March is National Women's History Month, and what better way to honor this important occasion than to tell a little history here about how Bellisari's, a woman-owned business, came to be. When you finish reading, I hope you will be both intrigued with the Bellisari’s (aka my) story and will want to know more, and I hope you’ll learn a little about what it means when you support a woman-owned business.

When I decided to branch out and start my own business, I went with what I knew from having worked in the food industry and the things I felt strongly about as a mother, daughter, aunt, friend – you get the picture! I have a passion for creativity in the kitchen and for culinary combinations that make it easy to celebrate any occasion. I wanted our products to be versatile enough to stand on their own or be added to any recipe to make it full of flavor. Ultimately in creating Bellisari’s, it was, and still is, my goal to bring people together with good food. To me that means high-quality and unique ingredients that you're proud to serve 

With Bellisari’s, my business partner and I wanted not only to create and sell excellent products, but we also sought to help people gain something we all need more of – the time to gather with loved ones and create those precious memories that are so important. My family, like many, has bonded over food. Not just in the sense of sitting at the kitchen island and talking about our day, but over things like the tradition of passing down recipes and learning tricks that our grandmother used in the kitchen. Growing up with five other siblings and an Italian heritage, we always end up talking about food, comparing recipes, and claiming we are all the “best cook.”

I wanted to create high-quality products with a few secret ingredients for a unique taste, but with a familiar feeling that takes you back to that kitchen island. Our products help you to feel surrounded by warmth, stories, delicious smells, memories, and family and friends. I want you to enjoy restaurant quality food without spending hours in the grocery store or in the kitchen, saving that hard-to-find time to actually spend it with the people you love. This is what our slogan “Gourmet Convenience” is all about. I think it's important to show people that gourmet doesn't have to have the price tag attached or be intimidating. 

I love to educate adults and kids about food, it’s another passion of mine. Every week we post cooking tips, weekly recipes, and how-to videos on our social media pages. We also host Facebook and Instagram live cooking classes for both beginners and skilled chefs. My goal in these classes is to help people be confident in the kitchen. From these events we love hearing about the experiences that our customers have with our products. Even though each jar has a full recipe and wine or beer pairings, people find unique ways to incorporate our gourmet flavors into their own recipes and cooking styles.

As I mentioned above, the month of March is National Women's History Month. As a country we seek to honor the part women have had in the development of our nation and our world. But it is also very important to pay attention to what women are doing currently and to understand how supporting women-owned businesses, for example, is beneficial to us now, right here on a local level.

When you support women-owned businesses, you are investing in women's economic empowerment, gender parity in commerce, vibrant communities, and the growth of the economy overall. Buying women-owned is both socially conscious and economically sound. Here's why: 

• Women-owned businesses represent a significant portion of economic and business growth. 
• As of 2019, national statistics show women-owned businesses account for 42% of all businesses in the U.S. but only 8% of overall business revenues.
• In 2020, COVID-19 drove millions of women out of the workforce. Female workforce participation dropped to 57 percent – the lowest level since 1988, according to the National Women’s Law Center. 
• Women entrepreneurs face challenges getting fair access to capital. Still in 2021, women entrepreneurs were offered smaller loans with significantly higher interest rates than men.
• Studies show women reinvest up to 90 percent of their income in their families and communities, compared to 40 percent for men. 
• Shopping at female-owned companies creates jobs. The majority of new jobs are created by entrepreneurs and small business owners, including the women who own the shops in your home-town. It helps address employment inequality.
• Helps fight inequality, systemic sexism and generational, gender-based wealth gaps. 

Your support for women-owned businesses is an investment into a future of economic success, innovation, and equality. 

Think about it – we all know at least one wonderful woman in our lives who has stood out in a professional setting or leadership role. Perhaps your mom owns her own company or your wife is a lead nurse at a local hospital. There is something to be said about women’s leadership skills and the unique dynamic that they bring to the world of business.

Women-owned businesses are the fastest-growing segment of the U.S. economy, and supporting a woman-owned business is one of the most sustainable ways to honor the contributions of women throughout history.

You still have a few days to take advantage of our National Women's History Month Sale – 15% off orders over $30 until March 31, 11:59 pm. We at Bellisari’s say you should celebrate the women in your life every month! 😉👐