IWD 2023: Oxfordshire Women In Business
To celebrate International Women’s Day today, I’m shining a light on independent businesses owned, or co-owned, by awesome women in Oxfordshire. There are so many brilliant female business owners and managers across Oxford and Oxfordshire, who inspire and play a big part in making sure the indie business community in Oxfordshire is supportive, collaborative and innovative. Here are 89 female run awesome indies to check out. >>
Victoria Borondo Co-Owner of 2 North Parade
Opened in September 2013, 2 North Parade is a neighbourhood produce store run by Peter Slade and Victoria Borondo. They work closely with local farmers, producers and suppliers who focus on the quality, integrity and provenance of their produce.
Yasmin Spark Owner of Align Events
Align Events is Oxfordshire and the Cotswolds’ first and only fully non-alcoholic cocktail service! The pop-up bars provide something for everyone, with sophisticated flavours for an adult palette.
Amy Surman Owner of Amy Surman: The Oxford Bead Shop
Amy runs a lovely friendly store tucked at the top of Cowley Road selling a fantastic array of jewellery making supplies. Amy also holds regular workshops from silver smithing to beaded jewellery for beginners as well as skilled jewellers.
Annabel Lee Owner of Annabel Lee Communications
Annabel Lee Communications is a boutique communications agency specialising in PR for creative and purpose driven businesses.
Annabel Latham Owner of Annabel’s Patisserie
Annabel’s Patisserie is a micro-patisserie specialising in artisan chocolates. The founder, Annabel Latham, is a Le Cordon Bleu trained pastry chef and has worked all over the UK, as well as Australia and New Zealand.
Miri Allen Co-Owner of Babylon Trading
Babylon is an independent retailer specialising in eclectic and exceptional home interiors and giftware, with over 26 years of experience in buying and sourcing home and gift products from around the world and the UK.
Beth Richardson Owner of Bethan Lily Knits
Bethan Lily Knit is a knitted textile designer, hand making high quality knitted interior products and fashion accessories.
Jacqui Thorndyke Owner of Bitten Digital
Abigail Kelly Owner of By Abigail Kelly
Whether you need content to tell your product’s story for social media, a top up of photos to create the perfect Instagram feed, newsletter content or styled e-comm shots, Abbie creates on-brand imagery that suits your needs.
Emma Finneron Owner of ByEmmaJaneInteriors
From the very outset ByEmmaJaneInteriors was set up with the intention of being a good quality, but cost effective and money saving approach to interior design to be accessible to everyone.
Charlotte Spencer Owner of Charlotte Spencer
Drawing from her knowledge of science, herbalism and aromatherapy, Charlotte Spencer brings you quality botanical wax candles, melts and reed diffusers made from the finest ingredients, beautifully scented and handpoured in the Oxfordshire Cotswolds.
Milly Barr Owner of Colombia Coffee Roasters
Colombia Coffee Roasters is a speciality, single-origin coffee roasters born and based in Oxford (UK). Milly is part of a generation of coffee growers in Colombia with a strong focus on delivering high-quality coffee and education, whilst supporting Fair Trade conditions to ensure her coffee is sustainable and ethical.
Fiona Cranston Owner of Cranston Pickles
Fiona makes home made, locally sourced pickled fruit & vegetables alongside free range pickled eggs. All her ingredients are sourced locally from farms and markets around Oxfordshire.
Claire Waite Brown Owner of Creativity Found
Creativity Found is a community for creative learners and educators, connecting adults who want to find a creative outlet with the artists and crafters who can help them tap into their creativity.
Anna Butler Owner of Custom Made Jewellery
Custom Made is an accessory brand designing jewellery and textile pieces. Each product is designed and created in house in the Custom Made studio in Oxford.
Nikki Shields Owner of Designs Like These
Graphic design services. When words alone are not enough, add graphic style to look and feel awesome.
Sally Dear Owner of Ducky Zebra
Ducky Zebra is an Oxford-based startup with a mission to inspire kindness and confidence in children, no matter what their gender, through colourful, sustainable clothing (aged 0 – 6 years).
Ladd Thurston Co-Owners of Elle’s Deli
Elle’s Deli was opened in May 2022 by Ladd and Ru Thurston. Elle’s is a deli and food shop in east Oxford on the former site of Oli’s Thai.
Katie Gordon Owner of Everybody Studio
Every Body Studio is a small, supportive, non judgmental space for movement classes in St Clements, Oxford. They specialise in Yoga, Pilates and Barre.
