Your craft deserves more
than the algorithm.
Zeko is a new South African marketplace for handmade goods, local makers, and creative storefronts. We're inviting our first Founding Makers to build their shops before public launch.
Free to join. No monthly fees. No listing fees. Pay only when you sell.
Want to shop rather than sell? Create a buyer account — the marketplace opens to shoppers at launch.
What you get
Everything you need to sell online.
One platform. Every tool. No monthly fees.
Why Zeko exists
South African makers & shoppers alike deserve better.
One home for South African handmade
Makers are scattered across Instagram, WhatsApp, Facebook Marketplace, and weekend markets. Zeko brings South African handmade together in one place.
A real storefront, personalised to your brand
Your shop should feel as intentional as your craft. Zeko gives every maker a customisable online storefront and the tools to run a serious creative business.
Secure checkout
Orders and payments go through Zeko safely, so you don’t have to handle card details, chase customers, or rely on payment screenshots.
A wider creative community
Zeko is built around makers, not just products. We want to help more people create and earn real income from doing what they love.
Founding Maker perks
Leave your first mark on Zeko.
The first makers on Zeko help shape what the platform becomes. That means privileges no one who joins later will ever have.
0% commission for your first 3 months
Keep 100% of your sales for your first three months on Zeko.
Founding Maker badge
A permanent badge showing buyers you helped build Zeko from the beginning.
Priority launch exposure
Your shop gets front-and-centre visibility when buyers first arrive.
First access to Maker of the Month
Founding Makers are first in line for featured monthly exposure.
Personal onboarding support
We'll help you get your shop looking right before launch.
Help shape the platform
Your feedback directly influences what Zeko becomes.
0% commission for your first 3 months
Founding Makers keep 100% of their sales for their first three months on Zeko. It’s our way of helping early makers get their shops off the ground and start selling with less pressure.
Founding Maker badge
A permanent shield on your shop page, labeling you as a builder and a trusted part of the family. This is a mark of your early commitment that no later seller can earn.
Priority launch exposure
Your shop sits front and centre when buyers first arrive. First impressions belong to those who showed up early.
First access to Maker of the Month
Founding Makers are prioritised for our featured monthly spotlight. This is being built to become a coveted space for real exposure to buyers actively looking for makers like you.
Personal onboarding support
We're hands-on with every Founding Maker. You'll have direct support to get your shop looking exactly right before go-live.
Help shape the platform
Your feedback directly influences what we build. You're not just an early user, you're a co-creator of Zeko.
How it works
Five steps to your Zeko shop.
Take what you love seriously. Here's how to get started.
Create your account
Register in under two minutes. Your account gives you access to everything on Zeko.
Register nowBuild your storefront
Customise your shop name, colours, fonts, and layout. Make it look and feel like your brand.
Add your products
Upload photos, write descriptions, set prices, and add variations or personalisation options if needed.
Submit for approval
Our team reviews every shop before it goes live to maintain quality for buyers. Most reviews take 1–3 business days.
You're ready for launch
Once approved, your shop is live. When we open to buyers, you'll be right there — ready to sell from day one.
Nationwide delivery
Zeko is being built to support nationwide delivery through trusted South African courier partners. The goal is to make it easy for sellers to reach buyers across every province.
During the early phase, we'll guide you through your delivery setup before you go live. We'll be in touch as delivery integrations are finalised.
Secure Rand-based payouts
Zeko is being built with secure ZAR checkout. Buyers pay through the platform and sellers receive payouts according to Zeko's seller terms. Zeko charges a 5% platform fee on each completed sale, plus approximately 2.9–3.5% for payment processing — roughly 8% in total. There are no listing fees or monthly charges.
During the pre-launch phase, we'll guide Founding Makers through the full payment and payout setup before live transactions begin.
Built on trust
A marketplace you can trust
Zeko is designed to protect both sellers and buyers. Here's what that means in practice.
Secure on-platform payments
All buyer payments go through Zeko's secure checkout before being deposited into a seller's bank account. This protects buyers from fraud and gives sellers confidence that funds are real before fulfilment.
Vetted sellers
Every shop is reviewed by the Zeko team before going live. We read the shop bio and review product listings so that shops are kept clean, legitimate, and in-line with Zeko's mission to spread creativity.
Buyer-friendly returns
Each product clearly displays its returns policy before purchase. Sellers choose whether to accept returns, and statutory rights under South Africa's Consumer Protection Act always apply — regardless of the seller's policy.
A note for sellers
All transactions must go through Zeko. Including personal phone numbers, email addresses, WhatsApp links, or payment instructions in your shop bio or product listings is not permitted and may result in your shop being suspended. This policy protects your buyers — and it protects you, since on-platform payments mean your payout is guaranteed by the system. See our Seller Terms & Conditions for the full policy.
FAQ
Questions? We have answers.
Ready to build your shop?
Take what you love seriously.
Your account is free. Your shop is yours. Join the first cohort of makers who will shape what Zeko looks like when it launches and be there from the very beginning.
Want to shop rather than sell? Create a buyer account — the marketplace opens to shoppers at launch.