According to the 2016 Women-Owned Business Report commissioned by American Express, “Between 2007 and 2016, the number of women-owned firms increased by 45%, compared to just a 9% increase among all businesses. Therefore, women-owned firms have grown five times faster over the past nine years than the national average.”
This means that women are now the majority owners of 38% of the nation’s businesses, with women of color and Latinas leading the way. These numbers reflect the great strides made in just one decade, but there is still much room for improvement.
Here in Houston, we are doing our part. Women-owned businesses grew at a staggering rate of 62% during that same time, and more are on the way.
1. Houston Graphic Signs
This full-service signs and graphic company aspires to ensure you are happy with every aspect of your project. Houston Graphic Signs is very detailed and easy to do business with. In addition, the company offers a total branding approach for all your sign and graphics needs.
The amazing bit is that they offer their services to nationwide and local customers in the greater Houston area. Again the company hires talented staff, ensuring you get the best services.
The staff works closely with you to evaluate your needs and to provide you with the highest level of product and quality. The company has state-of-the-art equipment and designers that produce images with perfect color and clarity.
Location: 1304 Langham Creek Dr. Suite 226, Houston
2. The Good Space Pilates and Yoga Studio
The Good Space Pilates and Yoga Studio is a fitness business that Melody Morton owns. This firm creates space for you to care for your body through the healing practice of Pilates. The yoga studio offers top-of-the-line Pilates and is well equipped, providing you with an intense burn. (Check out the best yoga studios in Houston)
The Good Space aims at aligning both inside and outside the body, moods, and breathing changes. The amazing thing is that the place has well-trained instructors that ensure you enjoy each section. In addition, this fitness place offers affordable prices for ballet barre sculpt, stretch, and reformer classes.
You don’t need to worry about parking whenever you visit this yoga studio since they have ample parking for all their clients. In addition, they provide their clients with yoga mats, towels, and water.
Location: 5757 Woodway Dr. Suite 150, Houston
3. Laura Umansky Interiors
Laura Umansky is among Houston’s top women-owned interior design firms that provide luxurious yet affordable interiors. The company helps families and individuals achieve their ideal version of luxurious living. In addition, they ensure that the designs they make blend easily with functionality and your lifestyle needs.
The firm deals directly with most world’s leading manufacturers and artisans of the best furnishings and accessories to ensure you get the unique and classic look you want. The basis of most of their designs can be summed up as storied, classic, bold, eclectic, thoughtful, and timeless with a great combination of pattern-mix, textures, and colors.
Location: 3933 Essex Ln, Houston, TX 77027
4. Perry Homes LLC
Perry Home LLC is a women-owned company that operates as a home builder. The company focuses on designing and building homes in the State of Texas. This company has been operational for over 40 years now and has built affordable and thoughtfully designed homes for thousands.
Perry Homes LLC is a debt- and a leverage-free company that allows you to pass savings on to you as top-tier quality construction at prices lower than even the banks. The company has over 600 employees who are well informed about the company’s goals and mission, ensuring you get the best homes and quality customer service.
The amazing bit is that all homes constructed by the company have smart home technology and an industry-leading new home warranty. Again their homes are designed for different lifestyles and are located in the Our homes are designed for a variety of lifestyles and are located in desirable communities, meaning you can easily get a house that suits you.
Location: Primary. Gulf Fwy. Houston, TX 77017
5. Agency 8 Recruiting
Are you a client looking for recruiting services or a candidate needing support with your career choices? Then, agency 8 Recruiting got you. This women-owned business strives to help professionals such as surveyors or lawyers land their dream job.
Agency 8 Recruiting mostly specializes in oil and gas, manufacturing, engineering, industrial, logistics, and construction. This firm hires qualified staff that focuses on their specific areas of expertise. The award-winning firm runs on a 24/7 basis, and they provide all the support you need for your business.
Location: 1322 Space Park Dr, Houston, TX 77058, United States
6. DEFINE body & mind
If you live in and around Bellaire, you might have noticed a lot of buzz around the area of Presidio Square. With a new double-decker HEB underway and more development planned, that corner of the city is seeing tremendous new growth. Just a few blocks away, at the 6700 block of Ferris, the former Earthman Funeral Home building is also getting new life and is decidedly woman-owned.
