For store owners
Phase 1 Pietermaritzburg Launch Pilot — Onboarding Our Founding 15 Artisans Now!
Every item is made to order in small batches: halal-friendly · meat-free · alcohol-free · no non-halal ingredients.
Apply to sell only if your home kitchen is in the immediate Pietermaritzburg → Howick corridor. Head Office verifies location before approval.
Pilot phase: once the shopper has paid, Cravealot pays you by Instant EFT before you start the order — zero listing fees and 0% commission while we prove the programme.
Why we pilot this strategy first. Running a home-kitchen food marketplace comes with real food-safety, trust, and payment risks. Because of those security and risk-mitigation requirements, Cravealot is not switching on nationwide overnight—we are proving this strategy in a Phase 1 pilot in Pietermaritzburg & Midlands with a capped founding cohort, then scaling once pantry checks, storefront badges, Instant EFT-before-pickup payouts, and logistics are proven.
Phase 1 pilot: R0 listing fees, 0% commission, and no monthly subscription — completely free for founding artisans while we prove traction.
After the pilot window, standard commission tiers apply — Head Office confirms billing dates with each maker.
Pilot window through 30 November 2026 · Billing from 1 December 2026 · Cohort cap: 15 makers (Pietermaritzburg → Howick (immediate))
Apply — Founding 15 artisansWho we serve in Phase 1
During Phase 1 we only entertain shoppers and sellers in the immediate Pietermaritzburg to Howick corridor — including Ashburton, Camps Drift, Hilton, Lions River, and other close surrounds where our Wed/Sat runs allow. You can browse the full site anywhere in South Africa; we confirm your delivery address or kitchen location on WhatsApp before we take payment or onboard a new store. Outside this area: join the waitlist — we do not schedule orders or founder applications yet.
Pilot payments (Phase 1)
Pilot phase: once the shopper has paid, Cravealot pays you by Instant EFT before you start the order — zero listing fees and 0% commission while we prove the programme.
Ingredients & allergens
Every maker or seller must be completely transparent on all ingredients used and on allergens where they apply (for example nuts, lactose and dairy, gluten, eggs, or soy).
Your Cravealot storefront name
After you apply, Head Office suggests three warm storefront names that suit what you bake (for example Fatima's Velvet Cakes, Fatima's Melting Bites, or Fatima's Famous Cookies). You pick one; we allocate your unique Store # for the site.
We considered generic names like "Cravealot Store #…" but chose human storefront names plus a Store # so shoppers still feel the person behind the kitchen.
Examples: Fatima's Velvet Cakes · Fatima's Melting Bites · Fatima's Famous Cookies
Store name use (makers)
The storefront name allocated to you on Cravealot is for use on Cravealot only. It may not be used on social media platforms, static sites, or other e-commerce stores. If we detect unauthorised use, the store will be paused until the issue is resolved.
Pilot packaging (anti-poaching & fraud mitigation)
- Pack in plain see-through bags or see-through disposable tubs.
- No branded labels, business cards, maker name, or phone number inserts inside or outside.
- Write your Store # clearly on the outer packaging only (personalised Cravealot labels follow once the pilot is stable).
Cravealot deliveries (pilot)
- Cravealot delivers on Wednesdays and Saturdays in the pilot — makers prepare; we collect and bring orders to the door.
- Wednesday run: pay Friday 12:00 – Tuesday 12:00 (latest). Saturday run: pay Wednesday 12:00 – Friday 12:00 (latest).
- Plan to receive your delivery before you pay. Neighbour drop-off is possible if you message Cravealot on WhatsApp first.
- If makers cannot produce your order after you have paid (emergency), Cravealot will refund you within 24 hours, or — if you prefer — schedule the order for the next delivery run or the next date the maker can bake, diarised with you on WhatsApp.
Shoppers in the pilot
Checkout sends baskets to Cravealot on WhatsApp (074 761 8538) — Paystack link after maker confirmation. Automated checkout rolls out once the pilot proves traction.