The Arab Spring that swept Egyptian streets saw a new wave of independent designers and artisans keen to make their mark on the new landscape.
Then in mid-2011, concerned by the the “lack of support and opportunities” for these new talents, which hindered the discovery of their unique designs, two young local entrepreneurs saw a way to give them a boost through CIRQY.
The brand was exactly what they needed: “an online portal through which artists to sell their products–art, apparel, accessories, home items, handmade stationary, toys–and make a healthy living off it,” says cofounder Kareem El Shaffei.
Along with his business partner Mostafa Talaat, they created “the first social marketplace inspired by the sellers themselves,” using their valuable feedback to build the CIRQY brand along with taking care of payment and shipping processes so the sellers could conveniently focus on marketing and managing their stores.
This website caters to the needs of buyers as well, from sharing shopping experiences with their networks to providing cash-on-delivery as the preferred mode of payment.
With plans to expand beyond Egypt, they hope to introduce new stores from around the Middle East in addition to international shipping which is coming soon.
For more info – http://cirqy.com
