Some folks play it safe. Others jump in with both feet, no safety net, and figure it out on the way down. Ahmet Çınar is in the second group.
Before bringing high-end Turkish silk carpets to Dubai, he didn’t look at market trends or run focus groups. He probably would’ve backed out before he even started if he had. Nobody was asking for them. The local market leaned toward Persian wool rugs, and silk wasn’t just unfamiliar—it was three to four times more expensive. The math didn’t make sense. But here he is, years later, running one of the best-known carpet businesses in the region.
Ahmet’s sister, Funda, got pulled into the business whether she liked it. She didn’t see herself as an entrepreneur, but Ahmet didn’t give her much choice. He convinced her to move to Dubai with a mix of emotional manipulation and persistence, then slowly offloaded responsibilities onto her until she was running things herself. She may not have planned for this life, but she’s in it now. And if you ask Ahmet, she wouldn’t have it any other way.
Their business is about proving value in an industry where people try to pass off cheap machine-made carpets as handcrafted pieces. Cinar wants to educate customers so they don’t get scammed. And, somehow, along the way, it became about live music, too.
Ahmet didn’t set out to host weekly concerts at his home, but it happened like everything else in his life, and now it’s a thing. What started as a casual jam session with friends became a full-blown tradition. Musicians gather to play, experiment, and have a good time every Tuesday. No tickets. No headliners. No schedules.
Their story isn’t one of careful planning or calculated decisions. It’s one of gut instincts, risk, and a willingness to keep going even when everything goes sideways. They’ve had big wins, brutal losses, and many laughs along the way.
This conversation is exactly what you’d expect from two siblings who spend too much time together. They roast each other. They argue. They call each other out. But underneath all that, there’s an unspoken truth—they wouldn’t trade this ride for anything.
Funda:
Hi, I’m Funda Çınar from the Çınar Rugs family. Welcome to the second episode of Backstories of Entrepreneurs. Today, I have Ahmet Çınar, my brother, with me. I’m really happy to have him because we love giving each other a hard time. So, I’m going to do exactly that today—he doesn’t know what I’m going to ask!
Ahmet:
She didn’t show me the questions.
Funda:
Hi, Ahmet. You know, if you exaggerate any story, I’m going to call it out and stop you.
Ahmet:
No! Without exaggeration, there’s no good story.
Funda:
Then I’ll keep stopping you.
Ahmet:
No, you cannot stop me in the middle of a story! You can correct the facts afterward.
Funda:
Agreed. I’ll wait, then I’ll jump in and share the real facts.
Ahmet:
Can I change my host, please?
On Entrepreneurship
Funda:
So, first of all, do you really see yourself as an entrepreneur?
Ahmet:
Yes, I do. You’re going to make fun of me, but yes.
Funda:
Okay, yeah. I actually see you as an entrepreneur, too… kind of… I’m kidding! But I do feel you have the spirit of an entrepreneur.
Ahmet:
You didn’t have that spirit at first. I kind of forced it onto you because I couldn’t do it alone—I needed you.
Funda:
You turned me into an entrepreneur unwillingly!
Ahmet:
It started as emotional abuse. I told you I needed you emotionally, that you had to stand by my side.
Funda:
That’s exactly how you convinced me to come to Dubai.
Ahmet:
And once you got here, I started giving you small tasks. Then, one day, I said, “I’m going on vacation—it’s all yours,” and I left!
Funda:
Thank you for making me sick, by the way. I know I caught this cold from you.
Ahmet:
And I got it from Steve!
Funda:
Still love you, though.
Ahmet:
Love you too.
Taking Risks in Business
Ahmet:
Entrepreneurship is about taking risks—sometimes blindly. Many entrepreneurs might say, “Oh, it’s about calculated risk. You need to study the market.” Yes, you do, but if we had studied the market, we wouldn’t be in Dubai right now.
