PopFizz didn’t start with a business plan or a brand agency. It started in a lounge in Cape Town, with a mom trying to figure out how to pay the bills.
PopFizz didn’t come from a business plan. It started with Shila, a single mom in Cape Town, looking for a way to support her family. What makes PopFizz different isn’t just the themed party packs — it’s the story behind how it all came to life.
After facing a tough run financially, Shila needed a way to make some extra income. She saw a gap: parents who wanted to throw themed birthday parties but didn’t have the time to shop, plan, or pack. She thought, “What if I could just do that part for them?”
No tech background. No business training. Just a simple idea and the will to make it work.
Shila connected with Doug Kemp, who helped turn the idea into something real. Together, they built the PopFizz website using WooCommerce, free tools, and just enough structure to keep it lean and functional.
But the secret weapon? AI.
Instead of hiring photographers or designers, Shila used AI to create the images — the stickers, the pack designs, the fun theme graphics. With Doug’s help, those visuals were turned into an online store.
No Developers. No Designers. Just Grit and Tools.
Everything on the PopFizz site — from the look of the products to the way the packs are ordered — was built with off-the-shelf tools and AI. Shila didn’t need to write a single line of code.
She took care of the assembly. She handled the WhatsApp orders. She did the deliveries herself. That’s how PopFizz went from a digital idea to a working, paying business.
What started as a way to make ends meet has become something much bigger. PopFizz now helps Shila support her family. It’s not just a website — it’s a daily operation built around school runs, stock runs, and the joy of getting a “thank you” message from a happy parent.
PopFizz proves that AI doesn’t have to replace jobs — it can create them. When it lands in the right hands, with the right intent, it can give someone the tools to build something real.
Starting an eCommerce business today is easier and more affordable than ever before. The days of needing a full development team or expensive software are gone. With free tools like WooCommerce, WordPress, Canva, and AI image generators, anyone can create a professional-looking online store without writing a single line of code. Payment gateways, shipping calculators, and customer communication tools are all accessible through free or freemium plugins. The only real upfront cost is the domain name — and even that can be had for under R100 a year.
Hosting? In many cases, it’s donated, subsidised, or cheap enough to be negligible. The point is: the barrier to entry is almost non-existent. If you’ve got a workable idea and the willingness to learn, the tools are out there — and most of them won’t cost you a cent. This is exactly how PopFizz started: with a single mom, a basic idea, and access to free online resources. The store didn’t need capital — just commitment and a smart use of what’s already available.
Shila did exactly that. She didn’t wait for permission. She built a business with what she had — and now she delivers more than party packs. She delivers possibility.