Debbie Mole Co-Owner of Fallow & Field
Fallow & Fields are an event catering company who’s passion and ethos has always been on making the most of amazing local, sustainable and seasonal produce.
Makena Lohr Communities Manager at Flo’s – The Place In The Park
Flo’s is a community-owned hub providing a welcoming, inclusive space to meet, work, play, learn, eat and foster people’s connection to nature.
Debora Brand, Marketing Manager of Gatineau
Gatineau, nestled in the heart of Summertown, offers the finest artisan produce in the French/European patisserie and boulangerie tradition.
Rebecca Mofford Director of Operations of Gee’s Restaurant & Bar
Gees Restaurant & Bar is an independently-owned, restaurant, bar, and terrace set within North Oxford’s famous Grade II listed Victorian conservatory, once home to the Gee family’s greengrocers and floristry, just a ten-minute walk from Oxford’s city centre.
Christina Jeffery Co-Owner of Gourdans Steak Frites
Established and serving Steak Frites since 2015 locally in Oxford and around the UK from our Renault Estafette mobile kitchen that Matt & Christina still travel with, catering at private, corporate and public events.
Abby de Marco Co-Owner of Hampton Gay Organic Farm
Hampton Gay is an organic farm just north of Oxford. It practices low input, high welfare and regenerative farming methods to rear happy, healthy and extremely tasty pork, beef, lamb and poultry.
Celine Wills Owner of The Handle Bar Cafe & Kitchen
The Handle Bar Cafe & Kitchen serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, all made with love and carefully sourced ingredients from local independent suppliers.
Julia Atkinson Owner of Happy Cakes
Since 2009 Happy Cakes have been making thousands of cupcakes with fun and love! Each cake is lovingly hand crafted in Julia’s Summertown kitchen using the finest ingredients available.
Susie Hodgson Manager of Headington Fairtrade
Headington Fairtrade is run as a community co-operative gift shop specialising in fairly traded products from all over the world, as well as Ecover and Faith in Nature refills and other eco products.
Hilal Johnson Owner of Hilly Jo
Hilly Jo offers a selection of artisan beachwear, home and lifestyle products handcrafted by Turkish and the UK artisan producers. These high-quality traditional items are tasteful, versatile and stylish for home and personal use.
Emily Stewart Owner of Horsebox Coffee
Horsebox Coffee Co. is a small, independent coffee roastery based on a quiet working farm in South Oxfordshire. Emily’s trusty old horsebox has been converted into a mobile coffee bar which you can find at events across the county.
Emily Scaysbrook Co-Owner of Hoyles of Oxford
An independent, family-run games shop based on Oxford’s High Street since 1997, they sell traditional and vintage table-top games.
Itziar Morate Owner of Itziar Morate Nutrition
Itziar Morate is a registered nutritional therapist. Her practice offers nutritional advice, face to face, or online, and is based in east Oxford.
Rianna Low Owner of Jam Puppy Design Studio
Lizzie Armitage Co-Owner of Jericho Coffee Traders
Conceived in 2012, Jericho Coffee Traders has evolved from the back of a Vespa tricycle into a roastery and a speciality espresso bar in the heart of Oxford.
Jessie Whealy Co-Owner of Jessie’s Art Shed
Jessie and Olly, are the husband and wife duo behind Jessie’s Art Shed. They run an art shop in Eynsham, Oxfordshire where they host classes and workshops for all ages, stock a fantastic range of art products both in shop and online, and sell amazing creations by local artists.
Rasangi Prematilaka Owner of Journey into Ayurveda
Rasangi is a certified Ayurvedic Consultant and offers a full and in-depth consultation where your natural constitution and doshic imbalances will be assessed.
Kate Ryan Owner of Kate Ryan Physioga
Kate Ryan Physioga is a welcoming, non-judgemental, holistic physiotherapy practice run by Dr Kate Ryan.
Laila Pipara Owner of Laila Pipara Photography
Laila is a Banbury based portrait & business branding photographer. Her style & focus is solely LIGHT.
Yvonne Eller Owner of Leafology
Leafology is a range of products for hair, skin & home, handcrafted in small, fresh batches in Oxfordshire.
Molly Stevenson Owner of Littlemore Candle Company
Soy wax candles, hand poured in small batches, using natural essential oils. Each unique candle is decorated with botanicals and includes a healing crystal for you to keep, creating a little more than a candle.
Liz Corley Owner of Liz Corley Art
Inspired by the Cotswolds and British Countryside, Liz creates original artwork and homeware products and accessories featuring her work. From bumble bees to hares, Liz captures the British Countryside and aims to bring a piece of nature into homes.
