CNY Women’s Network hosts second annual Women’s Market

Krista Fountain started Freyja-LUXE out of a personal desire to feel comfortable in her own skin and to help others feel the same. 

It began as a permanent makeup studio during the pandemic and has since expanded to include permanent jewelry, a service she added three years ago. After overplucking her eyebrows when she was younger, tattooed brows helped her feel more confident.  

“When I worked in prisons, there’s obviously limited places where you could check yourself because they don’t have mirrors there,” Fountain said. “I had such anxiety, I’d be like ‘Oh God, I drew my eyebrows on and then touched my face, now I can’t see what my face looks like.’” 

Freyja-LUXE was one of 29 women-owned businesses that gathered Saturday for the CNY Women’s Market, where attendees browsed through a range of goods from candles and custom embroidery to permanent jewelry. The market served as the closing event of CNY Women’s Network’s 2026 Women’s Summit.

Founded in 2023 by Alex Canavan, the CNY Women’s Network is an independent media platform that helps businesses and brands across upstate New York grow their visibility and reach. The summit and other Women’s Network events are designed to connect women across the region to build community and foster personal and professional growth.

For Fountain, the Women’s Network is as much about community as it is about business. As a self-described shy single mother, she first attended the summit to step outside her comfort zone and meet new people. Since then, she has participated in many events with the Women’s Network.  

“I think it brings women together and businesses together especially if you are a solo provider, said Fountain. “It is so incredibly hard to get the traction you need and to put yourself out there to know the right connections. For me, it opens so many doors.”  

Like Fountain, Norka Pena said the women’s market is a chance to connect with like-minded women.  

“It’s amazing because all of them are entrepreneurial women,” Pena said. “Maybe I don’t have time to talk with them, but it’s an open door for me and I’m going to have some new contacts and it’s a way to share this hard, but exciting life.”  

Pena started Norka Alma Candles last year. Originally from Cuba, Pena had a challenging time finding employment when she moved to Syracuse two years ago due to language difficulties. She has always loved candles and took a class last year on candle making. For her, the business was about doing something she loved while making additional money.  

“Maybe I can do this and don’t have to spend more money buying candles,” Pena said.  

Andrea Tehan loves gift giving, especially custom pieces. She started embroidering in 2023 and noticed a gap in the local market for custom gifts.  

“I was entering the phase of my life where I was attending a lot of weddings and baby showers, and I just felt like there was a gap in the market locally for myself to be able to go out and get something that was so customized on the spot,” Tehan said.  

Atelier, Tehan’s custom embroidery business, helps fill that gap. Her first pop-up was at the CNY Women’s Market last year. A lot of her initial following came from the market, and she was excited for the opportunity to return, she said.  

Not all market vendors are just starting. Erika Turner has been running Love Line Jewelry & Design since 2007, alongside her full-time job at Syracuse University as the assistant director for the Science Tech and Entry Program. She started making jewelry when she borrowed a beading kit from a friend’s mother. Over the years, her business has expanded to include t-shirts, blankets and purses.  

For Turner, the market is a chance to celebrate her work and the work of the women around her.  

“Even though women have made so many strides, and we’ve come a long way, it’s still nice to celebrate each other and to have our work showcased and our talent showcased,” Turner said.