Wool, water, Wi-Fi: Modernizing an ancient business at the final frontiers of e-commerce
1 min read
Summary
Central Asian ecommerce company Tumar has successfully exported its handmade felt products globally, thanks to a combination of ancient heritage, Soviet-era machinery and cutting-edge technology.
Combining nomadic traditions with modern technology has enabled the company to reach customers directly via its own web store, which offers extensive payment options.
Tumar’s success is thanks in part to funding from USAID’s green business initiative in Central Asia, however the future of this and other such schemes is now in question due to cuts in US overseas aid.
This has left Tumar with a $35,000 funding gap for its new website, which it is hoping to resolve by enrolling in Estonia’s e-Residency programme.
The company is intent on expanding its partnerships with Central Asian workshops and family-owned farms in order to process more wholesale felt, as well as increasing its product line to include biodegradable and eco-friendly items.