# 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.

Tags: business-plan, e-commerce, persian-rugs, antiques, startup-strategy, luxury-retail, uk-business, dubai-business
## Executive Summary
* Antuque is an online boutique specializing in authentic second-hand Persian rugs and British antiques.
* Co-founded by Ali and Tina, bridging UK technical expertise with UAE artistic vision.
* Targets luxury markets in UK, Europe, and UAE.

## Sourcing Strategy
* UK: Weekly visits to local markets (Bygone Times, The Regent) and monthly auctions (Chorley, 1818 Auctioneers).
* UAE: Vintage Persian rugs sourced from secondary markets like Dubizzle and digital relationships with Sharjah Blue Souk dealers.

## Operational & Financial Roadmap
* Phase 1 (Months 1-6): Launch with 5-10 rugs and 15-20 antique items via Shopify/WooCommerce.
* Phase 2 (Months 7-12): Scale to 20+ rugs and introduce sea freight.
* Initial Investment: £20,000 total capital distributed across inventory (60%), marketing (20%), shipping (10%), and overhead (10%).

## Market & Pricing Strategy
* Small Persian Rugs: £150–£300 buy price, 150-200% markup.
* Small British Antiques: £20–£80 buy price, 300-400% markup.
* Investment Pieces: £1,000+ buy price, 75-120% markup.

## Legal & Scaling Goals
* Operating structure: Sole Trader (UK) and Personal Imports/E-commerce license (UAE).
* Customs: Utilizing HS Code 9706 with Certificates of Antiquity (over 100 years old) for lower duties.
* Growth: Year 2 targeting £30,000+ revenue; Year 3 planned physical showroom by appointment.

## Risk Management
* Authenticity: Every rug undergoes "Knot Count" and "Natural Dye" testing.
* Logistics: Full insurance on international shipments with specialized moisture-proof wrapping for textiles.
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