YOU know that feeling when you’re scrolling through yet another marketplace, looking at identical products stamped “artisan” and “handcrafted” when you’re pretty sure a machine made them? Yeah, Tarooka is trying to fix that.
The platform launched with a pretty specific mission: create a fair marketplace for people who actually make things by hand. No listing fees eating into artisans’ profits. No corporate middlemen. Just makers and buyers connecting directly. It sounds simple enough, but if you know how the handmade market works, you know it’s kind of revolutionary.
The Origin Story
Freeman Chari started Tarooka after noticing something frustrating while working on development projects in Zimbabwe. There were incredibly talented weavers in rural areas creating stunning baskets that people wanted to buy globally—but the actual makers weren’t seeing the financial benefits. The money was getting swallowed by intermediaries and shipping logistics that made it nearly impossible for small artisans to reach international customers.
That observation became the seed for the platform. Rather than just complaining about the problem, Chari decided to build infrastructure that would actually work for global artisans: US-based warehousing facilities, transparent fee structures, and bulk shipping options. The goal was straightforward—let craftspeople keep more of what they earn.
What You’ll Actually Find There
When you browse Tarooka, you’re looking at jewellery, furniture, textiles, home décor, and other items made by actual humans in actual studios. There’s a wide range: handwoven baskets from Zimbabwe, leather goods, beaded jewelry, custom artwork, ceramics, and furnishings. Everything comes with the understanding that it was made by a specific person (or small team) who has a story attached to it.
The product categories are extensive—you can find everything from necklaces and earrings to bedroom furniture to window treatments. But the common thread is that if it’s on Tarooka, someone made it with their hands (or minimal machine assistance).
How the Economics Actually Work
Here’s where Tarooka gets specific about fairness, which honestly feels refreshing in an era of opaque marketplace fees.
If you’re a US-based artisan handling your own shipping, the platform takes 6.5% of the listing price. International makers who bulk ship to Tarooka’s warehouse pay 12.5%. And for artisans who genuinely can’t handle their own logistics, Tarooka offers shipping assistance and charges 20%—which sounds higher until you realise it includes the infrastructure that makes it possible for them to sell globally at all.
This transparent tier system means crafters know exactly what they’re paying and why. There’s no mystery fee that suddenly appears, no surprise deductions. For artisans in developing countries trying to scale up, that clarity matters.
Why It Matters Right Now
Marketplace fatigue is real. People are tired of clicking “handmade” filters and getting factory-produced items. They want something with actual provenance, something that means something beyond just being a product.
There’s also growing awareness that supporting artisans directly actually changes lives. When a weaver in rural Zimbabwe can sell her baskets to customers in the US without losing 60% of the price to middlemen, that’s not just commerce—that’s economic access. When a local furniture maker or jewelry designer can set their own prices and reach customers globally without paying exorbitant listing fees, they can actually make a living from their craft.
Tarooka isn’t the only handmade marketplace out there, obviously. But it’s one of the few that seems genuinely focused on the maker’s bottom line rather than maximizing transaction fees.
The Catch?
Like any newer platform, Tarooka is still building its audience. You’re not going to find the sheer volume of products that you would on Etsy or Amazon’s handmade section. The selection is more curated, which is good if you’re looking for quality but might be frustrating if you want endless options.
The verification process for sellers is also more rigorous than some competitors, which means fewer products but more confidence that what you’re buying is actually what it claims to be. Some might see that as gatekeeping; others would call it quality control.
The Bottom Line
If you care about where your money goes when you buy handmade—if you actually want to support the person who made the thing rather than a marketplace taking a massive cut—Tarooka is worth checking out. The products are real, the makers are real, and the economics are transparent.
It’s a small shift in how online shopping could work. Whether it becomes the next big thing probably depends on whether enough people decide that matters to them.
Visit: https://www.tarooka.com
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