The Woman's Exchange of St. Louis

How exciting! Did you see that The Woman's Exchange was mentioned as a 5-Must Visit Store for Local Holiday Ornaments by St. Louis Style? We are delighted to have our organization be mentioned alongside other St. Louis businesses! Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/d76KwkHH Supporting small businesses, like those highlighted in this article, is important to nurturing our community's artisans and makers. At The Woman's Exchange, we empower women in our community, providing artisans with the resources they need to thrive. By shopping with us, we ensure a vibrant, sustainable economy for future generations. #SupportLocal #HolidayShopping #StLouis #Craftsmanship #TheWomansExchange #ShopSmall #MadeInStLouis

In her article featured in the Harvard Business Review, professor Hermania Ibarra highlights a crucial insight for all organizations aiming to achieve gender diversity: fostering leadership among women goes beyond providing skills and leadership programs. It requires dismantling the subtle biases and creating environments where women can truly internalize a leadership identity. The full article can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gxugbd6 At The Woman's Exchange, we see this firsthand with our mission to empower women artisans to build self-sufficiency. By providing mentorship, training, and resources, we create a space where women can grow into business leaders. Leadership is not just about taking roles; it's about cultivating a sense of purpose and identity and breaking through societal and organizational barriers. Whether through entrepreneurial ventures or leadership within their craft, our organization empowers women to lead and thrive in leadership. #Woexstl #WomensEmpowerment #GenderDiversity #WomenInBusiness #Leadership

Over the weekend, The Woman's Exchange was thrilled to partner with Mad Science STL to bring an exciting, hands-on learning experience, Dining With Dinos, to our Tearoom! Our little paleontologists engaged in learning about the prehistoric era, science, and what it was like for dinosaurs to walk the earth. At The Exchange, we believe that fostering an environment for educational experiences empowers children to embrace discovery and knowledge, building a foundation for lifelong learning. We look forward to continuing to offer children's events that ignite young imaginations and encourage their natural sense of wonder. #Woexstl #MadScienceSTL #EducationMatters #EarlyLearning #ChildrensEvents

When discussing women's economic inclusion, it is still far from parity, but progress is underway. According to information provided by the World Bank Group's Women, Business, and the Law 2022 report, 2.4 billion women of working age are still not afforded equal economic opportunity due to legal barriers in 178 countries. In 86 nations, women face job restrictions, and 95 countries do not guarantee equal pay for equal work. Despite these challenges, 23 countries took significant strides towards reforming their laws in 2021 to advance women's economic inclusion. The full report can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gZR3r3PW While women globally have only three-quarters of the legal rights afforded to men, achieving full legal parity is possible. It's crucial that we continue to push for reform and empower women to achieve their full economic potential. At The Woman's Exchange, we understand there are a variety of life experiences that can impact a person's economic success. Our organization empowers personal and professional confidence and stability to successfully navigate unexpected life experiences. The Exchange maintains a trauma-informed workplace to ensure all employees and participants are provided a supportive and non-judgmental environment to heal, grow, and thrive. #Woexstl #WorkplaceEquity #WomenInBusiness #EconomicInclusion #LegalReform #EqualPay

In a world where fast fashion and mass production often dominate, supporting artisans has never been more essential—both economically and culturally. According to an article written in August 2020 by Entrepreneur, artisan enterprises help employ hundreds of thousands of people and are the second-largest employer in the developing world. The full article can be read here: https://lnkd.in/ghCpbkWX At The Woman's Exchange, we also believe that artisans play a critical role in safeguarding traditions and skills at risk of being lost. By supporting their craft, we’re not just preserving heritage—we're keeping cultures alive. The artisan economy offers sustainable, high-quality alternatives to problematic industries like fast fashion. With the rise in demand for unique, handmade items, this growth represents a key economic opportunity for communities worldwide, especially for small businesses and local economies. Investing in artisans is more than a transaction—it’s a commitment to sustainability, heritage, and global economic growth. #Woexstl #Artisans #Sustainability #Handcrafted #CulturalPreservation #SupportLocal

