Downtown Observer

Georgetowner • March 16, 2016

As Washington evolves into more than a political town, female entrepreneurs and business owners are playing an increasingly important role in shaping D.C.’s new economy.

Women in D.C. are ahead of the national average and run almost half of all small businesses in the District, explained Acting Director of the Department of Small and Local Business Development Ana Harvey. That’s compared to the national average of 30 percent of businesses in the United States, according to the 2015 American Express Open Forum.

Yael Krigman and Uyen Tang, who own the bakery, Baked by Yael, and fashion boutique Stylecable, respectively, are among a group of female entrepreneurs who have been supported by resources such as the D.C. Department of Small and Local Business Development, the Small Business Association, and peer groups like Her Corner, a membership group that offers workshops, networking opportunities and collaboration.

Her Corner’s community manager, Amanda Reynolds, said 60 percent of Her Corner members own product-based businesses, while the other 40 percent are service-based. “Women are natural-born leaders, so it makes sense that we would want our own businesses,” she said. “We’re great at it.”

But forget about traditional stereotypes associated with the role of women as housewives and homemakers. According to the Small Business Association’s 2015 Small Business Profile of D.C., 34.3 percent of female-owned businesses are in the professional, scientific and technical service industries, while 29.6 percent of the businesses in these industries are female-owned firms.

“Some women desire a good work-life balance, while others want to be successful with something more than just having a family,” said Harvey, describing the new generation of entrepreneurs.

Although D.C. has many resources aimed at helping women open their own businesses, many female entrepreneurs face the same challenges as any start-up.

“Without adequate startup capital, it is difficult to turn an idea or a business plan into a real life operation.” Harvey says her department is doing what it can to keep D.C. ahead of the country when it comes to women-run business. “The Department of Small and Local Business Development exists to encourage entrepreneurship in the District. Any woman who has an idea or the desire to start a business should have the support and encouragement to do so.”

Georgetowner •

Julianne Smith’s story begins much like other D.C. stories. A politics major in college, she always loved government and history. With an internship on the Hill under her belt, Juli returned to the city and started working on Capitol Hill and in politics, specializing in media relations and strategic communications.

“It taught me to multi-task and how to juggle more than one thing at a time,” she said.

Finding politics to be intense and stressful, however, she ended up pursuing her creative side when she left the political field to have her daughter. She soon transitioned to the wedding industry, where things became a little easier.

“I don’t take it all so seriously and get myself all stressed out over little things,” she said. “It is fun to be surrounded by people in love and celebrating a happy time in their lives.”

Always one who made things on her own when she couldn’t find what she was looking for, Juli took that creative spark and started up the Garter Girl, a business focused on designing and hand-making wedding garters.

“My business was a slow build over time,” Juli said. “Every year, I took on more and more and things just grew organically.”

Five years ago, Juli took a hiatus from the Garter Girl to launch United With Love, a wedding blog specializing in all things nuptial in the D.C. area. “I was doing two businesses for a few years and I just sold [United With Love], so now I’m back to the Garter Girl full-time,” she said. “It is hard to take things slowly and grow them carefully, but really that is what had made it manageable and enjoyable all these years.”

Since things were taken slowly over the years, Juli still calls herself “in love with her business.” Now a busy mom of three, she called the Garter Girl “a creative outlet from her home life” and said that it “challenges her in ways I never would have dreamed.”
Her only frustration? Not being able to do it all at this very moment. By nature an impatient person, Juli said that owning a business taught her to take things slowly and not beat herself up too much when things don’t happen right away.

“Of course I work hard and am always growing and evolving the business, but for me I’m more balanced on the ‘life’ portion of the work-life balance right now,” she said. “I know that will change in a few years when my kids get a little older — and I’m okay with that.”

Being a mom to three young children and a small business owner, there isn’t really a typical day for Juli. “I try to live in and around the chaos of my life and instead of going day by day, I try to go week by week,” she said, starting each week armed with a loose set of tasks to be accomplished over the five days.

Juli has managed to continue her strategy of slow and steady. At the Garter Girl, there are rarely any last minute orders. “It is hard to say no to that type of business, but quick turnarounds just don’t work in my life right now,” she said. Production time is three to four weeks, which gives her enough time to make the garters perfectly and still handle unexpected issues at home that may arise.

Asked about advice for other moms who are small business owners, Juli hesitated. Citing how “we all need to find our own unique way,” what works for her may not work for others. “The way I get through a week is so specific to my life right now and from the outside probably looks very messy and complicated,” she said. “It’s my life and I’m just making it work, as I think most women and moms are doing.”

For those thinking of starting their own businesses, Juli recommended taking risks and having the confidence to make a change. A risk-taker by nature, she allows herself the room to make changes or abandon ideas if they don’t work. She gave the example of United With Love, which she began in 2010 and sold in January. She took a risk in launching it and growing it, but when it was time to move on she had the courage to say “enough” and let it grow without her.

Wondering what a D.C. mom and small business owner does to relax? Juli goes so far as to uninstall the apps on her phone just so she won’t check it. To unwind, she also likes to practice yoga or go for a run. “Doing something that is the opposite of my work is the only way to de-stress for me,” she said. [gallery ids="117218,117213" nav="thumbs"]

Georgetowner • March 10, 2016

Missed Kevin Spacey at the National Portrait Gallery? Ashley Judd at Gaston Hall or Halcyon House? Leo DiCaprio at Cafe Milano or 1789 Restaurant? You have a chance to catch a glimpse of actress Natalie Portman, who will be filming in town for the movie, “Jackie.”

Sure, many actors have traveled to Washington, D.C., not only for testifying before the Senate or House on Capitol Hill or putting their influence behind a good cause but also for doing their daytime job — working on a movie.

This weekend brings the production crew of “Jackie,” which stars Natalie Portman as Jacqueline Kennedy. The storyline focuses on the days immediately after the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in 1963. The movie is scheduled for 2017 release.

On March 2, Portman will attend a film screening of “A Tale of Love and Darkness,” focusing on life in Jerusalem during the end of the British mandate at the AFI Silver Theater in Silver Spring, Maryland.

The following is a traffic advisory from the Metropolitan Police Department for the filming of the motion picture, “Jackie.”

The Metropolitan Police Department and the Department of Transportation would like to inform the public of intermittent street closures in conjunction with the filming of the motion picture “JACKIE” which is scheduled for both Saturday, February 27, 2016, and Sunday, February 28, 2016. 

On Saturday, February 27, 2016, the filming will be from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
— 17th Street between “E” Street and Constitution Avenue, Northwest.

On Sunday February 28, 2016, the filming will be from 9:30 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.
— 15th Street between New York Avenue and “E” Street, Northwest.

Also on Sunday, February 28, 2016, the filming will be from 6:00 p.m. until 11:00 p.m.
— 14th Street between “E” and “F” Streets, Northwest

Motorists traveling in the area of this event may experience delays and should consider alternative routes if possible. The Metropolitan Police Department and the District of Columbia Department of Transportation would like to remind motorists to pay full attention whenever operating any motor vehicle and to be mindful of heavy pedestrian traffic that may be associated with special events.  These street closings are subject to change without notice based upon unanticipated events and prevailing conditions.