Being a certified Woman-Owned Business has its perks as many companies seek out to diversify their purchasing power by doing business with women-owned businesses. Advance Components is certified through WBENC, the Women Business Enterprise National Council. Our WBENC Certification validates that Advance is at least 51 percent owned, controlled, operated and managed by a woman or women.
Perks of Certification
Access to contracts
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Federal set-asides: Several programs reserve certain federal contracts specifically for women-owned businesses.
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Corporate supplier diversity programs: Many large corporations have supplier diversity initiatives with specific spending targets for women-owned businesses, and certification is usually required to qualify.
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State and local government contracts: Many states/municipalities have similar set-aside or preference programs.
The advantages can vary by industry. Certification can be a plus in industries like construction, manufacturing, and professional services where corporate/government diversity spending is heavily tracked.
Networking and visibility
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Access to matchmaking events, trade shows, and conferences hosted by organizations like WBENC (Women's Business Enterprise National Council)
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Inclusion in supplier diversity databases that corporate and government buyers search
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Peer networks and mentorship programs with other certified women business owners
Business development support
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Education, training programs, and workshops (grant writing, contract negotiation, scaling operations)
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Some organizations offer access to capital, loans, or grants specifically for certified women-owned businesses
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Mentor-protégé programs pairing smaller WBEs with larger corporations
Why Do Business With a WBNEC Certified Company?
1. Diversity Spend
Companies with a supplier diversity programs (tech companies, hyperscalers and manufacturers) can meet their ESG/procurement goals by working with a certified women-owned company for their industrial fastener needs.
2. Aerospace and government-adjacent contracts
Many prime contractors have their own subcontracting goals for women-owned suppliers to meet federal requirements.
3. Distributor relationships
As a "Master Stocking Distributor," our certification is a bonus when working with our manufacturer partnerships, as many manufacturers like being able to tell their own customers that part of their supply chain includes certified diverse suppliers.
4. B2B procurement / RFPs
Industrial buyers (facilities, manufacturers, data centers) issuing RFPs for hardware/fasteners often look to our women-owned certification as an important factor for doing business with us.
Why Advance Components?
Since 1972, Advance has been an industrial distributor (fasteners, hardware, data center components, aerospace/solar hardware) that supports other businesses, distributors, and manufacturers. As a certified Women-Owned Business, we are the perfect business partner.
Our centrally located warehouse in Carrollton (Dallas), Texas, is ideally located for fast shipping throughout the country. We are an authorized master distributor of a variety of industrial fasteners, tools, handles and knobs. Other distributors and manufacturers rely on Advance for in-stock inventory, custom bagging and shipping.
We invest in our people, our warehouse and our inventory, so that our customers get the support and products they need fast. Being a certified Women-Owned Business is not only a bonus, but a badge we wear proudly at Advance.