Is your company selling B2B?  51% owned, managed, and controlled by a woman/women?  Are you dedicated to growing your business nationally and internationally? Then you need to look closely at becoming certified by WEConnect Canada (WCC).   WCC is a Canadian non-profit organization that is opening doors to supply chain opportunities for women business enterprises (WBEs) by connecting them to the growing global demand from corporations and the public sector for diverse suppliers.  WCC has already certified over 120 WBEs across Canada and boasts 29 corporations who are supportive corporate members.

WCC is built upon the successful US model, WBENC (Women Business Enterprise National Council) which has been in existence for 14 years and has certified 10,000 WBEs in the USA.  As an affiliate of WBENC and WEConnect International, WCC became one of the first such organizations in the world and will soon be connecting WBEs to not only our US neighbours but also to WEConnect Europe, WEConnect India, WEConnect China and WEConnect Peru.  

So, what about successes you ask? Marla Kott, who is CEO of Imprint Plus, designer and manufacturer of The Reusable Name Badge and The Reusable Sign Product Line, has been certified since May 2009. Her certification has been invaluable to the growth of her company.  “Our business is an export business; we currently ship 80% of our product outside of Canada, and the certification has already opened doors and resulted in vendor status, as well as sales,” states Ms. Kott. “This certification is critical to our larger American customers, and hopefully will become a factor to Canadian business in the future, both in the private and the public sector.” 

WEConnect is an enabler.  In addition to being a third party certifying body, WEConnect opens doors offering  access to opportunities for women owned businesses that would otherwise not be available. These opportunities are not only with large corporations but with tier-2 suppliers, and other certified WBEs.  “WEConnect is going to do wonders for women business owners in Canada,” says Brenda van Duinkerken, President of gluten-free product maker Duinkerken Foods of Charlottetown, PE, one of the first women to be qualified by WEConnect Canada. “It’s the marketing tool we need to go global. The certification will open doors and provide me with the opportunity to meet buyers face to face and to demonstrate my products.” 

Keen to learn first-hand the value of certification? Participate in the largest women owned business event in June. http://ww2.aievolution.com/wbe1101/

Mary Anderson

Executive Director

WEConnect Canada

289 837 1821

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