In celebration of International Women’s Day, a feminist illustrator from Sheffield has set up a pop-up shop in support of businesswomen from the North.
Olivia Tate, 22, from Barnsley, spent months planning the event to showcase over 20 female-owned small businesses in Sheffield.
The event received over 60 applications from local women, which Miss Tate said: “goes to show how important and needed these events are for small businesses”.
International Women’s Day on 8 March is the focal point in the women’s rights movement, raising awareness of issues such as gender inequality, reproductive rights, and violence against women.
The aim of the event is to empower businesswomen in the North of England, and it is running from March 8 to 11.
Lauren Bradley, 27, a Sheffield-based illustrator is the owner of Est Elle, a small illustration business which is featuring in the pop-up shop.
She said: “When Olivia messaged me and asked if I wanted to take part, I was flattered.
“It means a lot that people actually want to see and buy my work.”
She went on to say how the industry is very “male-dominated”, so for there to be a platform like this for female-owned businesses to showcase their work is “amazing”.
The shop can be found on Howard Street, Sheffield, from 10am to 5pm.
Charlotte Baxter, 22, from Barnsley, owns Charlet Art specialising in LGBTQ+ drawings and stickers.
She said: “It felt really cool to be accepted to do this and such a good thing to be a part of.
“International Women’s Day means a lot to me and marks a huge part of history of strong women.”
Due to the adverse weather conditions caused by snow, the pop-up shop had to close today, but it hopes to reopen tomorrow.
For now, Miss Tate has been sharing on Instagram where the public can find each of the women’s shops online.
JHL Macrame, a Sheffield-based business, created by Jessie Hodgkin from York has also been showcased in the shop, selling macrame plant hangers and décor.
She said: “I am so pleased to be in the shop, lots of the others are illustrators so I’m pleased to have something a bit different.
“It was so nice to see other female-owned small businesses and meet other women with the drive to start a business.”
Organisers hope the pop-up shop should be back up and running tomorrow, but if not the online shops of all the businesses can be found on the website.