Seller Prep Kit

Your shop, ready to launch.

Everything the shop-builder and product forms will ask for — have it ready, and claiming your Lokoli shop takes minutes, not an afternoon.

What Lokoli Is

A marketplace for South African businesses and creators.

Lokoli connects shoppers directly with South African sellers, creators and entrepreneurs — no international resellers, no big-box competition. You get your own shop page, shoppers browse and buy directly from you, and every purchase is protected by TradeSafe escrow, which holds the buyer's payment until they confirm the order arrived as described. Claiming a page and listing products is free, with no monthly fees, ever — Lokoli takes a flat 10% commission only when you make a sale.

How It Works For You

Three steps, start to finish.

A shopper finds your shop

Through Lokoli's marketplace, search, or a link you share yourself — your shop page is yours to promote however you like.

They buy, protected by escrow

Payment goes to TradeSafe, not straight to you — held securely until the buyer confirms the order arrived as described. Real protection, for both sides.

You get paid

Once delivery is confirmed, escrow releases your share straight to your bank account — Lokoli's 10% commission is the only thing that comes off the top.

Founding Shops

The first 100 become Founding Shops.

The first 100 sellers to claim their shop get permanent placement on the Lokoli homepage and a Founding Shop badge on every listing — for as long as you sell on Lokoli.

After that, signups stay open — everyone can still claim a free shop, just without the founding badge. Worth being ready to move sooner rather than later.

Get Ready — Part One

Your shop, before you build it.

This is what the shop-builder form asks for. Have these ready and claiming your page takes minutes, not an afternoon.

Business nameWhat shoppers will see and search for.

Your storyA few sentences — what you make, and why. This is what makes shoppers care.

Your categoryOne of Lokoli's 12 categories, plus a specific subcategory within it.

LogoSquare, 400×400px — it displays as a circle, so keep the important part centred.

Cover photoWide banner, 1600×400px — the first thing shoppers see on your page.

Contact email, and city + provincePhone is optional.

0 / 6 ready

Get Ready — Part Two

Your first products.

You don't need a full catalogue on day one — even one or two ready-to-go listings means you can claim your spot immediately, then add more once you're live.

Product name and priceIn Rand — sale pricing is optional and can be added anytime.

Photos, a few angles eachEvery photo gets a Lokoli watermark automatically, so don't worry about that part.

A short descriptionWhat it is, what it's made of, why someone would want it.

Size, dimensions, or variantsOptional — sizes and colours if shoppers need to choose one before buying.

Made-to-order timeline, if that appliese.g. "5–7 working days" — only needed if it's not ready to ship immediately.

Digital file, if it's a digital productDownloads, printables, patterns — upload the actual file sellers receive.

TagsA few keywords a shopper might search for — helps your product get found beyond its own category.

0 / 7 ready

Photo tips — this is what sells

Natural light, no flash. Near a window, on an overcast day if possible — direct sun creates harsh shadows.
A plain, uncluttered background. A wall, a table, a plain sheet — let the product be the only thing the eye lands on.
A few angles. Straight-on, a close-up of detail or texture, and one showing scale (in a hand, on a shelf) if that helps.
Your phone camera is genuinely enough. Good light does more than an expensive camera.

One More Thing

Have your bank details on hand.

TradeSafe needs to verify where your money goes before it can pay you out — account holder name, bank, account number and account type. Sorting this early means your first sale doesn't sit waiting on paperwork.

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Ready when you are.

Have this list ready, and claiming your Lokoli shop takes minutes.

Claim your free shop