Celebrate Women Entrepreneurs Who Make it a Great Jersey Cape

Cape May Courthouse, NJ (March 30, 2021)  As we recognize the contributions of women throughout our country and region during Women’s History Month, the Jersey Cape celebrates the role women continue to have in making us a premier place to live and visit.

Did you know that women own nearly 13 million, or about 40% of all businesses in the U.S.?

From shopping to dining, lodging to entertainment, just about every aspect of commerce at the Jersey Cape is made possible by more than 3,000 women business owners. (source U.S. Census)

Many female business owners united to rejuvenate Shop-A-Holics Weekend in Avalon and Stone Harbor during the weekend of March 11-14 after being forced to cancel the event in 2020 due to COVID-19.

About 30 businesses took part in the event and nearly all of them are owned by women.

“We’re talking fashion, home décor, gift shops and more being dominated by women ownership,” says Jacquie Ewing, owner of the Armadillo Limited in Avalon and president of the 7 Mile Business Community Association of Avalon.

“Locally, there’s a lot of mentoring and there’s a lot of support for women who start businesses,” explains Ewing who credits the success many women have in business ownership to their ability to multi-task.

“Look at who’s juggling the home responsibilities and kids’ schedules and they don’t moan about taking care of all of those things, they just go on and do it, which is important to operating a business,” says Ewing.

One woman who knows the keys to successful project management is Barbara Wilde, owner of the Willow Creek Winery as well as the Southern Mansion Bed and Breakfast.

“You have to be somewhat fearless because there are all kinds of obstacles that get in your way when you renovate a huge historical building like we did with the Southern Mansion,” says Wilde.

Her passion for food, wine and gardening lead her to take on another large-scale project, which she did while she was pregnant, in developing the Willow Creek Winery from a dilapidated farm in West Cape May.

“We are near the ocean and have this really great climate for growing grapes and I designed it to be this magical place that you pull into and say ‘wow where am I?” says Wilde.

To hear more from Jacquie and Barbara about the success of women entrepreneurs at the Jersey Cape as we celebrate Women’s History listen to our latest Escape to the Jersey Cape Podcast at www.escapetothejerseycape.com