March celebrates Women’s History Month, and thus we are turning attention to female entrepreneurs who have created iconic brands that we see in retail and dining.
As mentioned last week, the beauty category was one of the biggest winners of 2022. Luckily for Drybar, Blo Blow Dry Bar, and Madison Reed, beauty-related services are back in vogue too. With celebrations, parties, and weddings back on people’s calendars, these women-founded franchises are seeing things look up as we enter 2023.
Going for the Cold as Whimsical Ice Cream Delights: Salt ‘n Straw and Jeni’s
Another category that we’ve seen increase in popularity are artisanal ice creams, such as Salt & Straw and Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams. Both utilize unique natural ingredients and have tantalizing monikers such as Honey Lavender or Arbequina Olive Oil for the former and Brown Butter Almond Brittle or Brambleberry Crisp for the latter. As ice-cream lovers become more picky about what they eat, the search is on for ever-intriguing flavors that are seasonal and new. It looks like the cold weather has not been a deterrent to eating ice cream in cold January or February, as traffic is up compared to the prior year. Classics such as Cold Stone Creamery are also seeing a rise.
A Taste of Home: Tatte Bakery Serves up Community and Comfort
Another woman-owned eatery with outstanding growth is Tatte Bakery. With over a dozen locations in Massachusetts, as well as half a dozen in DC, this bakery does it all. Founded 15 years ago by Tzurit Or in her home kitchen, her humble vision to “bring people together around great food and pastries while providing a deep sense of comfort and belonging” has expanded into delicious menus that offer an array of items from Tuna Nicoise to Shakshuka, gluten-friendly items, and a large assortment of pastries.
A Tale of Two Veronicas: Veronica Beard boutiques popping up nationwide
The two co-founders of Veronica Beard are “sisters-in-law married to brothers.” Started by Veronica Swanson Beard and Veronica Miele Beard, their eponymous line can be found in luxury department stores like Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, as well as numerous boutiques around the country. Iconic pieces include the “Dickey Jacket” with interchangeable dickeys, as well as an array of floaty dresses, sharp jeans, and playful blazers - perfect for either work or vacation.
In addition to each location being curated with one-of-a-kind finds and antiques, Veronica Beard stores also hold events for women in the community ranging from medical experts giving talks on restful sleep to charitable events that donate a portion of in-store sales to benefit the cause.
Of note, while the Miami location and the Atlanta location opened around the same time, the Miami location’s foot traffic has taken the lead with an average visits per square foot higher than the others.
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