New women-led co-op business trend gaining momentum locally

By Telesha Ramnarine

CO-WORKING spaces for small and budding businesses have been working wonders for those women who value an environment that promotes connection, friendship, and a helping hand in times of need from like-minded businesswomen.

This current business trend facilitates an alternative to acquiring traditional store space and allows for great flexibility for women to promote their businesses remotely, while at the same time, growing their popularity and customer base.

While this development has been booming in many developed countries, at least two young, driven women are leading the charge locally, providing a space for dozens of other businesses registered with them.

The country’s first and largest collaborative space for women in business is owned by Amber Low, the founder of the Babe Cave, which provides small, female-led businesses with a safe place to grow, while giving their customers a great space to shop and pick up their orders.
For Amber, who has some 30 businesses registered with her, the idea came about when she started the Naked Closet (an online fashion marketplace) and experienced the struggles of a small business.

“Finding a safe location was tough, trying to afford a space on your own is tough when you’re just starting, but more than that, I always have believed in the effort of community. Being able to build together as a community of women who are facing the same challenges and finding ways to grow through them together is the biggest goal for us,” she expressed in an interview with Pepperpot Magazine.

The businesses range from fashion for adults and kids to skincare, home decor, wine, locally designed clothing and self-care products. “We provide tailored packages to suit small-business needs; from display space for items to clothing racks and safe pick-up locations. We also have a “collab” room which our members can use to sit down, get work done, relax and interact with like-minded women and hopefully feel inspired,” explained Amber.
She added: “I’d just like to say that if you have a small business and you’re looking to find a space to help it grow, we’re the perfect spot for you. Beyond that, our community comprises of [sic] driven, dedicated and innovative women who support each other in business, motherhood, sisterhood and friendship.”

Keleisha Pearce, who owns the Co-op Shoppe, has 20 businesses registered with her, eight of which operate online. Last November, she held a pop-up shop under her Girlboss organisation, which received tremendous interest from women in small businesses.

Unfortunately, due to the COVID-19 guidelines, Keleisha could not accommodate all the businesses at the pop-up shop. “That was truly heartbreaking for me. It made me realise that so many businesses yearn for a chance to have their business displayed at any level. I immediately started my hunt for a physical location to permanently house small businesses,” she recalled.

Keleisha genuinely has a passion for helping women in business and this is what fuelled her desire to start her organisation. “I realised that

so many women lack basic resources and information that can propel their businesses.”

Her plan is to partner with the relevant government agencies to provide as much assistance to women in business as possible. “It’s my firm belief that we need each other in order to grow and that there is room for everyone to win.”

Businesses that sign up to share spaces get spared from having to pay large amounts for rent. What they pay for rent in co-op spaces is nowhere near to what they would have to pay if they found a space independently.
Meanwhile, the Girlboss Inc. has a monthly membership that provides advertising, business resources, merchandise, and business broadcasts. They are also trying to add funding to the list of benefits.