Native Houstonian and former head of the Monarch School, Debrah Hall, recently opened the doors of Define Body and Mind on the corner of the complex. The first Bellaire location of its kind, Debrah had a vision for the area. Having been a member of Define since 2011, she thought the residents of Bellaire deserved more services close to home.
The beautiful calming space has separate areas for cardio and strength classes and a yoga studio where they also teach hammock and fascia ball classes. The mission of Define is fairly unique to the industry and incorporates physical goals, meditation, and mindfulness, making fitness a holistic body-mind concept.
Define Body and Mind has a fully equipped dressing room and a childcare center. Debrah has seen a surge in new members who are happy to have a top-of-the-line boutique studio so close to where they live, and she is currently offering a 50% discount on memberships for teachers. Contact Deborah Hall directly for details.
Location: 1818 W 35th St, Austin, TX 78703
7. Nekter Juice Bar
Next door to Define, scheduled to open in October, is the 4th Houston location of Nekter Juice Bar, and owner Andrea Young says she plans to open 3 more by the end of the year. With a lot of competition in the fresh juice market lately, Ms. Young says she specifically partnered with Nekter because of the quality of ingredients.
The fantastic bit is that the handcrafted juices, smoothies, and acai bowls are natural, clean, and provide the most energizing and nutrient-rich ingredients. The juices and smoothies made in the Nekter Bar are a natural way to provide our bodies with the essential minerals, vitamins, and living enzymes they need.
Amazingly, there are no gluten or dairy products in the store, so every juice, smoothie, and acai bowl is gluten-free, dairy-free, vegan, and locally sourced. They are also really delicious!
Location: 304 Gray Street Houston, TX 77002
8. The ‘401 Table & Tap
Rounding out the end of the complex, opening late in the year, will be the new family-friendly restaurant, The 401. Kristi Coffee, whose family has owned and operated a cornerstone of the Houston restaurant scene, Hungry’s Cafe, grew up in Bellaire and is excited to be a part of this new wave of offerings.
Bellaire has long been an underserved area, and the people here deserve great services in their neighborhood. Named for the last three numbers of the Bellaire zip code, The 401 will be a 5,000-square foot establishment with a 1500-square foot patio, plus a small private event room.
What will distinguish The 401, however, is the kids’ room. On weekday afternoons, tutors will help kids with homework and iPads, and games. So, the kids will have fun hanging out with friends and finishing school assignments. Kristi, a Bellaire mom, hopes the concept will become a go-to place for Bellaire families.
Location: 6700 Ferris St Suite 150, Bellaire, TX 77401
9. Dao Chloe Dao
Dao Chloe Dao is one of the best fashion designer firms owned by Chloe Dao, a fashion designer and entrepreneur. Chloe has a professional background in fashion design and is best known for her work on the reality tv show runway. She opened her boutique, Dao Chloe Dao, at the age of 28, and from then, Dao Chloe Dao boutique has been one of Houston’s top-ranking shops.
Located in the Rice Village shopping district, the boutique provides its client with services like styling, alterations on in-store purchases, and custom design. The great bit is the boutique can design clothes of all sizes ranging from 00 to 24.
This place provides Chloe Dao’s locally made collections and carefully curated fantastic merchandise. Specializing mostly in evening and cocktail wear, the style team at Dao Chloe Dao will help you find the perfect dress for your school dances, weddings, and formal events.
Location: 6127 Kirby Dr, Houston, TX 77005
10. E L L E É Salon + Spa
Founded by former Miss Houston, ELLEE Salon and Spa is another woman-owned business in Houston. As a former Houston Texans Cheerleader and Miss Houston USA 2018, Lesha has always leaned towards the beauty industry with a certain interest in the interconnectedness of inner and outer beauty. Therefore, she opened a salon and spa that provides women and men with the most luxurious services.
E L L E É Salon + Spa is committed to providing its clients with the most tranquil and rejuvenating experiences. Their primary goal is to re-energize and rejuvenate through combining the best products and techniques. They have a professionally skilled team of employees that ensures focus on their exemplified crafts.
Location: 707 Yale St Suite.200, Houston, TX 77007
Image credit: houston.org