Antuque: Persian Rug & British Antique Business Plan
A comprehensive business strategy for a cross-border e-commerce startup specializing in authentic Persian rugs and British antiques between the UK and UAE.
BUSINESS PLAN
Curating Authentic Persian Rugs & British Antiques
Founded by Ali & Tina
SKELMERSDALE, UK · DUBAI, UAE
April 2026
01
Executive Summary
Where Heritage Meets Modern Commerce
Antuque is a specialized online boutique curating authentic second-hand Persian rugs and unique British antiques
Co-founded by Ali (web designer, Skelmersdale UK) and Tina (musician, UAE) — combining technical expertise with artistic vision
Bridges the gap between historical craftsmanship and modern e-commerce, targeting UK/Europe and UAE luxury markets
Strategy: Start small with high-quality manageable inventory, scale annually by reinvesting profits into larger pieces and expanded marketing
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
03
Sourcing Strategy — Year 1
Localized, Manageable & High-Quality
🇬🇧 UK SOURCING — ALI
LOCAL MARKETS
Weekly visits to Bygone Times (Eccleston) and The Regent (Blackpool) — smaller antiques: mirrors, brassware, small furniture
AUCTIONS
Monthly sales at Chorley Auction House and 1818 Auctioneers (Cumbria) — estate-sourced Persian rugs
FOCUS
Items under 20kg to minimize initial logistics risks
🇦🇪 UAE SOURCING — TINA
SECONDARY MARKET
Sourcing vintage Persian rugs from Dubizzle and Facebook Marketplace in Dubai & Sharjah — quality pieces sold by expats leaving the country
SHARJAH BLUE SOUK
Building direct relationships with established dealers for authenticated second-hand inventory
Every piece is authenticated. Every source is trusted.
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
Operational Plan
The 'Start Small' Approach — 12 Month Roadmap
PHASE 1
LAUNCH
Months 1 – 6
5–10 high-quality rugs + 15–20 small antique items
Custom Shopify or WooCommerce site — mobile-optimised, high-speed
Parcel2Go or Royal Mail International Tracked for UK-to-UAE / UK-to-Global
Small, shippable items only to minimise logistics risks
PHASE 2
GROWTH
Months 7 – 12
Expand to 20+ rugs, including larger room-sized pieces
Establish "Groupage" sea freight for larger items — reduced costs
Targeted Instagram ads — "Sustainable Luxury" & "British Heritage" themes
Begin building brand recognition in UK and UAE markets
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
05
Financial Strategy & Initial Investment
£20,000 Total Capital — Strategically Allocated
ALI
£10,000
Skelmersdale, UK
TINA
£10,000
Dubai, UAE
= £20,000 Total (~$25,000 USD)
60%
Initial Inventory Purchase
£12,000
20%
Website Development & Marketing
£4,000
10%
Shipping & Customs Buffer
£2,000
10%
Operational Overhead (First 6 months)
£2,000
Profit-first model: All Year 1 revenue reinvested into inventory growth & marketing scale-up.
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
06
Market & Pricing Strategy
Premium Pricing · International Reach · High Margins
PRODUCT CATEGORY
BUY PRICE
MARKUP
SELL PRICE
Small Persian Rugs
£150–£300
150–200%
£375–£900
British Antiques (Small)
£20–£80
300–400%
£80–£400
Investment Pieces (Rugs/Antiques)
£1,000+
75–120%
£1,750–£2,200+
🇬🇧 UK / EUROPE
Young professionals seeking sustainable, one-off home décor with authentic heritage provenance.
🇦🇪 UAE MARKET
Expats and locals seeking authentic Persian heritage pieces with verified British Estate provenance.
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
07
Legal & Logistics
Structured. Compliant. Protected.
UK Entity
Ali will register as a Sole Trader in the UK initially to keep overheads low and maintain operational flexibility during the launch phase.
UAE Presence
Tina manages local UAE deliveries. Year 1 sales treated as 'personal imports' where possible. E-commerce license activated if volume exceeds regulatory thresholds.
Customs Strategy
All items over 100 years old shipped with a Certificate of Antiquity — qualifying for lower or zero customs duties under HS Code 9706. Significant cost advantage.
All international shipments are fully insured. Packaging includes double-walled boxes and moisture-proof wrapping for rugs.
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
08
Yearly Scaling Goals
A Three-Year Vision for Growth
YEAR 1 — ESTABLISH
2026
Establish brand identity & online presence
50 total sales target
£10,000 – £15,000 revenue
Build sourcing relationships in UK & UAE
Launch Shopify/WooCommerce store
YEAR 2 — EXPAND
2027
Double inventory volume
Introduce AR "View in Room" feature
£30,000+ revenue target
Scale Instagram & digital advertising
Groupage sea freight for large rugs
YEAR 3 — ELEVATE
2028
Open small physical "appointment only" showroom
Location: Skelmersdale, UK or Dubai, UAE
Establish as premium antique authority
Explore wholesale & auction partnerships
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
09
Risk Management
Built on Trust, Expertise & Protection
Authenticity Assurance
RISK: Counterfeit or misrepresented pieces
Every rug undergoes a "Knot Count" test
"Natural Dye" test applied to verify age and quality
Consultation with London-based antique experts for all high-value items
Certificates of provenance provided with every significant piece
Transit & Damage Protection
RISK: Damage or loss during international shipping
All international shipments fully insured at declared value
Double-walled cardboard boxes for all antiques
Moisture-proof wrapping and tube-rolling technique for rugs
Royal Mail International Tracked + signature required on delivery
Every Antuque piece is authenticated, documented, and insured — from source to doorstep.
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan 2026
Where Every Piece Tells a Story.
Thank you for your time and consideration.
ALI — UK
ali@antuque.com
Skelmersdale, Lancashire
TINA — UAE
tina@antuque.com
Dubai, UAE
www.antuque.com
Antuque Online Shop · Business Plan · April 2026
- business-plan
- e-commerce
- persian-rugs
- antiques
- startup-strategy
- luxury-retail
- uk-business
- dubai-business