest in women business owners via cash infusions. Beginning this month, the company will support Black Women-owned SMBs in cash awards of $50k.

Meta is committed to helping women-led businesses access the skills and education they need to thrive beyond the pandemic. This month, Meta’s long-standing digital skills training program for women, #SheMeansBusiness, is expanding to address barriers to financial resilience and literacy with a new training track that includes modules on Business Financial Basics, Financial Health and more. To date, the program has supported more than 1.5M women around the world in 33 markets. Women who are interested can visit: fb.com/shemeansbusinesshub to learn more.

Augusta’s Thrift ‘N Tell

Augusta-based influencer, trailblazer and thrifting expert Iesha Gilchrist runs the popular Instagram account Thrift N’ Tell. She shares her tips and tricks for treating yourself and loved ones to everything from trendy home decor to unique fashion finds, all while making a conscious effort to shop sustainably. 

With more than 600K followers on Instagram (@ieshathegr8 and @thriftntell) and 375K on Facebook, Gilchrist specializes in personal styling & helping bring awareness to sustainability and reducing your carbon footprint. Whether it’s a custom piece of art, Afro-centric decor, or a vintage tee, she is your expert on shopping for less!

Through the power of social media, Iesha is able to reach people across the nation with her style tips and thrifting hacks.