The people shaping each collection
LocalMaker is built around a small team that knows handmade homeware well and pays attention to the details that matter. From the feel of a glazed mug to the weave in a table runner, our work is to select pieces that suit real homes in Cape Town, Johannesburg, Durban, Pretoria and Stellenbosch, with delivery arranged across South Africa.
We deal with the daily practicalities too, including stock movement, gift wrapping, care advice and replacement help where needed. It keeps the business hands-on and grounded, with each order moving through a few careful checks before it leaves Woodstock.
Thandeka Mkhize, managing director
Thandeka guides the overall direction of LocalMaker and keeps the business anchored to its purpose of supporting South African makers. She pays close attention to how the range is balanced, making sure the collection includes useful everyday pieces, gift items and decor that feel considered rather than overdone.
She also works closely with the rest of the team on supplier relationships and the tone of the business, so the service matches the quality of the products. Her role often touches both the creative side and the practical side, which suits a shop that handles handmade goods with care.
- Oversees the full product range
- Works with makers and internal planning
- Keeps the business focused on quality and local craft
Ayanda Matlala, buyer and curation lead
Ayanda spends much of her time looking at materials, workmanship and how a piece will live in a home. She is the person behind much of the curation, choosing ceramics with clean finishes, textiles with good drape and wood items that show honest grain and careful making.
Her eye helps keep the range practical too. A serving bowl should hold up in daily use, a cushion cover should be easy to live with and a decor piece should fit naturally into a shelf, table or sideboard without feeling fussy.
- Selects handmade ceramics, textiles, wood and decor
- Checks finish, function and visual balance
- Shapes gift sets and custom bundles
Jaco Mahlaba, operations manager
Jaco keeps the operational side moving, from stock flow to order preparation. Handmade items need a bit more attention than standard retail goods, so he makes sure packaging, handling and dispatch follow a steady process, especially for fragile ceramics and mixed gift orders.
He also works on delivery coordination for local and national orders, helping the team match the right packing method to the destination. Cape Town humidity, long-distance transport and breakable items all need different thinking, and that practical awareness sits at the centre of his work.
Leanne Daniels, customer care manager
Leanne handles the human side of the order journey, especially when a gift needs a note, a registry has a few moving parts, or a customer wants help understanding care instructions. She keeps the communication clear and calm, which matters when people are choosing something personal for a housewarming, wedding or corporate gift.
Her work often includes replacement help and care advice, both of which rely on clear information about materials like clay, cotton, linen, wood and natural finishes. She helps customers choose pieces that suit their space and how they plan to use them.
- Supports gifting requests and registry help
- Explains care for ceramics, textiles and wood
- Assists with replacement and order queries
Sibusiso Liebenberg, logistics coordinator
Sibusiso coordinates packing and transport so orders leave Woodstock in a sensible way for each route. He understands that a set going to Durban needs different protection from one heading across Cape Town, and he keeps an eye on timing, route planning and the condition of each parcel.
His role is especially important for bulk orders, curated gift boxes and housewarming sets where several items need to arrive together. A small chip on a mug or a scuff on a wooden tray can spoil the experience, so his attention to packaging is practical, not decorative.
Megan Mafokeng, content and community editor
Megan writes and edits the words that help people understand the range before they order. She works on product descriptions, care notes and the content used to explain the value of handmade goods, without making them sound stiff or overworked. The language stays plain, useful and close to the materials.
She also helps shape the community voice around South African makers and homeware that is meant to be used, gifted and lived with. Her work keeps the tone warm and grounded, with enough detail to help customers choose well.