Women’s Empowerment Business Guide

First Edition
Women’s Empowerment Business Guide

The Women’s Empowerment Business Guide highlights women-owned businesses from our community, especially entrepreneurs supported through our grant partners. Launched just in time for the holidays, it’s an opportunity to shop with purpose while supporting women on their path to financial success.

First Edition
Women’s Empowerment Business Guide

The Women’s Empowerment Business Guide highlights women-owned businesses from our community, especially entrepreneurs supported through our grant partners. Launched just in time for the holidays, it’s an opportunity to shop with purpose while supporting women on their path to financial success.

WE Business Guide 2025

We are grateful to our grant partners, International Rescue Committee (IRC) in San Diego and Via International, for their participation in this guide. We look forward to expanding the guide through 2026.

Beauty & Skincare Products

About: Blue Butterfly Soap is a woman-owned artisan brand founded by Miria, who has always felt a deep connection to the earth and a passion for creating with her own hands. Drawn to woody, earthy scents and natural products from a young age, she discovered joy in crafting items that are both beautiful and gentle on the skin. Combining her creativity with clean, skin-loving ingredients, Miria developed Blue Butterfly Soap — including handcrafted bar soaps, aluminum-free natural deodorants, and thoughtfully packaged gift sets. Each product is made with intention, artistry, and love.

To Purchase: online through website; by email order. Local pick-up/delivery (within 10 miles of North Park) and nationwide shipping available.

About: Osob created a self-care, wellness brand that specialises in all natural skincare. She sells handmade skincare products, which have ingredients from around the world. She specializes in luxurious and effective body scrubs, body butters, face washes, oils and soaps, as well as so much more. Products leave your skin softer, clean, and refreshed. It’s luxury spa care at an affordable price.

Product Highlight: Asli Face Wash is a 2-in-1 body wash that doubles as a face wash. Made with natural ingredients and herbs from East Africa, it has a clean finish and promotes healthy skin. “Asli” – meaning authentic or origin – is just that, jam packed with original Somali beauty secrets. Ingredients include: qasil – an antioxidant; vitamin c – a natural cleanser; tumeric – anti-inflammatory and antioxidant, also clearing dark spots and evening skin tone; cusbuur (red sandalwood) – ridding blemishes and rashes; xabat soda (blackseed) – good for inflammation and rid toxins in the body.

Holiday Offerings: 10% off with code: WEI

To Purchase: online through website. Free local delivery available (as north as Encinitas); shipping also available (nationwide; international). Custom orders available to mix and match products and scents. Cards with gift notes can also be attached upon request.

Baked Goods & Sweets

About: At Choice Confections, every dessert is made with heart. Based in La Mesa, this professional home bakery was founded in 2014 by Chef Dani Hannah, whose love of baking and serious sweet tooth inspired a business built on creativity and quality. From custom sugar cookies to cupcakes and cakes, everything is baked fresh to order using real butter and natural ingredients. Featured on Hulu’s Baker’s Dozen, Chef Dani is known for turning ideas into edible art. Choice Confections offers pickup, local delivery, and shipping for most cookie orders.

Product Highlight: Corporate Edible Image Cookies & Assortment Platters – custom-branded treats perfect for office parties, client gifts, and business meetings, designed to make a professional and delicious impression at any holiday gathering. ($25-$60/dozen)

Holiday Offerings: Chef Dani offers her popular Christmas Edition: DIY Cookie Kits, which include a dozen ready-to-decorate cookies, multiple frosting colors, sprinkles, and tools – perfect for a fun family activity or unique gift. She also features a selection of pre-decorated, themed holiday sugar cookies, such as her “Oh Christmas Tree” sets, available for order and shipping. ($40-$55/dozen)

To Purchase: online through website. Custom orders available. For local (La Mesa) pick-up: Available hours vary. Pre-order pick-ups take place at an arranged date and time; detailed pick-up instructions will be provided once your order is placed. Delivery is available with applicable fees and limited availability – contact through the website with any questions. Shipped orders must be placed at least 2 weeks before the desired delivery date. Orders placed near Christmas may experience typical postal delays.

