Why We Started Tako Mats (And Why It Matters)
When we first set out to buy a custom gaming mousepad or TCG playmat, we couldn’t believe how bad the options were.
Most stores were just middlemen for offshore factories—dropshipping mats with cheap materials, blurry prints, and long delivery times. Upload your image, tick a few boxes, follow some arbitrary file rules... and then cross your fingers it didn’t turn out terrible.
No quality control. No feedback. No design help. Just templates, warnings, and disappointment.
We’d spent our careers in design, gaming, and product—so we knew it could be better. That’s why we started Tako Mats.
40+ Years in the Industry—And a Lot to Say About It
We’re not just gamers with a side hustle—we’ve spent our lives in this space.
Between us, we’ve got over 40 years of experience in the gaming accessories industry, graphic design, Warhammer and miniature communities, comic and collectible retail, and everything in between.
We’ve worked behind the scenes for the big brands—we’ve seen what works, and more importantly, we’ve seen what doesn’t.
- We’ve seen companies cut corners to save a few cents
- We’ve seen premium prices slapped on mediocre products
- We’ve seen design treated as an afterthought
- And we were done with that
Made by Designers. Not Drop Shippers.
We’re trained graphic designers, based in Sydney, with deep experience in visual communication, layout, and colour. That’s why every custom mat at Tako Mats goes through a full image cleanup process, handled by a real person—one who knows what they’re doing.
We don’t force you to follow a rigid checklist of specs. We take what you upload and make it look incredible—because that’s what we’d want if we were on the other end.
And we are. We're players too.
What Makes Tako Mats Different
- All our products are made right here in Sydney, Australia
- Premium materials: stitched edge, premium rubber base, high DPI microweave
- Custom orders reviewed and adjusted by real designers
- Free image cleanup to ensure the best possible print
- Fast turnaround and local customer support
No gimmicks. Just quality, care, and experience.
Why It Matters
We didn’t build Tako Mats to cash in on a trend—we built it because we were tired of the big brands getting away with doing it half-hearted.
We know what great products look like. We’ve built them before. But this time, we’re doing it right—on our terms, and with no shortcuts.
For the Player
This is for the gamers who want more than just a checkout button. For the players who care about the details. For the ones who want a mat that actually reflects their style, their game, and their setup.
We’ve spent our lives in this space—now we’re building it properly.
