When she was considering a location for her business toward the end of last year, Hope Wilson looked no further than her hometown of Perkasie Borough.
In addition to a growing reputation as a small-town food and beverage destination with fun events, Wilson found a tight-knit group of female entrepreneurs with a vested interest in helping each other succeed.
“I love how supportive the community has been,” said Wilson, whose Highly Mystical Creations is one of three women-owned businesses in the Dragonflies Healing Salon and Spa on Callowhill Street. “I’ve had so much support from all the other women that it’s truly heart-warming. This community is full of businesses wanting to help each other thrive and grow together.”
When Wilson opened Highly Mystical Creations in January, she became the most recent in a long line of female entrepreneurs to set up shop in Perkasie. About four out of five brick-and-mortar businesses in the borough’s historic district – about 40 locations in all, not including dozens of home-based businesses – are owned and operated by women.
Some of them have been around for a long time. The Treasure Trove, for example, an antiques and collectibles store, has been a fixture in the borough for 43 years. Frox, a women’s clothing boutique, is celebrating its 20th year in Perkasie while Dragonflies owner Jessica Smalley will reach the decade milestone later this year.
Christine Seel, assistant professor of business and information management at Delaware Valley University, said Perkasie reflects a growing trend across the economy, with a significant increase in women-owned businesses over the last decade.
“Not only have more women struck out on their own by becoming self-employed, but the growth rate of women-owned businesses employing others far outpaces that of those owned by men,” she said.
There are many theories why women might tend to dominate businesses in small towns like Perkasie, including a need to have the freedom to balance work with family responsibilities, access to dedicated funding, and special government programs and initiatives to encourage female entrepreneurship. But women business owners in Perkasie say it mostly boils down to a sense of camaraderie and shared success among what Kelli Laustsen, owner of Bloom Flower Co., called “ a sisterhood of businesses.”
Recently appointed executive director of the Perkasie Towne Improvement Association, the borough’s business development group, Laustsen said she received a warm reception from other female entrepreneurs when she opened seven years ago. “I owe a lot of my success to the incredible support system of women-owned businesses in the borough,” she said. “We have a special woman-based community network that uplifts and empowers one another.”
Even before she took over PTIA in July, Laustsen made a point to collaborate as often as possible on special events that draw visitors to town. From special First Friday programs, seasonal offerings like the Shop Hop featuring more than a dozen businesses on April 1 to celebrate Easter, and an occasional Coffee with a Cop get-together at a local restaurant, “we’ve realized we are stronger together,” she said.
Cathy Weierbach, who will have operated Perkasie Florist in the borough for 29 years this October, agrees that with unity comes strength. She credits “a sense of family” and “small-town togetherness” to explain why Perkasie has such a strong concentration of successful women business owners.
“I think the more women businesses in an area the more they will attract more women in business,” said Weierbach. “The woman-owned businesses in town support each other and I think that shows strength among us that may attract other women.”
Wilson has already adopted that philosophy with Highly Mystical Creations, which offers crystals, incense, tarot, plants, and self-care products for well-being. She has an entire section in her store dedicated to products made by local female artisans.
“I am beyond grateful for my experience and all the support that I just want to follow the example and help as many other entrepreneurs myself,” said Wilson. “We want to give back to the community as much as the community supports one another.”
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