Elisabeth Humphries Owner of Lofgrens
Löfgrens Nordic Style is a Scandinavian inspired homeware shop on Magdalen Road, established in 2021 by its Swedish proprietor Elisabeth.
Sasha Lord Owner of LORDS Fragrance House
Experience scents that are inspired by wonderful places across the planet, and memories made there. From cool wet rainforests, to dry warm beaches, the experiences and memories made when travelling and exploring have inspired this ever growing range of unique scents.
Louisa Daubney Owner of Louisa Daubney Coaching
Spark joy in life and business with Louisa Daubney Coaching. With one to one support from Louisa, you could achieve your own happy place, find a flow to your day that works for you, manage your energy and creativity, and do more of what you love – without burning out.
Maud Schmitt Owner of MaudiKa Baby
MaudiKa Baby offers a selection of handmade baby apparel, such as blankets in Liberty of London fabrics, organic muslins, cashmere blankets and much more!
Amy Williams Owner of May & Co
may + co is an Oxford based online space selling lovingly sourced and restored mid to late 20th century furniture, homeware and ethical finds.
Hannah Ireson Owner of Mederi Wellness
Bringing complete relaxation to the people of Oxfordshire with state of the art float pods, infrared saunas, and an anti gravity massage chair, taking time out has never been this easy.
Davina Miller Owner of Miller Web Design
Davina Miller creates professional, bespoke websites for small independent businesses, that are simple to use and will engage visitors.
Monica Franke Owner of Monica Franke & Clinic on the Green
Monica is an osteopath, movement rehab specialist using position, weights and breath, and a counsellor using Transactional Analysis.
Sarah Dennis Owner of Mostly Books
An award-winning independent bookshop located in the heart of Abingdon. Mostly Books offers an excellent range of books, greeting cards, gifts and children’s toys.
Ebony Gheorghe Owner of Nettles and Bees
Ebony creates foraging and wild-crafting workshops, experiences and projects. You can also find her at local markets promoting workshops for adults and children in Oxfordshire, as well as selling nature inspired handmade products and foraging accessories.
Julie Macken Owner of Neve’s Bees
Julie and her daughter, Neve, are beekeepers and the owners of Neve’s Bees! They make 100% natural skincare (using ingredients you can actually read!) with a little help from their bees.
Nic Vickery Owner of Nic Vickery Animal Artist
Harriet McAtee Owner of Nourish Yoga Training
Hazel Dexter Co-Owner of Objects Of Use
Objects of Use is a modern-day hardware store, home to a unique selection of everyday household tools, conscientiously sourced from around the globe.
Olivia Selinger Owner of Olivia Selinger Acupuncture
Acupuncture, a 2000-year-old form of traditional medicine, addresses both physical and mental health. By taking a holistic approach, acupuncture focuses on resolving the root cause of an issue.
Debs Arrowsmith and Jacqui Mansfield Managers of Oxford Meeting House
Providing venue hire in the very heart of Oxford for groups from 2 – 100 people. Beautiful rooms and gardens for conferences, events, concerts, talks, meetings, away days and therapy sessions. An oasis of calm and tranquility on St Giles.
Cassandra Smith Owner of Oxford Weaving Studio
The Oxford Weaving Studio is Oxfordshire’s first (and only!) community-minded creative studio dedicated to contemporary weaving.
Lizzie Webb Owner of Oxford Yarn Store
Like an old-fashioned sweet shop, Oxford Yarn Store is an explosion of colour and texture.
Rachel Zivkovic Co-Owner of Oxfordshire Upholstery
Oxford’s specialist upholstery, curtaining and soft furnishing workshop offering a complete range of upholstery services to residential and business clients.
Vanessa Vaghetti Owner of Oxfordshire Living
Vanessa’s business Oxfordshire Living offers a range of apartments and houses which can be booked short term as an alternative to a hotel.
Judy Payne & Anna Coppock Family Owners of Payne & Son
Payne & Son is an eighth generation family business, established in 1790. Judy started working in her father’s store in 1969, and now Anna and Max, the 8th generation, also work in the shop.
Laura Wiedemann Co-Owner of Pompette
The French word for tipsy — Pompette, a stylish charcuterie wine bar and restaurant in Summertown, Oxford.
Amanda Suliman Bell Owner of Rainbow & Spoon Boutique
Amanda has run Rainbow & Spoon on Park End Street since 1982 and is one of Oxford’s most loved boutiques.
