From a Childhood Memory to a Dubai Business Idea
In 2016, while living in Dubai, I found myself dreaming of starting a business. My initial idea was to import wholesale goods from Turkey and sell them to local retailers. But during that exploration, something more personal surfaced—memories of my childhood in Aksaray Sultanhanı, where I once helped repair antique and vintage rugs.
I realized that patchwork and vintage rugs, which had become popular in Turkey, were almost nonexistent in Dubai’s modern furniture market. That gap felt like an opportunity waiting to be seized.
Testing the Market with Just Three Rugs
With help from a friend in Turkey, I imported three sample rugs and introduced them to furniture companies in Dubai. Just before Ramadan in 2016, I received my first order: seven vintage rugs.
This was the moment I knew I had something real.
Building a Business from the Trunk of My Car
I returned to Turkey, gathered around 35 rugs, and arranged shipment to Dubai. Navigating customs and logistics was unfamiliar territory. I found a local company that offered import services for a commission, and just like that, I had my first container delivered in the middle of Ramadan.
I didn’t have a warehouse, so the remaining rugs sat in the trunk of my car. Soon after, I rented a small space and began organizing, photographing, and preparing them for sale.
From B2B Sales to International Shipping
In the beginning, I didn’t know much about websites or social media marketing. My goal was simple: sell to a few businesses. Over time, I partnered with about five companies and established regular shipments.
Between 2016 and 2018, I shipped nearly 60 containers of rugs to the UAE under the name Abrash Carpets.
Learning Digital Skills and Owning My Platform
I launched abrashcarpets.com in 2016 with help from a developer, but the high cost pushed me to learn digital skills myself. I studied Shopify, watched countless YouTube tutorials, and completed several digital marketing courses.
After about a year of learning, I was able to manage the website, product listings, ads, and campaigns myself. It was a steep but empowering learning curve.
Explosive Growth During the Pandemic
By 2018, I had my own warehouse in Dubai and was selling 150–200 rugs per month. But 2020 was a turning point. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, many businesses suffered but surprisingly, online sales boomed.
One day, we sold 65 rugs online. It felt like everything I had worked for was paying off.
Challenges, Competition, and Reflection
After 2022, competition in Dubai’s rug market intensified. I began to reflect on the long-term sustainability of the business. Customer service, supplier issues, and shipping problems were part of my everyday life.
I had a small team of five, but I was still heavily involved in every aspect—from photography to marketing to operations.
It became clear that while Abrash Carpets had been a fulfilling chapter, I needed to evolve.
What Abrash Carpets Taught Me
Even though Abrash Carpets is no longer active, it shaped who I am today. It taught me about resilience, adapting to change, and believing in your own ideas—even when others are skeptical.
Back in 2016, many doubted that vintage rugs could sell online. But I trusted that quality and authenticity would speak for themselves and they did.
Advice for Future Entrepreneurs in the UAE
If you’re thinking of starting an e-commerce business in the UAE, here’s my honest advice:
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Start small, but start smart: Test your product with a few customers.
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Learn digital tools: Don’t rely entirely on outside help learn the basics of web management and advertising.
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Focus on quality and service: These are what keep customers coming back.
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Adapt quickly: The market here moves fast. What worked last year might not work next year.
The UAE is a dynamic, challenging, but rewarding place to grow a business. If you’re willing to learn and adapt, the opportunities are endless.
Moving Forward with Abrash Solutions
As 2024 came around, I knew it was time for something new. That’s how Abrash Solutions was born a digital marketing agency where I now help other businesses grow by applying everything I learned over the past decade.
From importing rugs to mastering Shopify and Meta Ads, my journey has come full circle. Now, I get to support other entrepreneurs, brands, and startups as they build their own success stories.
Because every ending is just the beginning of something greater.