When I first started Laughing Gull Chocolates, intending to make the world a better place through chocolate, I had no idea what I was getting into. My bold statement was vague, naive and idealistic. It’s been more than seven years since I officially launched the business, and in that time, I’ve relocated cities, opened a brick and mortar, and pivoted and shifted numerous times throughout COVID. I’ve become a wife, a mom – twice – ( and side note, check out this old blog to see some of my past work on the connection between women sustaining chocolate and pregnancy accommodations) – and gained two amazing business partners. I don’t know where I’d be without Karla and Allison – they’ve changed Laughing Gull Chocolates forever, and  made a huge difference to my life personally. And all this is just on the surface. It’s the small daily challenges, wins, and big moments that make our lives and the business meaningful.

Women Owned, Local Love

According to the SBA, only 36% of business owners are women. (We’ve always been women owned, but are finally making it official by completing our application for WBENC certification!) You may have seen the Laughing Gull Chocolates blogpost in 2018, The Female Business of Cacao, that touched on how we embraced the role of Mompreneur. We walk a fine, challenging, line of being present moms and involved small business owners. If you read Allison’s blogpost about how we choose our hard, you remember the joys and challenges that came with bringing our kids to work. When I started on this journey, I never could have imagined the camaraderie I’d encounter from other women who knew similar trials, tribulations and beauty. 

We love Women’s History Month because we get to celebrate being a Women Owned Business, fellow Women in Chocolate (who, as you’ll read here, are few and far between), and celebrate the many women owned businesses that have encouraged us and helped us thrive. Some Women Owned Businesses provide us the ingredients we need to make our delicious products; some carry our products, and others make hte chocolate we use for tastings; others provide the emotional support and wisdom that have helped us navigate the constant changing regulations of the pandemic and become better entrepreneurs. 

There are way too many businesses to name, but we wanted to highlight a few of our favorites. Keep an eye out on our social media throughout March to see more of the businesses we love! What are your can’t miss women owned businesses?         

Gallery Salon (the hair, the art, the luxury, the experience!), Union Tavern, and Salena’s and Nox (the food, the drinks – and have you tried Nox’s fries??)

Speaking of which – huge shout out to Bossy!

Imprintable Solutions – have you seen this amazing shirt that gives back to Support Your Sistah? Tina’s son designed them and I want every one!

Luisa Abram Chocolate – wild Amazonian cacao, woman owned, delicious flavor. Need we say more!?

The Brainery! I don’t know where we’d be without the Brainery. We’ve been doing classes with them almost from day one, and they are incredible. If you haven’t done a class with them yet, check them out!

Marvelous Minds – where would entrepreneurs be without Rosa’s out-of-the-box thinking bridge care?!

Harper Macaw – more woman-owned and made chocolate from s Atlantic and Amazon rainforests, two of the world’s most threatened biomes.

Katboocha – our newest version of a kombucha truffle is The Cashmere – so smooth, subtle and yummy! Plus, this truffle is vegan!

Geek Chic Floral Boutique – have you seen her work? The flowers are gorgeous! 

Peppermint at the Culver Rd Armory. Unique, trendy, and all the 585 goods. 

Living Roots – the pairings, the wine, the team,  the ambience, the charcuterie boards…

Together, with our amazing community, we can #BreakTheBias this International Women’s Day. And we’d love to know – what women owned businesses do you love to support??