Wendy Welpton Owner of Reclaim Movement
The Reclaim Movement mission is to increase awareness of the importance of using all our innate natural movement patterns daily so we can continue doing what we love into our 90s!
Liz Moore Owner at Refills by Beez
Refills by Beez is an online low impact/zero waste shop offering doorstep deliveries, including refills, of cleaning products and toiletries to households in Bicester and the surrounding villages.
Caroline Marcus Director of Reginald Davies
Reginald Davis are an independent family jewellers in Oxford, specialising in antique, second-hand and modern jewellery.
Rona Marsden Owner of Ronapainting Gallery
ronapainting gallery is new space that exhibits a large selection of pieces from paintings and sculptures to prints, photography and illustration.
Ronni Allen Owner of Ronni Allen Photography
Ronni is a food and still life photographer, and has a strong interest in independent and local businesses and seasonal produce.
Sally Harris Owner of Sally Harris Mindfulness
Sally offers mindfulness training to help people meet life’s joys and challenges with greater presence, compassion and resilience.
Sarah Boada-Momtahan Co-Owner of Sanders of Oxford
Sanders of Oxford, situated in the 17th century Salutation Inn, is one of the largest printsellers in Britain.
Sarah Halliday Owner of Sarah Halliday Digital Services
Sarah Halliday helps small business owners promote their brands online through photography, videography, graphic design, animation and website design.
Sarah Wiseman Owner of Sarah Wiseman Gallery
Situated in the heart of Summertown, Sarah Wiseman Gallery is a destination for contemporary art. The gallery is the place to start an art collection, or to nurture an established one.
Atiqa Rana Co-Owner of Sitaarah Skincare
Handmade in Oxford, the city of dreaming spires, Sitaarah creates beautiful, aromatic skincare products using ethically and sustainably sourced organic and natural ingredients.
Karolina Lipinska Owner of Skindose
SkinDose offers bespoke facial and waxing treatments in a new intimate space in the heart of Oxford, encompassing a holistic approach to skincare, nutrition and wellbeing through science-backed products and treatments.
Steph Van De Pette Owner of SO Sustainable
SO Sustainable is an online and pop-up shop providing organic whole foods, household cleaning products and sustainable health and beauty alternatives.
Jane Campbell-Howard Co-Owner of Society Cafe
Society Café are an independent speciality coffee shop in the heart of Oxford city centre. Their focus is on making great coffee sourced directly from the best coffee producing farms in the world and roasted by the best roasters in the world.
Lindsey Eynon Owner of Start to Thrive
Lindsey at Start to Thrive is passionate about coaching humans who feel stifled to move forward with clarity and resilience.
Olga Batty Co-Owner of Summertown Tailoring
A family run tailoring and alterations studio in Summertown.
Emily Robotham General Manager at Summertown Wine Bar
Summertown Wine Bar is a quality-focussed wine bar with a carefully curated range. It’s the place to unwind with friends, maybe at a live music night, or explore new styles at one of the regular tasting events. Opening in March 2023!
Tess & Amy Taylor, Co-Owners of Tap Social Movement
Tap Social was opened in 2016 and is a craft brewery, coffee house and community space that provides training and employment to people serving and recently released from prison sentences.
Valeria Diederichs Owner of Team Tea
Team Tea was founded by a Tea Sommelier to banish boring brews. The team is passionate about real tea and showcasing the immense diversity that this single plant has to offer.
Phoebe Hall Co-Owner of The Edge Eatery
Inspired by their time in New Zealand, owners and chefs, Phoebe and Tom created The Edge Eatery to share their love of cooking and foodie ideas with their community.
Elle Murphy Manager of The Garden of Oxford
The Garden of Oxford was established in Oxford’s historic Covered Market in 1984 and has gained an enviable reputation for being one of the region’s finest flower shops.
Sarah Adams Owner of The Herberowe Candle Co
The Herberowe Candle Co makes natural wax candles that are hand poured in small batches in Lower Heyford.
Ruth Dorso Co-Owner of The Jericho Cafe
Whether it’s excellent coffee you want, a full English breakfast, a light healthy lunch, tea and a (large!) slice of home-made cake, or a full evening meal after a film at the independent cinema across the street- they’ve got it covered.
Kay Surman Co-Owner of The Maker Space
The Maker Space is a modern craft venue based online and in a beautiful but abandoned 17th century pub building near Henley-on-Thames where the team teach craft skills in their workrooms, stock gorgeous modern craft supplies and handmade goods in the store, and serve great food and drinks in their cosy cafe and garden.
