Celebrating the resilience of women-owned SMBs

Alisha Elliott explains why, in these times especially, women-led businesses deserve a supportive community.

Two years into the pandemic, the world continues to grapple with the economic challenges from the pandemic with a global health and economic crisis. While everyone has been challenged in some way, particularly women, it has also unsurfaced incredible stories of strength and resilience from women-owned businesses around the world and New Zealand.

During the pandemic, we saw many women turn to our platforms to help launch their businesses online and help to gain economic security. In New Zealand, more than 20 percent of female-led businesses on Facebook were set up since the start of the pandemic, and the number of businesses that self-identify as women-owned on Instagram, increased by 35 percent. 

Women-led SMBs inspire, every day

Last year, we worked with some inspiring wāhine as a part of the Whāriki x Boost with Facebook campaign to build Māori small business skills in New Zealand. The featured businesses include Kai Ora Honey, run by Blanche Morrogh (pictured above) who traditionally produced honey, but with the onset of COVID-19, she pivoted to sustainable harvesting of the medicinal properties from unique mānuka honey trees, creating new beauty products and hand sanitiser. Pre-COVID Blanche relied on overseas travel to build brand and distributor networks but has since pivoted to rely almost exclusively on Facebook and Instagram.

Another local business that adapted to the pandemic was HAPA, owned by Maureen Taane who curates a selection of indigenous designed gifts, homeware and accessories that supports nearly 300 local designers, creators, and artists. HAPA was born out of necessity after the devastating Christchurch earthquakes in 2011 and has a strong focus on Māori design and products that celebrate Māori language. With the onset of the pandemic, Maureen used Facebook and Instagram heavily to communicate how customers could support HAPA and their designers. This action resulted in significant customer support through increased sales (click and collect/delivery model) and for customer support with offshore consumers (especially freight challenges).

Women-led SMBs deserve a supportive community

At Meta, we remain committed to supporting women entrepreneurs around the world by helping them unlock their potential and creating a more resilient, inclusive, and equal society. 

One of the key pillars of last year’s Whāriki x Boost with Facebook program was to cultivate the growth of the Māori economy, including wahine-owned small businesses by providing access to curated education and training so that women can not only grow their businesses, but thrive. 

This International Women’s Day, cultivating resilience in all forms – structural, financial, educational, and emotional – is the need of the hour. At Meta, we believe women-led businesses are vital to the broader economy and that cultivating resilience depends on the collaboration with policymakers, communities, and other businesses to help all women-led businesses succeed.

If you would like to join a supportive community with thousands of New Zealand small business owners and receive free education and training on digital tools, head over to the Boost with Facebook Aotearoa New Zealand Facebook Group.

Alisha Elliott (pictured below) is Head of Policy Programs at Meta ANZ.