News24 | All-women, small business colour market puts new spin on Black Friday

Fempreneurs held its first Colour Friday in Cape Town this Black Friday, giving a platform to women-owned businesses.

• “Fempreneurs” brought the international movement, Colour Friday, to Cape Town as an alternative to the discount-driven Black Friday.
• At the market, 43 women-owned small businesses showcased their products.
• Three women share the story of their small yet impactful businesses, and how these support their lives.

An international Black Friday counter-movement has reached Cape Town in the form of an all-women market that aims to empower women small business owners.

“Fempreneurs” held its first “Colour Friday” as part of their mission to support women entrepreneurs.

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This Colour Friday was a shift from Black Friday’s discount-driven frenzy, to a more intentional effort to support local women-owned businesses and promote “conscious shopping in Cape Town”.

At the event, there were 43 entrepreneurs selling a variety of products, with Fempreneurs sponsoring some of the tables.

Through this, it provided women from disadvantaged backgrounds with “a platform to showcase their products and grow their businesses”.

“We are trying to uplift women and give them the opportunity to shine on this day,” said Meg Ernerson, one of the co-founders of Fempreneurs.

One of those is Vimbai Dengedza who sells leather and canvas products.

‘It’s good for women to have a platform’

Dengedza believes that opportunities like Colour Friday are important for women in today’s economic climate.

“It’s always good for women to be encouraged to do something for themselves,” she said.

“Having someone that puts your business on a platform, that’s a very important step.”

According to Dengedza, starting a business is more than just having an idea, and that’s why she appreciates the support of Fempreneurs. For her, it’s not just about the sales, but getting people to engage with her products.

“Sometimes you can have business, but you don’t have the platform where you can present your business, or you can have access to markets.”

‘A way to bring money into the house’

Grow Box, which started as a last resort for a mother to provide for her family, has grown into so much more.

It is a small business that grows and sells fresh produce. They also teach communities how to grow their own produce and can be hired to run community gardens.

Jeanique Manuel assists her mother with the business she started “as a way to bring money into the house”.

Manuel added:

Grow Box soon evolved into a “social enterprise”, said Manuel.

“It’s giving back to the community.”

“Every market we go to, we create more funds to create more workshops to give back to the community: the children, the schools, and the elderly.”

A gap in the market

Another business started through the passion of one plus-sized model, who was frustrated at the lack of functionality in clothing for plus-sized women.

When she started modelling, Sam Daries was very excited to enter the industry.

“I thought I was going to finally get the opportunity to meet designers and complain about what I thought wasn’t functional with their underwear for plus-size ladies,” she said.

After booking several campaigns, Daries found that models rarely met the designers of the products.

“I kept complaining about it, and my husband suggested that I actually start a brand and try and fix some of the issues that I was complaining about for plus-size ladies.”

“We started the Valkyrie movement, and we invited other ladies to join our body-positive attitude.”

Years later, House of Valkyrie has become more than just a small business and now mentors students who are looking to start their own clothing lines.

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