Lip Gloss and Leadership a hit with area businesswomen

PALMER — Women business leaders are on the move in Alaska, in general, and in the Valley, in particular.

Saturday’s second annual Lip Gloss and Leadership expo was a testament to that energy, in a new venue in the Glenn Massay Theater, and a new format with a series of guest speakers that drew rave reviews from participants.

“Women are dominating, really finding their own places,” said Ember Haynes, who runs Silver Bear Sundries, a natural body products shop in Wasilla, “Most of the (business) shows I go to it’s mainly women. There’s women in metal, women in photography, more women in charge.”

Last year’s event was held at the Menard Center, and, as organizer Tammy Gray said, was an opportunity to practice before starting the expo’s run at the new facility on the Mat-Su College campus.

“I think this is huge,” said Ruthie Lewis, who runs the apparel line Ruthie’s Rack out of her home in the Valley. “This is really focused on building women up, educating, social media, marketing, and bookkeeping. It’s not so much a competitive market as it is supportive.”

Karen Lakey, of Anchorage, had her boutique Ruby Ribbon, positioned right next to Lewis’. She agreed that the level camaraderie and cooperation at an event like Lip Gloss and Leadership is not something so commonly seen at a general business expo.

“Even though they might be competitors in a sense, it’s less competitive,” Lakey said. “They recognize the certain niche each fills. It’s more collaborative networking… women tend to be more focused on support.”

Ember Haynes said the expo gave her a great opportunity to meet new clientele, but she didn’t necessarily agree with the notion that women are business are more cooperative and less competitive.

“I would not say that at all,” Haynes said. “I think where that comes from is women who start businesses at the same time tend to become friends, but usually you become friends with someone who does something different than you do… I think, in general, women are very competitive with each other, more so than men. I’m way more competitive in business than my husband.”

Apart from the opportunity to sell her wares to the market her products target, Haynes said the expo was worthwhile as an educational experience, too.

“I think the presenters and the building and the environment were just fabulous. I just wish more people were aware of this event. But I think it’s just in the beginning stages and a lot will be aware of it,” Haynes said. “It’s going to grow — people are very enthusiastic about it. Some people came specifically for the speakers and the (vendors) show, for them, was more of a bonus.”