Food & Catering

About: Sabine founded Brot & as a culinary educator, baker, and recipe developer. She specializes in healthy, delicious homemade bread and other baked goods. Sabine teaches with the philosophy that “everyone can bake bread.” She says, “baking yourself a loaf of delicious bread is a great alternative to the same old breads we find at the grocery store.” She leads group and classroom workshops.

To Schedule Classes: Contact Sabine through email or Facebook.

About: Founded in 2017 by Nelly Garcia, a native of Michoacán, Mexico, Xula Mexican Coffee combines passion and culture to produce specialty products with the highest quality, fresh ingredients. Xula Mexican Coffee offers coffee beans from Veracruz Mexico, roasted cacao, artisan chocolate and muffins, cold brew, and café de olla. Xula offers online sales and catering services.

To Purchase: online through website; by phone or email order. Local delivery available within San Diego County: place your order by Friday at 2PM for Monday delivery. Shipping (nationwide) also available. Catering inquiries can also be submitted online; see website for menu options.

Jewelry & Accessories

About: Katherine crafts beautiful handmade jewelry for any occasion, specializing in pieces with natural freshwater pearls and beading. She also has a collection of chain necklaces. Her jewelry pieces include earrings, bracelets, and necklaces. 

Product Highlight: Visit her website on etsy to view her special “Sun and Moon” collection, including earrings, necklaces, and bracelets. Custom orders can also be placed for charms, including personal initials. Custom orders take 2-3 business days.

To Purchase: online through website or DM through Instagram. Local pick-up available by appointment in the UTC area of San Diego. Shipping (nationwide) also available. 

About: Nebras offers thoughtfully curated jewelry made by hand with real jewels and gold and silver plates, designed to elevate everyday style and celebrate individuality. From timeless staples to trend-forward pieces, each item is selected with quality, detail, and wearability in mind. Her collection is made to complement any look—whether you’re dressing up for a special occasion or adding a subtle touch to your daily outfit. Nebras believes jewelry should feel personal, empowering, and effortlessly stylish. With a focus on durability, comfort, and aesthetic appeal, her pieces are created to be worn with confidence and loved for years to come. Discover jewelry that tells your story and shines as uniquely as you do.

To Purchase: In person; at her booth at farmers markets, fairs, and pop-ups; by phone order. Contact to find out where she’ll be with a booth next.

Health & Wellness

About: Cihua Mazatl, also known as Jessica Santiago, is a Yoeme artist and fire-carrier in the Mexicayotl tradition dedicated to transmitting what she’s learned on the camino rojo. Her arts-based research becomes a bridge between the ancient and the contemporary. She offers culturally-informed self-development tools to support daily insight and creative growth, including Tonalamatl readings, reflective journals, agendas, and guided experiences that help people align with ancestral cycles and deepen personal insight. Tonalamatl readings provide personalized guidance based on the sacred calendar. Her products include the Tlahtolli Oracle book, Tonalpohualli agendas, guided journals, and fine art prints that help people integrate ancestral teachings into modern life.

To Purchase or Schedule: online through website. Additionally, products may be purchased at: Aztlan Libre, 2076 Logan Ave, San Diego, CA 92113. Shipping is also available nationwide and internationally.

Clothing & Apparel

About: Genet is a professional tailor, specializing in adult and children’s clothing, bibs, aprons, blankets, small baskets, jewelry, cultural clothes, tailoring services, and custom orders. 

Holiday Offerings: Be sure to check out her collection of blankets in festive holiday patterns. 

To Purchase: in person at booths, by appointment, at farmers markets (including Del Mar Farmers Market) or by phone or email order. Pick-up in person at time of purchase or by appointment. 

To be included in the guide:

For questions, suggestions, or to be listed in our expanding guide: Contact SarahAdams@womenempowerment.org.

Sponsorship opportunities: To support this project and be included as a sponsor, please email SarahAdams@womenempowerment.org. Sponsorship levels start at $100; benefits include links and business highlights.

Thank you for your support!

You make our work possible. Your continued support and donations fuel our economic empowerment grants that lift up women like these above, building their businesses and increasing their household income for themselves and their families. Our grants fund programs with trusted, vetted partners that help women to break cycles of poverty in San Diego County and countries around the world.