According to TriMark, one of the most experienced food service supply companies in the country, shared-use or community kitchens, also known as culinary incubators, are essential spaces where early-stage food entrepreneurs can bring their culinary dreams to life. These certified commercial spaces, rented by the hour or day, provide access to high-quality equipment and regulatory compliance, making them invaluable to start-ups and budget-minded entrepreneurs. The full article can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gtgRG8Y5 In 2016, the "food movement" inspired consumers to ask where their food comes from, fueling the rise of local businesses, from restaurants to markets. Four years later, this trend remains as strong as ever. Culinary incubators offer emerging food professionals the resources they need to thrive, from affordable rental rates to value-added services like training, packaging, and business development support. At The Woman's Exchange, we see firsthand the impact of these incubators on our community artisans who use our commercial kitchen. These spaces are more than just kitchens; they are growth centers where creativity meets opportunity. For many of our artisans, it's the stepping stone they need to turn their home-kitchen dreams into reality. Through exposure in our store and using our commercial kitchen free of charge, they gain exposure, build a following, and ultimately contribute to our local economy. #Woexstl #CommercialKitchen #EarlyEntrepreneurs #FoodArtisans #Nonprofit

For the past few months, The Woman's Exchange has partnered with Maison D' Haiti, sharing a mission of empowering women by providing them with opportunities to achieve financial stability and productive lives. Both organizations support and uplift women through economic initiatives, ensuring they can thrive as skilled artisans and community leaders. Learn more about Maison D' Haiti: https://lnkd.in/g9mQaNfQ Through this partnership, we not only bring exquisite, handcrafted items to our community but also support talented artisans from Haiti, ensuring they receive fair wages and the recognition they deserve. These unique pieces are more than just products—they tell a story of resilience, tradition, and creativity. Each item embodies the rich cultural heritage of Haiti and is crafted with the utmost care and skill. By offering these items at The Woman's Exchange, we continue our mission to empower women and artisans in our communities. #FairTrade #WomensEmpowerment #GlobalArtisans #EthicalShopping #TheWomansExchange #MaisonDHaiti

In March 2017, WKAR Public Media shared a segment about the Woman's Exchanges that provided economic alternatives for financially vulnerable women in the 19th Century. At a time when employment options for women were extremely limited, these Exchanges offered a dignified way for women to sustain themselves by selling their handmade goods and crafts. Many of these Exchanges are still operating today, continuing one of the nation's oldest voluntary movements. The full article and segment can be found here: https://lnkd.in/dv-TTyAC At The Woman's Exchange of St. Louis, we are proud to be a part of this legacy. For over a century, we've upheld the tradition of supporting women through entrepreneurship and providing economic opportunities that allow women to thrive. Our mission today echoes the original purpose of these Exchanges: to create a space where women can be empowered, supported, and uplifted. #Woexstl #WomensHistory #EconomicIndependence #LegacyofSupport

According to a 2023 article from CBS News' MoneyWatch, recent findings reveal that women are not just held back by the "glass ceiling" in corporate America but are often tripped up by a "broken rung" early in their careers. For every 100 men promoted from entry-level positions, only 87 women—and just 73 women of color—receive similar opportunities. The full article can be read here: https://lnkd.in/gq7775XQ The Woman’s Exchange is critical in addressing this disparity. By providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities, our organization empowers women to overcome these barriers, climb the professional ladder, and achieve the leadership roles they aspire to. Our initiative through our mission-based programs [Early Entrepreneurship, Immigrant and Refugee, Living Artist, and Self-Sufficiency] is to ensure that women don't just survive but thrive in their careers. #Woexstl #WomenInLeadership #WorkplaceEquity #CareerAdvancement

#ThenAndNow --> In 1953, writer Margaret Allen Ruhl documented in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that "[the] exchange occupies not one store but four - a tearoom, gift department, baby shop, and bakery - which stretch behind as many plate glass windows at 390 North Euclid Avenue. A working board of 25 women dons smocks and supervises, sells or scrubs, as the needs develop, and a paid staff of 25 keeps the complicated books, waits on tables and cooks, all under the guidance of Mrs. Victor Powell, [the] manager who has been with the organization more than 20 years and is the hardest worker of them all." Today at The Woman's Exchange, we continue to recognize and honor the dedication, passion, and commitment of countless individuals who have shaped our journey. Cherishing the stories of our board members, staff, and volunteers is not just about honoring our past—it's about inspiring our present and guiding our future. Pictured below is a photo used in the article of Mrs. Victor Powell checking items for sale with Mrs. Kenneth Bitting (left) and Mrs. Kenneth Cravens (the Display Chairman at the time). #Woexstl #CherishTheStories #WomenInHistory #StLouisHistory #Dedication #Legacy #Traditions