Coraborables, located in Hawaii is certified by the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC) as a Women’s Business Enterprise (WBE). WBENC is the largest certifier of women’s business enterprises in the U.S. and a leading advocate for women business owners, leaders, and entrepreneurs.
ABOUT CORA SPEARMAN
After graduating from Antioch University, Cora focused her early career on international trade with Asia. In 2009, she survived a battle with head, neck, and brain cancer. The experience strengthened her resolve to pursue her dream of designing a fashion line, focusing on Hawaii and mid-century modern Aloha wear. Coradorables was received favorably by Saks Fifth Avenue and luxury resorts such as the Mandarin and Four Seasons. Media attention in Vogue, Elle, and Tattler led to retail success in Japan at Hankyu department stores and on Rakuten. Cora is a 2020 and 2021 CFDA Raise Fashion Now Award recipient and serves as a member of the NRF’s Sustainability Council. Her work in sustainability was showcased by Inc. magazine in April 2022.
We recently had a chance to speak with Cora and asked her the following questions:
- What prompted you to obtain your WBENC certification through WBEC-West?
Cora: I was approached by a Disney Supplier Diversity Executive that encouraged me to obtain WBENC certification, I am so happy that I followed her recommendation and became WBENC certified.
- Since being certified, what benefits have you and/or your business experienced?
Cora: The certification has helped me connect and to do business with corporations and the logo is always a plus to have displayed on our site. Also, I have been able to connect with other WBEs. Though our journeys are unique, we share many of the same challenges, so it is nice to have a network of like minds and energy to support you.
- How do you useyour certification? (i.e., through online marketing, social media, print media, website, business cards, in stores on my product, etc.)
Cora: I currently use my certification in online marketing, social media, and print media with third-party retailers and on our website – https://coradorables.com.
- What advice would you share with a fellow Women Business owner who is are looking to become WBENC certified?
Cora: The (re)certification process can be long and tedious, but it is beneficial for other certification applications. I would suggest that you keep a folder with all the required documents in a file on your desktop and keep it updated so that the recertification process is less time-consuming in the near future. Once you obtain your certification connect with the other certified WBEs. The sisterhood of like minds, the advice, and the bond we share as WBENC Certified women-businesses entrepreneurs is incredible.
About the Women owned Logo offered by WBENC
The women owned logo brings consumer recognition to products and services provided by women-owned enterprises both in the US and international markets. WBEC-West is one of 14 Regional Partners of the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC), approved to certify women-owned enterprises to utilizes the women owned logo. As an affiliate organization, WBEC-West implements the certification standards of WBENC throughout Arizona, Colorado, Southern California, Utah, Wyoming, Nevada, Hawaii, and Guam. WBENC certification is nationally recognized and accepted by more than 10,000 major corporations. We also support corporations in their efforts to include WBENC Certified WBEs in their supplier diversity programs supply chain. To learn more about the organization, visit www.wbec-west.com.
