When Mary Ricci, color consultant and founder of "Women Promoting Women," invited 30 women business owners to participate in her second annual networking event, she promised new business opportunities and free exposure.
She enticed the public with the free champagne, wine and hors d'oeuvres and the chance to walk away with freebies from the other featured businesses.
Ricci delivered. During the event many business owners successfully booked new clients and reaped new sales. Kim Cauti, a 25-year-old designer with her own clothing label, Kimberly Cauti, sold three designer dresses during the evening.
All 30 of the participating women-owned businesses got invaluable local exposure Ricci said, "more than 300 potential customers passed through the event."
The event grabbed the attention of Joy Rosenzweig, Associated Director of the Women's Enterprise Development Center, who stopped by to share some of the efforts the organization is making to support women entrepreneurs.
"Women-owned business is one of the fastest-growing segments of the small-business population. We're exploring ways we can work with Mary Ricci and other women's business groups to support the efforts of women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, create jobs and help pull our county out of this economic recession", said Rosenzweig.
The county has teamed up with the WEDC to hold workshops designed to familiarize businesses with the county's contract procurement process to increase the number of women and minority-owned businesses receiving county contracts. On Dec. 1, the county and WEDC will hold a half-day MWBE Expo at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.
Local events and portrait photographer, Donna Sexton, volunteered to be the "Women Promoting Women" resident photographer for the evening. Check out her pictures in our photo gallery for highlights of Women Promoting Women.
