Meet Nicky Hendricks

I am a Christ follower, mom to two girls, a typical Virgo and a nature lover.

I have spent the last 23 years parenting and managing a couple of properties. I am a chef by trade, a creative and an ideas person — I have a host of ideas running through my mind on any given day.

I've always loved crafts and craft markets. I connect with handmade, natural anything and small business. As my children got older, I started considering my next chapter.

I began doing research as to what was available online for handmade in South Africa. Not much — and none that don't charge a substantial commission fee.

I felt an injustice here, and a desire to create something that would help small businesses with beautifully crafted handmade products grow.

That's really where the idea for Artisan Lane began.

There is something very personal about handmade products. Every piece has a story, a person behind it with a talent and a dream. There is a level of care and time that you simply cannot replicate with mass production.

I am a supporter of local, especially markets. I love walking around, chatting to creators, hearing how things are made, and where their story of turning passion into purpose began.

I dabble in craft myself, so I have a huge appreciation for the time, skill and effort it takes to master one.

Absolutely. I'm definitely a market buyer — a bit of a weakness, really. I see what's behind the product and then really want to buy. Got to curb that, given I am now fully immersed in handmade.

One of my favourite market buys is made by an artisan named Trevor, who works with old wine barrels and creates the most beautiful pieces. Mine is a lazy Susan. He and his wife mostly sell at markets, and their products are incredible.

Meeting people like that is actually a big part of why Artisan Lane matters to me. There are so many talented creators making beautiful things that deserve a much bigger audience.

I want Artisan Lane to become a space where creators feel supported and seen — where they can learn and grow their business without feeling overwhelmed by excessive fees or complicated systems.

There's so much talent in South Africa, and I really believe people are looking for more meaningful, thoughtful purchases again. Artisan Lane is about creating a home for those makers and helping more people discover the value of handmade.

I believe that when you reach the point with your craft where you are willing to put a price on it, display it proudly, and confidently sell it, you are no longer dabbling — you have become an artisan. A highly skilled craft worker, the dictionary definition.

As Artisan Lane is a curated platform, I chose to honour artisans with that well-deserved name.