As more of us, and more women especially, choose to work from home with greater flexibility, Ecommerce offers many solutions to finding the work life balance we seek.
Westt World is sharing the W20 UK Report “Ecommerce: Economic Growth and Empowerment of Women and Girls” so all nations can benefit from the recommendations.
Ecommerce: Economic Growth and Empowerment of Women and Girls
The Report
A few months ago, a fabulous businesswoman Ann-Maree Morrison MBE, who founded the multi award winning ecommerce business, Labels4Kids, called me to ask me for a quote regarding women and ecommerce.
I was happy to oblige and asked her to share with me the findings of her report: W20 UK Report “Ecommerce: Economic Growth and Empowerment of Women and Girls” so that I could share it with my network around the world, many of whom are in policymaking.
So here it is.
You can find the full report here.
What is Ecommerce?
Ann-Maree and I have been connected for the past 10+ years. She had invited me to deliver a speech in Scotland on the “multibillion missed opportunity - female entrepreneurship”.
Since that time, I can honestly say that business and opportunities for women in business have grown significantly, and one contributing factor has been ecommerce.
Even as I write this blog, me and my team are exploring new ecommerce opportunities which we had not considered previously.
Ecommerce, also known as electronic commerce or internet commerce, refers to the buying and selling of goods or services using the internet, and the transfer of money and data to execute these transactions. Ecommerce is often used to refer to the sale of physical products online, but it can also describe any kind of commercial transaction that is facilitated through the internet.
Whereas e-business refers to all aspects of operating an online business, ecommerce refers specifically to the transaction of goods and services.
I am not going to go into all the specific ecommerce channels in this blog because I am saving that for a future blog because I myself am learning and experimenting with the latest tools and I want to be able to share my findings with you.
While ecommerce is not a panacea, it is an important tool that can help us address some of the most pressing challenges facing the world today. By harnessing the power of technology and using it to promote equality and opportunity, we can build a better future for everyone.
Economic growth and gender equality CAN be achieved through ecommerce.
Opportunities for Work Life Balance
There is no doubt that ecommerce plays a major role in driving economic growth. In addition to providing a platform for businesses to sell their products and services, ecommerce also creates opportunities for women in business. By enabling women to work from home, or anywhere else they have an internet connection, ecommerce provides the perfect solution for those who want to achieve a work-life-balance.
What's more, as the number of women starting their own businesses continues to grow, so too does the potential for economic growth. In recent years, we have seen a significant increase in the number of women starting their own businesses. This is thanks, in part, to the growing popularity of ecommerce.
There are many reasons why ecommerce is such an effective tool for promoting gender equality. For starters, it gives women the opportunity to start their own businesses without having to invest in expensive premises or equipment. Additionally, by allowing them to work from home, it helps them to balance their work and family commitments. And finally, as more and more women enter the ecommerce arena, they are helping to break down barriers and stereotypes that have traditionally held back women in business.
Opportunities for the Life YOU chose
Ecommerce allows women to sell their products and services to a global market. As an example, for someone like me, going through menopause, love being at home in my garden, family responsibilities; I am able to run my business from home and live the life I have chosen for myself, to achieve my definition of success!
I am able to sell my products and services to a global market, which helps me to earn an income, whilst helping others and Paying It Forward. I have even been able to set up a Madinaut Community and I am building a shop to sell our associated products online.
So, if you're looking for ways to promote economic growth and gender equality, ecommerce is definitely worth considering!
Growth Opportunities for Economies and for Women
Countries across the world want to grow their economy, establish sustainable living standards for those who live there and fund public services. Advancing digital technology is a major reason why it's possible for companies to create jobs, provide for people with good work environments and improve the life of their citizens. Ecommerce falls under this category, which represents a rapidly growing opportunity that will increase economic growth and make sure businesses are productive and sustainable.
In 2022, the UK became the second-largest ecommerce nation globally. This has offered new avenues for women, and girls, to share and promote their skills and talents to new markets.
This is what I was talking about when we discussed the Blank Piece of Paper exercise and the 9 Dots. Thinking outside the box and defining what you want to do can be achieved in so many ways. Whilst I am sitting in a small village at home in England or working in an airport lounge as I travel to see clients, I still have the opportunities to sell my products and services online.
In fact, my products and services can sell themselves, even while I sleep!!
It is therefore critical that both the economy and equality are capitalized on when it comes to ecommerce not only in the UK, but globally. The benefits are economic, social, and cultural.
