An Australian woman’s frustrating personal experience while purchasing a basic item for her home inspired a $26 million business success story. Alexandra Weller quickly realized how difficult and uninspiring the process of buying a rug could be. Around the same time, her husband Aaron Weller discovered a huge volume of online searches for rugs. This prompted the couple to dig deeper, asking friends and family about their experiences purchasing rugs. They found that many shared similar stories of excitement turning into disappointment due to sizing confusion, color mismatches, and an overwhelming experience. This realization opened their eyes to a significant market gap and an opportunity to revolutionize rug shopping.
To fill this void, the couple launched their online rug retail business, Miss Amara, in 2014 with $50,000 of their life savings. The brand distinguishes itself by providing photos of their extensive range of rugs in situ, enabling customers to visualize the products in their homes. Additionally, they introduced a first-of-its-kind return service, offering free returns and full refunds if customers were not satisfied. Over the years, their commitment to customer-centricity and innovative marketing led to immense growth, with the company reaching a turnover of $26 million last financial year and operating with a team across Australia and Asia.
Couple’s $50k punt now a $26m business