Of the many things I love about the beautiful Mother City, one of those I love the most is the amazing variety of markets we are so fortunate to have on our doorstep. The sheer number of markets out there is quite something.
What I don’t always love and want to do is leave the warmth and comfort of my home (ok, getting out from under the covers!) on a cold, winter’s day and braving the elements to drive to said market.
So what do you do if you’re in need of a little retail therapy but don’t want to leave the house? Or you’re looking for a special and unique gift but can’t bear to face the crowds in a busy shopping mall (ugh!) on a Saturday afternoon? Well, I may just have the perfect solution for you. I was browsing online the other day while it was pouring outside and discovered an online shopping site that I’d never seen before. You know, us Saffas (aka South Africans) are a talented and creative bunch of people. And this is clearly evident on HanDMadE (HDME).
Launched in February 2017, HDME is an online craft market for South African creators to sell their handmade goods and designs. So how did this platform dedicated to building a community of buyers and sellers of handmade goods and craft supplies come about?
The dynamic and creative forces behind HDME are Neil Mackay and Tiffany Sosa. Neil, being self-taught in design with natural business savvy, knows what it takes to grow a successful business and is responsible for much of the design, seller platforms and development of the creative community.
Tiffany, on the other hand, really enjoys making handmade items and is the drive behind the creation of HDME. Having spent hours looking for the resources to make her crafts, she was very frustrated when one online site she found couldn’t provide her with all the stock and info regarding prices and whether or not the item was available. And so the idea to create a central place for people to buy and sell handmade goods, along with the craft supplies needed should they wish to make their own handmade products, was born. Once the community has grown in size, they are going to concentrate on lessons teaching people how to make their own handmade items, thereby giving them the inspiration to start a hobby or possibly turn that hobby into a business.
The website is super user-friendly. I created my own account in no time at all. There are a number of different categories selling everything from artwork, jewellery, home décor items to clothing and accessories for adults, babies and kids. There are so many creative and unique goods available that you’re sure to find something (or many items!) to buy. Once you’ve chosen the item/s you wish to purchase, simply select the Quantity and click on the Add to Cart button, Check Out to add your details and complete the payment process.
Another feature that I enjoy about HDME is that they have a Featured Seller section that rotates on a monthly basis. This section gives a particular seller more exposure and an opportunity to tell their prospective buyers about their products.
Becoming a Seller on HDME is super easy too. Simply log onto the HDME website, scroll to the bottom of the Home Page where you’ll find the heading Sell on HDME. Click on Become a Shop Vendor, then OPEN YOUR SHOP and voila! You’re halfway to opening your own online store – how exciting! There is a whole host of information available should you have any questions on becoming a Seller, as well as a handy step-by-step PDF guide telling you all you need to know to complete the process. The great thing is that there are no upfront costs to try HDME and you can start selling for next to nothing.
So why should you buy products from HDME? The quality products they sell are unique, beautifully made and reasonably priced. HDME takes the time to get to know their vendors and the quality of the products they sell. Put your mind at ease when making purchases as the site is safe and secure and they ensure that all your information is safeguarded. Shipping is reliable as vendors are provided with resources that help teach them how to safely package and ship your items. I love supporting local businesses and this is a great way to do just that. I couldn’t resist making my own purchase so I’ve ordered a really cool Storm Trooper 2 cushion from Kulcha Kollektive for my son. I’ll post a pic when it arrives.
Now that you’ve been shown a glimpse of the oh-so-fab online craft market shopping world of HDME, how about a PRIZE GIVEAWAY? There are two great prizes up for grabs!
First prize:
Diane from Diane Shearer Illustration has offered her stunning “Flying Sunset” unframed print on 250gsm paper valued at R200.00.
Second prize:
Charlie from Kulcha Kollektive has offered her funky “Alice Cushion” which is a 40×40 scatter cushion valued at R160.00.
To enter, all you need to do is the following:
- LIKE and SHARE the HDME and LivingItUpCT Facebook pages.
- LIKE and SHARE the Facebook post, tagging 3 friends that must complete both steps so that you all qualify for the lucky draw.
That’s it – so easy … good luck!
PLEASE TAKE NOTE – T&C’s
* The prize is open to residents of South Africa only.
* Only one entry person.
* All steps must be completed for the entry to be valid.
* The competition closes at midnight on Monday, 31 July 2017 and the lucky winners will be announced by Friday, 4 August 2017.
* The winner will be chosen randomly.
* The judges’ decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
For more information on HDME, check out their website and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.
I’d love to hear what you think of HDME and please show us photos of your purchases 🙂
Photo credits – HDME
