Building Sisterhood Through Shopping: Meg Enerson on the Power of Colour Friday

While Black Friday traditionally sparks a frenzy of once-off discounts and mass consumerism, this year a bold shift took place in Cape Town: Colour Friday, an initiative by Fempreneurs, offered something far more meaningful. Instead of chasing markdowns, shoppers were invited to to support local, women-owned businesses and celebrate creativity, authenticity, and community.

At the heart of this movement is Meg Enerson, the founder of Fempreneurs, a platform designed to break down barriers for women entrepreneurs by offering access to markets, technology, mentorship, and a powerful network of support. The Colour Friday Pop-Up Market became an embodiment of this mission: a space where women could sell, shine, and connect. Here, Meg unpacks the inspiration, triumphs, challenges, and the future of this growing national movement.

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At the heart of this movement is Meg Enerson, the founder of Fempreneurs, Image: Supplied

Glamour: What inspired Fempreneurs to create the recent Colour Friday Pop-Up Market?

Meg: Colour Friday is an international movement, and we were determined to bring its empowering message to South Africa. Our goal was to actively encourage conscious shopping that directly supports local, women-owned businesses. It was the perfect opportunity to boldly showcase our incredible female entrepreneurs and strategically shift spending power toward women-led SMMEs.

Glamour: How does this event align with your mission to empower women entrepreneurs?

Meg: Our core mission is to actively break down barriers for women entrepreneurs by providing them with access to markets, essential technology, and a supportive community. A high-profile event like the Pop-Up Market directly supports this by generating real sales opportunities, crucial visibility, and fostering meaningful connections between our vendors and conscious customers.

Glamour: What was the vision behind reimagining Black Friday as “Colour Friday”?

Meg: The vision was simple but powerful: we wanted to deliberately move away from the ‘soulless’ discount-driven culture of Black Friday and replace it with an authentic celebration of colour, creativity, and conscious buying. Colour Friday celebrates purpose-driven shopping and highlights the profound impact that supporting a woman-owned business has on her family, her employees, and the wider community.

Glamour: How did you go about selecting and preparing the women-owned businesses that participated?

Meg: We opened applications to all female-owned SMMEs in Cape Town and received an overwhelming response. Since our plan is to rotate this market annually between major city centres, we focused on making this inaugural event inclusive by featuring a wide, diverse mix of local women entrepreneurs. Once selected, we ensured our vendors were confident and prepared through clear onboarding, constant communication, and detailed logistics support.

Glamour: What types of products or services were showcased, and what stood out about the range of vendors?

Meg: The market truly showcased the breadth of South African talent; from contemporary fashion, clean beauty, artisanal home décor, and wellness products to handmade crafts and gourmet treats. What struck me most was the authenticity. Every single product told a story. The quality and creativity across our vendors reflected the unparalleled talent within South Africa’s female entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Glamour: What were the biggest challenges you faced in organising the Colour Friday Pop-Up Market, and how did you overcome them?

Meg: The main challenge was orchestrating a large-scale, high-visibility event remotely and within a limited timeframe. We were operating under pressure! We overcame this through detailed, iterative planning, constant communication with vendors, and dynamic on-the-ground coordination to ensure everything ran smoothly despite the tight deadline.

Glamour: What do you feel were the biggest successes or standout moments from the event?

Meg: The biggest success wasn’t the sales volume, it was the energy. The sense of community was immediate and powerful. Seeing women actively supporting one another, forming collaborations, celebrating each other’s wins… that was the standout moment. It reinforced that Fempreneurs is not just a platform, but a network. And none of this would have been possible without our sponsor FNB, whose belief in uplifting female entrepreneurs was central to the event’s success.

Glamour: Did any stories from the vendors or attendees particularly move or surprise you?

Meg: We were especially moved by the women we sponsored from previously disadvantaged communities who were showcasing their businesses for the first time. Their pride, confidence, and the overwhelming support they received were emotional. We also saw the real-life challenges they face: one had her oven break the night before; another had to choose between attending the market and caring for a sick child. These moments highlighted why Fempreneurs must continue providing not only market access but flexible, robust support.

Glamour: What key lessons did you take away that will shape future Fempreneurs events?

Meg: The biggest lesson is that women entrepreneurs don’t just succeed, they thrive when given structured access and a strong community. We also learned the importance of partnering with local event organisers. Going forward, we plan to scale our markets, include broader product categories, and integrate mentorship and capacity-building opportunities for our vendors.

Glamour: What’s next for Fempreneurs, and how do you plan to evolve initiatives like the Colour Friday Pop-Up Market?

Meg: We’re elevating Colour Friday into an annual national movement with larger venues and multiple city locations next year. Beyond that, we are expanding our online marketplace, creating more year-round pop-up opportunities, and strengthening our support channels. Our vision is long-term: to ensure women can grow sustainably long after the market day ends.