Walmart new website empowers women-owned businesses

“Women’s Bean Project was inspired while our founder volunteered at a local women’s shelter,” said Tamra Ryan, CEO of Women’s Bean Project.  “The women she met wanted to work their own way up and out of poverty, but didn’t have the skills to find or keep work.  So, she decided to start a business to teach them how.”

From an initial $500 investment and two employees, Women’s Bean Project has grown to employ hundreds with an operating budget in excess of $2 million and products that include salsa mixes, spice rubs, coffee beans, soups, chili, gift baskets and jewelry.  “Women’s Bean Project does more than produce great merchandise; it teaches women job readiness and life skills, and helps them with their basic needs to build a better life – that’s what has fueled our success.”

In addition to merchandise from Gahaya Links and Women’s Bean Project, the inaugural Empowering Women Together collection also includes jewelry from Peru, Rwanda, Kenya and the U.S.; home accessories from Rwanda and Haiti; paper mache from Haiti, apparel and accessories from Rwanda; iPad and laptop cases from Cambodia and Nepal; coffee and tea sets sourced globally and made in America; and specialty foods made in America and Canada. 

To help empower the women behind these products, Walmart is applying the same model for making a difference that it has used to take on other social issues such as hunger, accessibility to healthy foods and sustainability.  An important part of that model is partnering with organizations that share the same goals and bring expertise and leadership to problem-solving.  Walmart’s initial partners for Empowering Women Together include Full Circle Exchange and Global Goods Partners.

“Walmart and Full Circle share a common mission to empower women through commerce, allowing them to work their way out of poverty in ways that are both sustainable and dignified,” said Mark Priddy, CEO and cofounder, Full Circle Exchange. “By focusing on poverty reduction through job creation and access to global markets, we believe that, when equipped with the proper resources, women have the power to help lift whole families and entire communities out of poverty.”

“Our goal is to help strengthen women-led development initiatives for marginalized communities in Asia, Africa and the Americas,” said Jennifer Gootman, executive director of not-for-profit Global Goods Partners.  “Women all over the world are overcoming enormous challenges to join together and support each other in small business enterprises to better themselves, their families, and their communities.”