Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

About the Programme

What is the Women Enabled Enterprises 12-week Retail Business Training Programme?

The Women Enabled Enterprises (WEE) Retail Business Training Programme is a 12-week virtual programme designed to support women makers and entrepreneurs across Africa with practical business knowledge, tools, and exposure to international markets.

How long is the programme and how is it delivered?

The programme runs for 12 weeks and is delivered virtually via Zoom.

Class time: 7:00 PM SAST
East Africa Time (EAT): 8:00 PM
West Africa Time (WAT): 6:00 PM

Sessions are held in the evenings to accommodate participants who may be working or running businesses during the day.

Who can apply?

The programme is:

Free of charge
Women must be over the age of 18 years
Open to women of colour only
Open to women based anywhere on the African continent

Attendance Requirements

Is attendance mandatory?

Yes. We require a minimum of 90% attendance throughout the programme.

Attendance is monitored and recorded.
Prior notice is required if you are unable to attend a session.

Consistent participation is important to ensure you gain full value from the programme and remain eligible for post-programme opportunities.

Programme Language:
All sessions are conducted in English.

Selling Into the US Market

How does selling my products into the US work?

Once the 12-week programme is completed, a Request for Proposal (RFP) is shared with:

Recent programme graduates
WEE alumni

Participants are invited to submit product proposals for consideration.

We place a strong emphasis on sustainable products, but we are also open to innovative designs. At this stage, we do not accept personal care products, as we are still navigating the legal requirements for this category. However, we still strongly encourage personal care founders to attend the programme for learning and future opportunities.

Does every product get selected?

No, not every product is selected.

However, we provide:

Detailed guidance on how to strengthen proposals
Feedback and ideas for improvement

Selection is ultimately determined by initiative, creativity, product readiness, and alignment with our market needs.

We encourage applicants to review our sister organisation’s website ShopConsciously to understand the quality and standard of products previously selected.

If my products are not selected the first time, will there be other opportunities?

Yes.

Throughout the year, we issue additional Requests for Proposals based on different themes and market needs. You are welcome to pitch again when new opportunities arise.

Shipping & Payments

Who handles shipping?

We handle international shipping up to DHL.

Participants are responsible for arranging transport of their products to a local hub, if and when required.

How does payment work?

A 50% deposit is paid to kickstart production.
The remaining 50% is paid upon receipt of products for quality checks.

Please note:

Quality checks are conducted in South Africa and the United States.
Depending on your location, this may cause delays in the release of the final payment.

Eligibility for US Market Opportunities

Is the opportunity to sell into the US open to everyone?

No.

Only:

Graduates of the 12-week retail programme, and
Women Enabled Enterprises alumni are eligible to participate in US market opportunities.