Luciana Gyuricza Co-Owner of The Market Cellar Door
The Market Cellar Door is a tiny ‘Hybrid’ wine shop and wine bar in Oxford’s Covered Market. They sell over 200 wines from around the world, including organic, low intervention and English wines, alongside the classics.
Vicky Troth Co-Founder of The Missing Bean
The Missing Bean was founded by Ori and Vicky in 2009 to establish a speciality coffee scene in the heart of Oxford. After discovering the laid back espresso bars and cafés that they had grown to love, while studying in Australia, were non-existent in the city they decided to set up their own.
Kitty Tait Co-Owner of The Orange Bakery
Orange Bakery are a father and daughter bread bakery specialising in sourdough. Their mission is to make good bread available to the local community. Check out their shop on their local High Street in Watlington.
Ajaye & Alexa Hunn-Phillips Co-Owners of The Project PT
To put it simply The Project PT is just two personal trainers passionate about fitness, health and wellbeing. The Project PT provides coaching, classes and events to people in Oxford.
Ashley Cavers & Laura Snook Co-Owners of The Wonky Food Co
The Wonky Food Company was started in 2017 by a team of passionate foodies, committed to tackling food waste by creating great-tasting products that make use of imperfect and surplus fruit & veg.
Jess Thomaz Owner of The Woolhound
Located in the historic Covered Market, The Woolhound is bringing British wool, yarn, and notions to central Oxford. Jess is passionate about offering supplies and support to every level of crafter at a wide range of price points.
Roshni Ray Co-Owner of Tikka & Tadka
Tikka and Tadka is a Indian catering company. Based in Wantage they create curry nights locally, and 5 day curry boxes all throughout Oxfordshire.
Nicola Graham Owner of tops:health
tops:health is an expert group of health and movement professionals offering specialist Physiotherapy, Pilates, Yoga, Sports & Remedial Massage, Clinical Exercise, Performance Rehabilitation & Nutrition services.
Micaela Tuckwell Director of Ultimate Picture Palace
The Ultimate Picture Palace is Oxford’s oldest and only independent cinema. The cinema is run by a small team of film fanatics who pick the programme, screening only the best mainstream, indie, foreign-language, and documentary films, alongside a regular season of classics.
Kat Cane Co-Owner at Walton Street Wellness
Walton Street Wellness is a warm and welcoming clinic, run by husband-and-wife team, Patrick and Kat Cane. They are both registered health care professionals, committed to providing excellent care in all treatments and services.
Lynne Davies-Craine Owner of Wandering To Wonder
Lynne is a coach and nature lover based in Abingdon, Oxfordshire. Lynne is passionate the we can all create lives that feel true to us, through knowing ourselves deeply and making decisions based on our intuition.
Sandra Ruge Owner of Waste2Taste
Waste2Taste offer a bespoke catering service with a vision towards a vibrant, healthy and sustainable food culture, committed to packaging and food waste cuts.
Natasha Molloy Owner of Weekday Agency
Weekday Agency provides virtual assistance and marketing services to small businesses and startups. The service provided is completely custom and scalable to the clients needs.
Sascha Way and Jo Sutherland Co-Owners of Wise Bird Marketing
Charlotte Renard Assistant Manager of Yellow Submarine Cafe
Often rated #1 for coffee and tea in Oxford by TripAdvisor, 70,000 customers each year visit the Yellow Submarine cafés because of the quality of the coffee & food.
Caroline Falce Gozzi Co-Founder of YogaVenue
Sarah Jordan Owner of YOU Underwear
Y.O.U underwear makes super-soft, stylish, organic cotton underwear for men and women that lets you look good, feel good and do good.
Zena Kidd-May Owners of Zena Kidd-May
Zena Kidd-May is a Hatha yoga teacher, face yoga teacher, and health & wellness coach. She has been teaching yoga for more than 22 years first in London, than in her purpose built yoga studio in Islip, Oxfordshire and on-line.
Victoria North & Brenda Rogers Co-Owners of Zest Podiatry & Physio
Zest Podiatry & Physio they offer all aspects of podiatry, and are experts in three key areas: verruca and warts, musculoskeletal and sports, and sore toes and nail surgery.
Women make up only a third of entrepreneurs in the UK and we’d love to see that increase. Through working together and building a strong and supportive community, we hope to encourage more women to start their own businesses in Oxfordshire, and reshape the business landscape for the better.
