Empowering Women-Owned Businesses with the Founders of Boston Women’s Market

Cara Loffredo and Africa Rubio Pastor join Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Blot for a conversation on the importance of shopping local woman-founded businesses, especially during the critical holiday selling season. For the past six years, Cara and Africa have been running markets throughout the Boston area and have helped launch the careers of many women entrepreneurs, along with expanding their own business with new initiatives, including a popup brick-and-mortar shop earlier this year and a new series of Holiday Markets at the historic Faneuil Hall Marketplace.

A passion for entrepreneurship runs in Cara Loffredo‘s blood. She grew up surrounded by family members that all have had a small business at one point or another, from a dog and cat boarding kennel to an outdoor waterpark. After graduating from Suffolk University, Cara began working for a variety of organizations where she was able to get her hands dirty in all things small business, from running payroll, to event organization, to graphic design. Over the years she has come to realize she gets the greatest satisfaction and joy from helping others learn and succeed, and strives to bring this to the BWM community every day.

Africa Rubio Pastor is the co-founder of Boston Women’s Market. Africa is originally from Madrid, Spain. When she lived in Spain she spent a lot of time with her mother at markets (as a vendor) helping her with her business. Africa realized the hard work that goes into building a business, setting up for markets, selling products and the long hours standing. BWM was built to provide vendors with an incredible experience while being part of the markets and community. Africa loves that she can help businesses thrive and support makers’ journeys through Boston Women’s Market.

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