South African Artisan Marketplace
About Craft Connect

A marketplace built for South African hands

Craft Connect links township artisans with buyers across the country through a secure, locally relevant marketplace designed around trust, visibility, and fairer trade.

Start Selling See how it works

Our mission

Formalising informal trade, one craft at a time

Millions of South African artisans create extraordinary pottery, beadwork, textiles, and woodwork, yet many still earn far less than they should because of middlemen and limited access to digital trade.

Craft Connect was built to close that gap. We provide a verified, secure, and locally relevant platform where artisans can trade directly with buyers without losing trust, visibility, or value.

2.8M People in SA's informal sector
40% Income lost to middlemen
R900B Township economy annually
Under 15% Informal traders using e-commerce

Escrow payment protection

Funds are held securely until the buyer confirms delivery, protecting both sides of every transaction.

Artisan verification system

Every seller is reviewed and approved by our admin team before listing products, building buyer confidence.

Township-integrated delivery

Pickup points and direct delivery routes are designed for township, peri-urban, and non-urban areas.

Multilingual support

English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, and Sesotho support helps the platform reach more communities.

How it works

From craft to customer in three steps

Whether you are a buyer looking for something unique or an artisan ready to sell, getting started only takes a few steps.

01

Create your account

Register as a buyer or artisan. Artisans complete a short verification profile that our team reviews within 48 hours.

5 minutes
02

List or browse products

Verified artisans upload their goods with photos, pricing, and delivery options while buyers browse by category, language, or location.

Instant
03

Buy securely and receive with confidence

Payment is held in escrow. Once the buyer confirms receipt, funds are released to the artisan and both parties stay protected.

Escrow protected
All transactions are protected by our secure payment gateway

Who it's for

Three roles, one platform

Craft Connect is designed for buyers, artisans, and administrators, each with tools and permissions built around their part of the marketplace journey.

Buyer

Discover and purchase authentic handcrafted goods directly from South African artisans with confidence.

  • Browse and search artisan products
  • Secure cart and checkout flow
  • Order tracking and history
  • Leave reviews after purchase
  • Multiple delivery options

Artisan

List your handcrafted goods, manage orders, and receive secure payments from your own dashboard.

  • Product listing and management
  • Artisan profile verification
  • Order management tools
  • Escrow payment release
  • Sales analytics coming soon

Administrator

Maintain platform integrity with role-based oversight across users, products, orders, and payments.

  • Artisan verification workflow
  • User and product moderation
  • Category management
  • Order and payment oversight
  • Full audit visibility

Secure payments

Third-party gateway with escrow protection on every order

Verified sellers

Every artisan is reviewed and approved before listing

Local delivery

Pickup points and community networks for townships

Multilingual

English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, and Sesotho

Frequently asked questions

Everything you need to know

Choose Register and sign up as an artisan. You complete your profile with your craft specialty, location, and ID document. Our team reviews and approves applications within 48 hours.
Yes. Creating an account and listing products is free. A small transaction fee applies only when a sale is completed so the marketplace can stay sustainable for artisans.
When a buyer places an order, the payment is held securely instead of going directly to the artisan. Funds are released once the buyer confirms the order arrived safely and in good condition.
Craft Connect supports pickup from a local collection point, or direct delivery where the artisan can deliver. Delivery availability depends on the artisan, and a small delivery fee covers transport costs.
The platform supports English, isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans, and Sesotho, with room to expand as the marketplace grows.
The marketplace is focused on handmade goods such as pottery, textiles, woodwork, jewellery, paintings, leather goods, weaving, and beadwork. Mass-produced items are not allowed.
Do not confirm delivery. Contact support with photos of the damage so the dispute can be reviewed while the payment remains protected in escrow.
After registration, artisans submit their profile details and ID documentation. Approved makers receive verified status, which helps buyers trust their storefront and listings.
Right now accounts are role-specific so the experience stays clear and manageable. If you need to switch roles, support can help you with the process.
Yes. Passwords are protected with secure hashing, verification documents are stored safely, and your information is not sold or shared with third parties.
Read our Privacy Policy