Salt Lake City sees a spike in women-owned businesses
Mar 22, 2024, 8:00 AM
Lovebound Library just opened in the Maven District of Salt Lake City. (Courtney Stookey)
(Courtney Stookey)
SALT LAKE CITY — A new Yelp survey says women-owned business startups in Salt Lake City soared by 26 percent in 2023 compared to the previous year, while the national average stands at 17%.
“That just makes my heart sing. I love hearing that,” said Courtney Stookey, who started her own business after having a corporate job. Stookey is the proud owner of Lovebound Library, a romance bookstore in Salt Lake City’s Maven District, where three-quarters of small businesses are owned by women.
Stookey’s journey tells the story of many women finding fulfillment and success in their ventures. “I knew that I would regret not trying more than I would regret failing,” she stated, reflecting on her decision to pursue entrepreneurship.
Lauren Call, founder and CEO of PACKD, highlighted the advantages of entrepreneurship for mothers, citing the flexibility it offers in balancing work and family life.
“To be able to have the flexibility to, like, if my kid’s home sick from school. It’s not the end of the world. It’s not like call-in-sick that kind of thing, so I can see that being a bigger part of the culture here,” said Call.
Call also said that Salt Lake City is home to a community of entrepreneurial women that is “eager to help others succeed.”
“I will say from a marketing standpoint consumers love [women-owned businesses],” said Call.
Related: Lovebound Library bookstore opens, providing romance-focused space for booklovers
