Celebrating Women-Owned Businesses in Wolverhampton
For International Women’s Day 2025
Written By: Olivia Clifford
Celebrating Women-Owned Businesses in Wolverhampton
For International Women’s Day 2025
Written By: Olivia Clifford
Celebrating Wolverhampton’s Female Entrepreneurs
this International Women's Day
This International Women’s Day, we’re shining a light on three incredible women-owned businesses right here in Wolverhampton. We visited their workplaces, heard their stories, and got a glimpse into the passion and hard work that goes into running a business. Each of these women has carved out a space in their industry, overcoming challenges, embracing opportunities, and inspiring others along the way.
As part of Midland Marketing’s What’s Your Next Move? campaign, we set out to support local businesses by not only sharing their journeys but also giving back in a meaningful way. Alongside our interviews, we provided each business with a free photoshoot—offering them professional images to use across their social media and marketing. Our goal was to highlight their success while equipping them with valuable content to help them grow even further.
From overcoming obstacles to celebrating achievements, these women are shaping Wolverhampton’s business landscape. Their stories remind us of the importance of supporting and uplifting women in business—not just today, but every day.
Business 1: Cafe 29
📍Cafe 29, 29 Anders Square, Perton, WV6 7QH
👩💼 Owned by Nicola Perkins
🛍️ Family-Run Café
Check out Cafe 29’s website and follow them on Socials!
Tell us a bit about you and your business.
‘Hi, I’m Nicola, I’m 34 and I own Cafe 29. We opened about 5 years ago as a family-run business, with just 4 of us and now there are 10 of us. We do homemade cakes, coffee and a brunch menu, and it’s doing really good!’
What made you start the business?
‘I’ve lived in Perton all of my life, and my mom and my auntie used to work here when it was ‘Teadoras’ (the previous cafe). Unfortunately, they were giving it up when COVID started, and I wasn’t happy at the job I had just gone back to after maternity leave, so I just thought it was a new challenge! It was something I’d never done before and I wanted to just give it a go.’
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your industry?
‘So we opened back in 2020, which everybody knows was COVID, and everybody thought it wasn’t going to be as bad as it was in the end, but we were shut down instantly when we first opened.’
‘Trying to get into running a new business, when I’d never done this before, but we just couldn’t! After COVID, we were able to get back on track, but that was definitely the hardest thing.’
What’s one piece of advice you’d give other women looking to accelerate their careers?
‘Just do it! I think when you have children, you lose your confidence a bit, and you can end up staying in a job you don’t enjoy just because it’s convenient and easier. But we are just as equal as the men, so we should just go for it and do something that we love!’
What’s your ‘Next Move’ in business?
So we started with a 5 year lease, and now I want to do another 15 years, now we have our bearings. So I want to streamline everything so it’s easier for the staff, and that everyone knows where we are. Then just expand! Knock through one of the walls to extend the space, and start doing more evening events.’
Business 2: Hairgraphics
📍Hairgraphics, 396 Penn Road, Wolverhampton, WV4 4DF
👩💼 Owned by Donna O’Shea
🛍️ Long-Standing Hair Salon
Follow Hairgraphics on Facebook and Instagram!
Tell us a bit about you and your business.
‘Hello, my name is Donna O’Shea, and I started this business when I was 20 years of age. I finished my training from Dudley College, and was working in a little village salon in Codsall when my mom and dad said to me “Donna, do you want to run your own business?”‘.
‘So from 1985, at the age of 21, I took on Hairgraphics. It was a lot of hard work, but I’ve thoroughly enjoyed it and even now at 60 years of age, I’m still enjoying it!’
(Just a moment to pause for Donna being 60?! She’s looking absolutely fabulous!)
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career?
‘It’s got to be Coronavirus. In 35 years of owning my business, I’ve been through 2 recessions, but with Coronavirus, I felt like that was it, I was gone.’
‘Through hard work and determination, we’re still striving 5 years on, and have hit the 40 years milestone of our business this year!’
What’s one piece of advice you’d give other women looking to accelerate their careers?
‘If you’ve got a dream, go for it. Don’t let anything or anyone get in your way or stop you reaching your goals. ‘
What’s your ‘Next Move’ in business?
‘Definitely promoting our business on social media to reach a much wider range of new customers. It’s the way to go!’
Business 3: Cup of Joy
📍Cup Of Joy, Mount Road, Wolverhampton, WV4 5SN
👩💼 Owned by Ruth Uppal
🛍️ Independent Coffee Shop
Check out Cup Of Joy’s website and follow them on socials!
Tell us a bit about you and your business.
‘My name’s Ruth and I’m the owner of Cup Of Joy, based in Penn and in the City Centre. We set up in the September of 2022 with the goal of creating a welcoming space for people to come and relax and have a moment to themselves.’
‘It’s always been a passion of mine to go to different coffee shops, and be able to just sit down, relax and gather your thoughts on your own, without being judged for doing so. So I just really wanted to recreate that kind of space for others.’
‘Starting this business, I also have 2 daughters, and I wanted to be able to show them that there is nothing that they can’t achieve.’
What’s the biggest challenge you’ve overcome in your career?
‘The biggest challenge for me was feeling like I wasn’t qualified or enough, or not have the credentials to be doing this’.
‘I think as long as you’ve got the vision, the passion and determination inside of you that says ‘I know I can do this’, then you can overcome any challenge that comes your way.’
What’s one piece of advice you’d give other women looking to accelerate their careers?
‘I’d say if there is a quiet voice inside of you that says ‘I’m more than a 9-5’ or that ‘I’m more than what I’m doing right now’, then I’d say you can do it! Just put one foot in front of the other, taking it step-by-step, and those dreams can become a reality.’
What’s your biggest asset for your business?
‘I would honestly say that it’s my staff. They’re the people you leave to run your business and to carry out your vision. You’ve got to pour into them so that they can pour out your vision into the community.
What’s your ‘Next Move’ for your Business?
To be completely honest, I never have a next move. I never worry about tomorrow, I just take it day by day now. Whatever my next move is, I’m sure I’ll walk into it and embrace it!’
The Power of Women in Business
These three women-owned businesses are just a small peek into the amazing talent and hard work happening in Wolverhampton. Through our What’s Your Next Move? campaign, we’ve had the chance to learn from these incredible women and help them with something useful—professional photos they can use to promote their businesses.
A huge thank you to these amazing ladies and their teams for welcoming us into their businesses and sharing their stories. It’s been such a privilege to connect with these women and see firsthand the hard work and passion they put into their businesses.
Their stories show what passion and determination can really achieve. As we celebrate their journeys, let’s remember that supporting women in business isn’t just something to do on International Women’s Day—it’s something we can all do every day. Whether it’s a purchase, a share, or a simple word of support, it all helps!
If you want to see the photoshoots we did for these lovely ladies, check out our International Women’s Day gallery!
Want some more?
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