From sunrise to late into the night, he worked tirelessly, sitting by the shop’s front window, carefully restoring rugs in hopes of catching the attention of passersby. At the time, there were no other handmade rug repairers in the city. His skill was rare and in high demand. Within weeks, word spread. Rug dealers took notice, eager to hire him. But Najaf had already decided he would work for himself.

Most of his first years in business were a struggle. He barely spoke English and could only communicate with customers through body language. Having come from an all-cash society, he had never even seen a credit card before, let alone used an EFTPOS machine. The first time he had to process a payment, he froze, completely unsure of what to do. It took time, patience, and countless small mistakes before he learned how to navigate this new world.

To make things work, Najaf relied on pure determination. A friend gifted him a small bicycle, which became his lifeline. He would transport rugs to customers’ homes on the back of it, allowing them to trial pieces before committing. Every uphill ride, every exhausting trip across the city, was something he was willing to do to create the life and business he has today.

And so, the foundation of Najaf Rugs was laid, built on honesty, craftsmanship, and the warmth of Afghan hospitality, where every visitor is offered a cup of tea. But this was just the beginning.