Both my parents are retired artisans but never benefited any from their woodcarving business, apart from making beautiful + unique woodcarvings – that goes the same to my family members too who are still carving. This is because they sell to the middlemen and the wholesalers. They never sold directly to the end customer. I didn’t want to see other artists end up like my father, I want them to benefit from what they make by selling directly to the customers.
My father would spend a week or more to make a sculpture, a wholesaler would only offer 10,000/=Tshs ($5) even though artisan needs 100,000/=Tshs ($50), or the middlemen would look for buyer in his absence, fix the price they want and would come back posing as buyers and lower the price even to 5,000/=Tshs ($2.5). He needs to take it because he has no other option. 
Tax reporting too cumbersome for artists, so they don’t even bother and the government doesn’t get tax revenue on international orders.
Visitors to Tanzania sometimes overlook the rich offering of local products that are available in the continent. Attracted by the safaris, the culture and exciting adventure travel, they seldom have time to explore the unique arts and crafts made in this land.
Gusa is an online and offline marketplace enables artisans in Africa to connect directly and share their stories with buyers, art galleries, interior designers, art collectors and partners worldwide. For buying, selling craft items from Africa. For now, Gusa only works with local artists in Tanzania - East Africa, but will be expanding after time.

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VISION: When I meet with artisans they should be able to earn living from their art. 

MISION: Connecting artisans in Africa with art buyers all over the world
 
To all of you, from all of me Gusa - Thank you and Happy eCommerce!

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Tiago (Kevin) Patrick
Founder and the Gusa Marketplace CEO