Applications open · Across America
Your shop has a story.
Let's tell it together.
Tongraal is a curated platform for physical independent shops — the ones with a real address, a real owner, and objects that mean something. We review every application by hand.
✦
Physical shops only
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Every application reviewed by hand
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No dropshipping, ever
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Owner-operated stores
Is Tongraal right for you?
We are selective by design. Here's who we accept — and who we don't.
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Physical storefront
You have a real address anywhere in the United States that customers can walk into. A studio with visiting hours counts.
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No dropshipping
We don't accept shops that resell mass-market products from external suppliers without curation or physical presence.
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Made or curated with intention
You make your objects, or you select them with a specific point of view — handmade, vintage, locally sourced, or beautifully designed.
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Owner-operated
There's a real person behind the shop. We feature you as a human being, not a brand. Your story is part of your listing.
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No franchise or chain
Tongraal is for independent shops only. If you have more than 3 locations, we're probably not the right fit — yet.
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No pure e-commerce
Online-only shops are not accepted. You need a real place people can visit. Even a studio with appointment hours counts.
The Door Keepers
What Door Keepers receive.
A numbered place on the Door Keepers' wall — No. 1 to 100, assigned in order of verified approval. Your number is yours forever, and so are your Door Keeper conditions.
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A Door Keeper number
Free for life · numbered Door Keeper badge
A profile page written by hand with you — your story, your craft, your street — plus a ready-to-post announcement kit to share with your own community.
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A story told properly
Editorial profile · announcement kit included
A direct line to the founder and a real vote on what we build next — categories, features, cities. Founding shops aren't customers; they're co-builders.
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A voice that counts
Door Keepers' circle · you shape the platform
100
The Door Keepers — build Tongraal with us. 🤝
The first
100 shops become
Door Keepers:
free for life (never a subscription),
a numbered Door Keeper badge on your profile, and a real voice in what we build next.
Not customers — keepers of the movement.
See the wall of Door Keepers →
What happens after you apply?
No automated screening. No bots. Every application is verified by a real person — that's the whole point of Tongraal.
1
We read your story
A real person reads your application — your story, your photos, your Instagram. We look for craft, character, and a shop with a soul.
2
We find your door on the map 🗺️
We look up your address on Google Street View and match it to your photo. A real sign, on a real street, with your name on it — and the date you wrote by hand proves you were standing there this week.
3
We check your business in public records 🏛️
We look up your legal name in your state's public business registry — nothing to send us. Your identity is verified by Stripe when you set up payouts, so we never hold a single identity document. The three names must match: the one you apply with, the one on the registry, the one on Stripe. No resellers, no fronts, no anonymous catalogs. Ever.
4
You go live — verified ✓
Decision within 3 days, with a reason either way. Approved shops get a personal welcome call, the verified badge, and a profile page that tells your story.