Letter from the Editor
All About
Women
Dear Pillars of Franchising Community: This issue is all about women in franchising. As the number of women in the space continues to grow, we want to acknowledge the opportunity franchising affords to women and families. In our last issue, we featured Dawna Blum who found financial independence for the first time in her life through her Wild Birds Unlimited franchise. In this issue, we feature three amazing women who have made a difference in their own lives and in their franchise systems. As you read this issue, here are some important facts about women in our space. According to the 2013 State of Women-Owned Businesses Report (commissioned by American Express OPEN): More than 8.6 million women-owned businesses generate over $1.3 trillion in revenues and employ nearly 7.8 million people in the United States. Between 1997 and 2013 the number of businesses in the United States increased by 41 percent while the number of women-owned businesses increased by 59 percent, 1.5 times the national average. Women-owned businesses exceed overall sector growth in eight of the 13 most populous industries.
4 Pillars of Franchising
