The verdict in three sentences
For a two-person interior design studio in Sandton that also sells a curated furniture and objects collection, the real question is who will run the catalogue side, much more than where the agency sits. A Johannesburg agency makes sense once an online shop, product shoots and regular meetings are on the table; a remote studio is enough for a strong portfolio and a price-on-request catalogue. Either way, require by contract that the domain, code and photographs stay in your name.
What does the right site look like for a studio that also sells a collection?
Your clients live in Hyde Park, Illovo, Bryanston or Morningside: executives, families renovating, developers of upmarket apartments around Sandton Central. They often arrive from Instagram or Pinterest, look at three or four projects on mobile, then browse the collection. The site therefore needs two journeys:
- a portfolio by project type (apartment, family home, office, hospitality) with large images in WebP or AVIF and lazy loading;
- a collection of selected pieces, first on a price-on-request basis, then possibly as an online shop (e-commerce on quote).
Add a process and fees page written in general terms, a press page only if real features exist, photographer credits, and a project inquiry form with a budget range and timeline. Never publish a client's address, or a home without written consent.
Johannesburg agency or remote studio: which scenario fits you?
| Situation | Better fit | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Collection over 80 pieces with online payment | Local agency or e-commerce on quote | Stock, deliveries and returns need close handling |
| Collection of 20 to 50 pieces, price on request | Remote studio | Simple catalogue, no online logistics |
| Product shoots every season in your showroom | Local agency | Photo team and art direction on site |
| Photos already produced by a freelance photographer | Remote studio | The job is structuring and optimising |
| Monthly meeting wanted in Sandton | Local agency | Face to face is its real strength |
| Fixed budget and live in under a month | Remote studio | Flat price, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks |
| International clients who write in French | Remote studio | Native French copywriting included at Kolonell |
For a two-person studio, available time matters most: an agency that asks for four in-person sign-off workshops also costs you design hours.
What does each option cost over three years?
Local amounts are 2026 ballpark figures based on typical agency quotes and public agency rate pages in the Johannesburg area, converted at roughly ZAR 18 to USD 1. Maintenance after the first 3 months is a market assumption of $220 a month (about ZAR 4,000); at Kolonell it is on quote. Photography is excluded throughout.
| Option | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 | 3-year total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Freelancer (build about $1,950, upkeep $100 a month) | $3,150 | $1,200 | $1,200 | $5,550 |
| Mid-range local agency (about $6,700, $220 a month) | $9,340 | $2,640 | $2,640 | $14,620 |
| Top-tier local agency (about $13,900, $330 a month) | $17,860 | $3,960 | $3,960 | $25,780 |
| Kolonell Growth $4,900, then $220 a month assumption | $6,880 | $2,640 | $2,640 | $12,160 |
| Kolonell Premium $8,900, then $220 a month assumption | $10,880 | $2,640 | $2,640 | $16,160 |
The Kolonell grid (Starter $2,900, Growth $4,900, Premium $8,900) includes a project manager reachable in your time zone, native English or French copywriting, delivery in 3 to 4 weeks and 3 months of support. A full online shop is on quote. Tier details are on the international offer page.
When does the local agency clearly win?
It wins if your collection becomes a real retail business: stock management, delivery across Gauteng, returns, customer service. It also wins if you want ongoing art direction, with seasonal shoots in your showroom and someone who knows your suppliers. And if you prefer settling decisions around a table rather than on a video call, do not force yourself.
The remote studio makes sense when you need a clean, fast foundation, the time zone is close (the gap with the Kolonell team is two hours at most) and your exchanges already happen by email and video.
Questions to ask, and the legal frame to know
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Ask every provider:
- Will the domain, hosting and shop account be in my name? Will I receive the code?
- Who owns the rights to project and collection photos? Will credits be visible?
- Does the form collect the minimum (project type, budget, timeline) and state the retention period?
- Which accessibility level do you target? WCAG 2.2 AA is a sensible goal.
- How can the catalogue grow into an online shop without a rebuild?
In South Africa, POPIA governs the personal information your forms collect, overseen by the Information Regulator. If you sell online, the Consumer Protection Act and the Electronic Communications and Transactions Act require disclosures and returns rules that a lawyer should review. Avoid the word architects: the title is reserved for registered professionals. This is not legal advice.
Mini case study
Illustrative example: Lerato and Naledi run a two-person studio in Illovo. They sell a 40-piece collection (lighting, side tables, ceramics) at an average price of ZAR 12,000, currently only through Instagram. They get about 5 price requests a month and close 30%, so 1.5 sales: roughly ZAR 18,000 (close to $1,000) of monthly revenue.
With a structured catalogue and a price-request button on every product page, they aim for 8 requests a month. At the same rate that is 2.4 sales, about ZAR 28,800 (close to $1,600) a month. The estimated monthly gain of $600 pays back a $4,900 Growth site in just over 8 months. An online shop with checkout can follow later, on quote, if volumes justify it.
FAQ
Do we need an online shop from day one?
Not necessarily. Under 50 pieces, a price-on-request catalogue is often enough and avoids handling returns. Beyond 80 pieces or 10 orders a month, e-commerce on quote becomes worthwhile.
How long until the site is live?
Allow 3 to 4 weeks with Kolonell if photos are ready. A local agency often quotes 8 to 12 weeks when a shop is included.
Can a remote studio organise the photography?
It can write the brief and shot list, but the shoot stays with a local freelance photographer, paid directly by you. Budget ZAR 8,000 to 20,000 a day depending on the profile, as a rough guide.
Should the site exist in French?
If part of your clientele are French-speaking expats, yes. Premium (the multilingual tier, languages set in the quote) at $8,900 covers several languages.
To scope the portfolio and catalogue, request a free quote.
Let's scope your project. Portfolio plus a price-on-request collection catalogue, from $4,900, live in 3 to 4 weeks. See the international offer or request a free quote: detailed reply within 48 hours.
Mohamed Bah
Fondateur, Kolonell
Passionate about digital and entrepreneurship in Africa, Mohamed has been helping Sénégalese businesses with their digital transformation since 2020. Founder of Kolonell, he believes every SME deserves a professional and accessible online présence.