Policy Framework for Ecommerce & Women
“Despite the lack of gender disaggregated data, current statistics and business case analysis irrefutably highlight the economic, social, cultural and environmental benefits delivered when female entrepreneurs are given equal access to advice, finance and markets. Ecommerce is a sector in its own right where women can excel and scale and is highly flexible allowing women to retain their enterprise and lifestyle choices. I have worked in trade, entrepreneurship and gender in EU policymaking for the past 20 years and recognise that the UK is a leader internationally. However much more can be done to realise the potential of women in business, especially in ecommerce, for economic and social growth.” Madi Sharma, Entrepreneur, Founder Madi Group and Women’s Economic & Social Think Tank (Former Member European Economic & Social Committee)
Women in business and in ecommerce wherever they are in the world require greater investment and support to fully realise the potential for economic growth and help close the gender equality gap.
As an example, for the UK, it is calculated that women-owned business contribute a staggering £105bn to the UK economy. The UK ecommerce sales from businesses in the non-financial sector was worth £688bn in 2018 which is likely to have grown since the Covid pandemic. The value of ecommerce in the UK is larger than food and drink manufacturing. Thus, not only economic growth, but also gender equality can benefit from the spectrum of opportunities offered through ecommerce.
Whilst the report focuses solely on ecommerce in the UK, making recommendations for both gender equality and economic growth, the recommendations can also be used for other governments around the world.
The report delves deeply into the role of women in ecommerce, proposes changes that would open up opportunities for women-led businesses, and illustrates how the economy can grow when ecommerce is supported by government policy.
In addition, the report highlights data gaps in tracking and analysing growth and women's contributions. It makes a number of suggested recommendations including:
removing the barriers (ecommerce education, access to investment and funding, rural infrastructure and connectivity, ecommerce mentoring, networking and hubs, care responsibilities etc) that disrupt women’s full participation in the business world,
recognising ecommerce as a sector in its own right, and
closing the data gaps to better track and analyse growth, ecommerce and women’s contributions.
The recommendations are supportive of the UK Government’s economic agenda, levelling up agenda and the equality, diversity and inclusion agenda, which are no doubt supported by other global governments.
Ecommerce is not a single silver bullet solution to addressing either economic growth, female entrepreneurship or gender equality. However, it is one powerful mechanism that can help to address all three challenges, and many more. Through ecommerce, businesses can reach new markets and customers, providing opportunities for growth. For female entrepreneurs, ecommerce can level the playing field, allowing them to compete on a global stage. And by increasing access to goods and services, ecommerce can help to empower women and drive gender equality. Ultimately, ecommerce is just one part of the puzzle when it comes to tackling these complex issues. But it is an important part of the solution – and one that we should all continue to support.
Feedback Welcome
Read the full report here.
Ann-Maree Morrison and Barbara Cleary welcome you sharing the report and are looking forward to hearing your thoughts. You can also comment on the W20 UK LinkedIn page.
Ann-Maree Morrison is the founder of The Ecommerce Club in Scotland, which has operated for 11 years. She has contributed to the Ecommerce for Europe Task Force with Lord Young of Graffham in 2013, the Alison Rose Review of Female Entrepreneurship, and the Women In Enterprise Action Group for the Scottish Government. She is Co-Chair of the W20 UK Delegation, a Women Enterprise Scotland Ambassador, Enterprise Nation Advisor, member and ex-Chair of the British Association of Women Entrepreneurs in Scotland, a fellow of the RSA, long term FSB member, and qualified Chartered Accountant. She now runs her own site Ann- Maree.biz for ecommerce consulting and mentoring. Ann-Maree was awarded a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the Queen’s Jubilee Birthday Honours List 2022 for services to both Women In Business and to The Economy.
Co- Author Barbara Cleary is a Human Resources Director and founder of Headstart Consulting. Barbara has worked with equality and gender issues for many years and is a strong advocate for women at work and challenging and removing barriers that inhibit women’s successful careers. Barbara is Co-Chair of the W20 UK Delegation, Chair for Security Women, Ambassador for the National Alliance of Women’s Organisations and was previously Vice Chair on the Board and represented England on the UK Joint Committee on Women. She has represented the UK on the European Women’s Lobby as a member of the Board and the Executive committee. She has also been a trustee for UN Women UK National Committee and has regularly represented organisations at the annual Commission on Status of Women conferences in New York. Barbara is also Vice Chair for the UK Civil Society Women’s Alliance and has recently contributed to the SDG Measuring Up 2.0 report for the UN Global Compact Network UK.
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Founder Madi Group www.madisharma.org
Founder Women’s Eco-nomic & Social Think Tank www.westtworld.com
Author Madi No Excuses! www.madinoexcuses.com
Entrepreneur, International Speaker, Freelance Journalist
Listed as 1 of Apolitical’s 100 Most Influential People in Gender Policy in 2018
@MadiSharma1
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