Women Owned Businesses Up in Tennessee
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JACKSON, Tenn.–The number of women who own businesses jumped across the country and in Tennessee over the past seven years, according to the American Express OPEN State of Women-Owned Businesses Report. Nationally, the number of women owned firms increased 68-percent in the last seven years, according to the report. Marilyn Jackson launched her business in north Jackson 25 years ago. “I started out in my home working off my dining room table,” she said. The gift shop grew. Marilyn Jackson‘s Gifts now sits on Vann Drive. “We appreciate everybody that walks in the store,” said Jackson. The research, based on census data, indicates the number of women owned firms in Tennessee jumped more than 66 percent in the last seven years. “We have had a trail blazed for us,” said Debbie Swacker, owner of Mam‘selle. “I mean there are more opportunities for women now.” Swacker bought Mam‘selle 14 years ago. “Everyone has worth and everyone has possibility and everyone has potential and it is not limited to just men or just women,” she said. According to the report, women start more than 1,200 new businesses per day, which is double the rate from three years ago. “In this day and time a lot of families needed to, they need two incomes just to make it, so I think more and more women are in the workforce,” said Jackson. The report also shows sales among women-owned firms in Tennessee jumped 73 percent from 1997. Despite the increase in business and sales, the report shows employment among women-owned firms in Tennessee dropped more than 17 percent since 1997.
