The MarketPlace•Shop offers
quality items that are 100% handcrafted.
Our creative suppliers produce beautiful products using traditional
craftmanship which we believe is a refreshing change from mass-produced goods
found in shops.
Each
item is made with care and attention and carefully crafted using high-quality
sustainable materials that should do no harm to our environment. It’s authentic
craftmanship at its best and we’re proud to be associated with a fine
collection of artists and artisans who have turned their inspired passion into
successful small businesses.
The
MarketPlace•Shop has created a community platform where artists and artisans can
market their products online and we use the power of social media to showcase
their unique talent and craftsmanship.
By
supporting The MarketPlace•Shop, you are supporting the creative women and men of South Africa.
This keeps traditional craftmanship skills alive and helps grow our economy.
The advantages of buying handmade gifts
In
an era where everything is produced at a fast and furious pace, we like the
idea that you can still find quality handmade gifts that are made at a slower
pace. In our travels around South Africa, we’ve found the most inspiring gift
ideas ranging from handmade
toys, clothing
and embroidery items to woodwork, hand painted art and organic soaps and
body scrubs.
The
MarketPlace•Shop carefully selects handmade products that meet our high standards of
creativity, sustainability and social consciousness. We source products from
small businesses that not only produce items that are beautiful and unique;
they are environmentally conscious and help grow our economy by employing
people and making a difference to their local communities.
Handmade
uses waste material
As
they say, one person’s trash is another person’s treasure. Household items that
are often thrown away can be used to create beautiful handmade gifts. This
includes old clothes and fabric, buttons and baubles, wooden pieces and old furniture.
With a bit of creative ingenuity, discarded material can be used to make
something special.
Handmade
uplifts local communities
In
many of South Africa’s rural communities, employment levels are extremely low
and there are few prospects to improve one’s quality of life. Bringing people
into a home-based business and teaching them new skills like sewing, painting
and woodwork not only provides them with a decent wage, it also provides them
with an opportunity to develop skills that are not taught in the local schools.
Handmade
is good for our environment
Handmade
products are typically made using raw materials such as wool, cotton, wood and
organic materials like essential oils. They are natural resources that don’t contain
contaminants that are bad for our environment or bad for you and your family.
The
raw materials are sourced locally which means the end product has virtually no
carbon footprint. What carbon footprint refers to is the greenhouse gas
emissions produced by growing, rearing, farming, processing, transporting,
storing, cooking and disposing of any manufactured product.
The
biggest benefit of handmade gifts that are made using raw materials is they are
100% biodegradable. They are free from hazardous materials and chemicals and
won’t do any harm to the environment when discarded.
Handmade
is good for our economy
The small-scale industry in South Africa makes
a significant contribution to our gross domestic product (GDP). Small
businesses absorb about 70 to 80% of the employed population and contribute
about 30% to the country’s GDP. A homebased business that starts in someone’s
lounge or garage and grows into a profitable small business is just as
important to our economy as the large manufacturers and big businesses.
Artists and artisans in South Africa employ
people from local communities, they buy locally-sourced materials that put
money into other people’s pockets and improve the skills of the people working
for them. All this is excellent for South Africa’s economic growth.
Proudly handmade
The MarketPlace•Shop is proud of its handmade philosophy and the contribution
we make to supporting the wealth of creative talent in this country. Each
purchase you make online with us makes a big difference to the individual
artists, the local communities they support and our environment.