Women-Owned Businesses We Love
March is Women’s History Month, a time to celebrate the achievements of women across industries–including the incredible female entrepreneurs who are making waves in business. At Whitestone, we’re proud to work with inspiring women-owned businesses that are pushing boundaries, championing sustainability, and making a lasting impact.
We reached out to a few of these powerhouse business owners to learn more about their journeys, what inspired them, and the advice they have for other women looking to start their own businesses.
Parker Clay: Empowering Women through Ethical Fashion
Parker Clay was born from a deeply personal conviction–one rooted in founder Brittany Bentley’s experience in Ethiopia working with a non-profit. During her time there, she met women who weren’t looking for handouts but meaningful work they could take pride in. Their resilience and determination were inspiring, as they supported their families with a spirit of dignity and purpose. Witnessing this spirit amid tremendous challenges reshaped Brittany’s perspective on business and social impact. She realized that commerce could be more than just a transaction; it could be a powerful tool for economic empowerment. With this vision, Parker Clay was created to provide opportunities that restore dignity, empower women, and craft beautifully meaningful leather goods that tell a story of hope and human potential.
Brittany’s Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
Embrace your experience. Your unique perspective is your strength–don’t be afraid to challenge traditional models. Social impact and profitability can go hand in hand.
Build community, not just a network. Entrepreneurship is tough, especially for women. Genuine, long-term connections make all the difference.
Lead with purpose. Profit matters, but a mission-driven business creates lasting motivation and impact.
Botanical PaperWorks: Growing a Sustainable Future
For Heidi Reimer-Epp, CEO and co-founder of Botanical PaperWorks, entrepreneurship was both a family tradition and a path to sustainability. Her company produces zero-waste, plantable promotional products, including seed paper, soaps, and candles. The company was born from Heidi’s mother’s passion for recycling waste paper and a desire to create sustainable solutions that give back to the environment. Today, Botanical PaperWorks partners with businesses to help them reduce their environmental footprint while offering unique, customizable products that literally grow into something new. The company also champions diversity by creating jobs for new immigrants through accessible, inclusive manufacturing processes.
Heidi’s Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
Forge your own path. Entrepreneurship allows you to align your career with your passions while creating an environment where diversity and innovation thrive.
Know your strengths and delegate. Focus on what you do best and hire experts for the rest.
Choose a business that excites you. Build something that keeps you engaged, aligns with your skills, and has a meaningful impact.
BYBBA: Conscious Carrying for a Sustainable Future
With a background in fashion and retail marketing, Pam Seidman spent years working with luxury and mass-market brands like Ralph Lauren and Versace. Over time, she became increasingly aware of the waste generated by retail packaging and wanted to find a better solution. Inspired by New York’s plastic bag ban, she launched BYBBA (Bring Your Bag Back Around) in 2021 to create stylish, functional, and truly sustainable reusable bags. Unlike the flimsy, mass-produced options on the market, BYBBA bags are designed for longevity and ethical production. Today, the brand is growing across Direct, Wholesale, and Corporate Gifting, with retail partners like Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, and Equinox, and is building a community of people passionate about conscious carrying.
Pam’s Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
Learn from the best. Work for experienced leaders first to build strong business fundamentals.
Prepare for more than just financial costs. Entrepreneurship is emotionally and physically demanding–having a solid support system is key.
You don’t have to choose between career and family. Success is about setting priorities and protecting them.
EcoStiks: Merging Creativity with Sustainability
EcoStiks was founded by Julie Schneiderman with a simple yet powerful idea–creativity and sustainability should go hand in hand. What began as a way to decorate wetsuits and support artists has evolved into a mission-driven brand that helps individuals and businesses showcase their values through eco-friendly design. Under Julie’s leadership, EcoStiks creates high-quality peel-and-stick fabric patches made from recycled water bottles, offering a sustainable alternative for self expression. Driven by a commitment to both environmental and social impact, Julie and the team are part of a growing movement of women-owned businesses redefining leadership and sustainability. The company actively supports female entrepreneurs, collaborating with women-led initiatives, and fosters a community that champions responsible business practices.
Julie’s Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
Trust your vision. Every great business starts with an idea. Challenges are inevitable, but believing in the mission and refining along the way is key to long-term success.
Build a strong community. Surrounding yourself with like-minded entrepreneurs, mentors, and industry connections creates opportunities for growth. Organizations like NAWBO and Women’s Economic Ventures provide valuable resources and support for women in business.
Bag Makers: Solving Problems, Building an Industry Leader
In 1980, as a single mother, Maribeth Sandford saw an opportunity while working for a supply company: small businesses needed custom-printed bags, but couldn’t afford high-order minimums. This led her to create a solution that prioritized affordability, quality, and fast service. With a loan from her father, she bought a printing press, selling bags by day and printing them by night. After just a year, she had repaid the loan, and her business was taking off. Today, Bag Makers produces 80 million bags annually and has grown into a leading supplier of eco-friendly, customizable packaging for businesses of all sizes. As a Certified Women’s Business Enterprise, the company continues to focus on sustainability, ethical manufacturing, and product safety, ensuring customers receive high-quality, responsibly made products.
Maribeth’s Advice for Women Entrepreneurs:
Believe in yourself and be persistent. Challenges will arise–focus on solutions and keep moving forward.
Build strong relationships. Genuine connections with clients, partners, and employees drive long-term success.
Just go for it. Don’t wait for the “perfect” moment. Learn as you go.
Celebrating Women in Business
These incredible women-led businesses are proof that innovation, resilience, and passion drive real change. Whether it’s creating sustainable products, solving industry gaps, or building a strong community, each of these founders turned a challenge into an opportunity–and in doing so, they’ve inspired the next generation of entrepreneurs. As we celebrate Women’s History Month, let’s continue to uplift and support women-owned businesses all year round, recognizing the impact they have on both our industries and the world around us.