There was no market for Turkish handmade carpets in Dubai. By the way, for the audience—Dubai was not made for silk carpets. Our brand is known for silk carpets, and traditionally, people here used wool carpets, mostly Persian ones, which are more affordable.
So, when we introduced Turkish silk carpets—something unknown in this part of the world—and priced them at three to four times more than what customers were used to, logically, we should have failed. All the odds would have been against us if we had conducted market research. But here we are—one of the most well-known carpet companies in Dubai.
This is why entrepreneurship isn’t just about calculated risks. Sometimes, it’s about having the courage to take a leap.
Funda:
You used to be a much more reckless person. Now, not as much.
Ahmet:
Yes, I was really scared of failure back then. I was a dreamer, and I didn’t realize how much failure and disappointment would come with it.
Funda:
One thing I do admire about you is that you don’t let failure stop you. Even after a terrible day, you wake up and start fresh.
Handling Clients and Respect for the Carpet Industry
Funda:
Yesterday, we had a horrible day, and yet you still managed to keep going. How?
Ahmet:
Do you remember that day when I was playing the piano for potential clients while you weren’t feeling well?
Funda:
Yes, I texted you at 2 a.m. because I saw your face and knew you weren’t doing well.
Ahmet:
I was exhausted, but after closing the door when the clients left, I saw your message: “Wow, how can you do that? I’m so proud of you.” That meant a lot.
Funda:
Selling carpets is a business full of challenges. People disrespect what we do. They say things like, “This carpet isn’t worth that much. It’s just a carpet; you step on it.”
Ahmet:
Yes! And we also have to deal with fraud—people selling machine-made carpets as handmade ones. Clients get scammed all the time. That’s why we educate our customers. I often tell them, “Don’t buy from me. Just send me a picture of what you’re considering, and I’ll tell you if it’s real.”
The Weekly Music Nights
Funda:
Can you talk about the music nights you started? I was against them.
Ahmet:
I started them not for business. My Turkish friend Mar and I used to jam together at his house. One day, I suggested hosting it at my place. He agreed, and what started as a small gathering of musicians turned into a weekly event.
During COVID, restrictions were still in place, so we had to keep it small. But over time, it became a tradition—every Tuesday. This year marks four years.
Now, we have 70+ people attending, with 15–20 musicians per event. It’s no longer just a jam session—it’s a full concert.
Funda:
So why is it still free?
Ahmet:
If we charged, it would change everything. Musicians would expect to be paid, and they’d start treating it like a job. Right now, they are experimenting, playing instruments they wouldn’t dare to play on stage, and just enjoying themselves. If we charged, guests would start making demands, asking what time the music starts, how long it lasts, etc. That would ruin the atmosphere.
Funda:
You also need me to kick people out when it runs too late!
Ahmet:
Yes, I do. When you weren’t there for two weeks, we finished at 1 a.m. instead of 3 a.m. That was proof you’re the one keeping people there longer!
Ahmet’s Business Ventures in the US
Funda:
Tell me about your ventures in the US. You invested in some interesting projects.
Ahmet:
My first business there was New York Chai, a tea store. Then, I invested in SinX, a movie streaming company.
The idea was simple: instead of paying per movie, you’d pay per viewer. A small device would count how many people were in the room and charge accordingly.
It was a game-changer in Saudi Arabia, where families prefer watching at home. We sold 10,000 devices there. But in the US, it was a challenge—Hollywood lobbied against us, fearing it would hurt traditional movie theaters.
Ahmet’s Language Talent
Funda:
You’re great at languages. I struggle with English, but you speak six languages!
Ahmet:
Funny story—I was actually told I had no talent for languages. It took me 11 years to learn German! But once I did, I realized it was about melody. Languages with melody—like Spanish, Italian, or Chinese—are easier for me because they’re like music.
Funda:
We’ve gone way over time. Before we wrap up, I just want to say—thank you. We work together and live together, and despite everything, it’s fun.
Ahmet:
Even when we fail, we laugh. That’s what makes it worth it.
Funda:
Exactly. Thank you for being here.