LocalPulse: Community Powered E-Commerce
LocalPulse is a community-focused web application designed to bridge the gap between skilled artisans and consumers who value authentic, handcrafted products. The platform addresses critical pain points in the current artisan marketplace by providing streamlined business tools for creators while offering customers transparent access to the stories, processes, and people behind handcrafted goods.
2025
E-commerce
Challenge
The artisan marketplace faces a fundamental disconnect. Skilled creators with unique handcrafted products struggle to effectively reach and engage with consumers who value authenticity and craftsmanship over mass production. Current solutions force artisans to fragment their presence across multiple platforms not designed for their specific needs, while customers must navigate impersonal marketplaces that provide limited context about creators and their processes.
Key Problems Identified
Artisan Struggles: Time wasted on platform management instead of creating, inadequate compensation, limited storytelling capabilities
Customer Frustrations: Difficulty discovering authentic products, lack of transparency about creation processes, concerns about quality and reliability
Market Gap: No platform optimally designed for the artisan-customer relationship in the handcrafted goods space
Insights From Research
Artisans prioritize authenticity over scale, they want sustainable growth without compromising their craft.
Customers crave connection. About 78% want to know the story behind products they purchase.
Trust is paramount - both sides need transparent communication and reliable processes.
Time is the critical resource - artisans need tools that enhance rather than complicate their workflow.
Design Flow
The design comprises of various pages from the home page, to the categories, then artisan/business pages then cart and checkout screens, then the profile screen and profile page.
But for this documentation, we’ll show about the main features that makes LocalPulse different.
Artisan/Business Categories
These pages show the different categories of products we have on the platform and the artisans ad businesses with products under this categories.
Under each category, users have the opportunity to chose between seeing businesses or just private vendors.
Chat
Building a community centered platform, it’s only right the community members have the ability to communicate with each other within the platform.
Artisan Overview
This page gives an overview about the artisan. It features the name of the Artisan, A brief description of his work, a button to enable users start a chat with the artisan, a video introduction of his craft to enable customers appreciate his craft even more. Then it shows the products listed by the Artisan with their prices and the reviews on the artisans work.
Artisan Verification
To ensure a scam free platform, the artisans have to go through a verification process before they’re allowed to showcase their product.
Artisan Dashboard
The homescreen for the artisans and businesses. It shows an overview of the businesses’ data and activities.
Sales Analytics
The Sales Analytics gives a rundown of the vendors finances on the platform. This will help the vendor h ave an accurate financial report from the platform
Inventory Mangement
Inventory management is where vendors see their stock, know when it’s running low and add new items to their product list
Solutions Implemented
Challenge 1: Building Trust in Online Artisan Purchases
Solution: Developed comprehensive verification system including artisan background checks, process documentation requirements, and robust review system.
Challenge 2: Competing with Established Marketplaces
Solution: Focused on differentiation through community features and storytelling rather than competing on price or volume.
Conclusion
LocalPulse successfully addresses a critical gap in the artisan marketplace by prioritizing relationships over transactions. The platform's community-first approach creates sustainable value for both artisans and customers, proving that commerce platforms can support authentic craftsmanship while building profitable, engaged communities.
The project demonstrates that understanding user needs deeply rather than simply digitizing existing processes, leads to innovative solutions that benefit all stakeholders. LocalPulse's success lies not just in its features, but in its commitment to preserving and celebrating the human element in an increasingly automated marketplace.
