As you walk through the bazaar, you'll notice quite a few young carpet vendors. Perhaps because it's difficult to find work in this environment, they are young men working part-time, sons who are taking over from father-son businesses that have been in business for generations, and young people who have just started a new carpet business.
Among them, the most hardworking are the young people who are hoping to make a living in the carpet industry.
The items are piled up to the ceiling in the small store, making you wonder how they managed to do it all, and if you ask them, they will show you everything without any complaints.
There are also people who carefully mark sizes, prices, and shipping slips in a way that would be unthinkable in Iran, and people who don't have a lot of products yet but still have a selection of carefully selected items. There is a sense that digital is slowly making its way into the idyllic, analog world of carpets, and it gives you the feeling that the value of carpet shops is gradually changing.
It also seems that the number of stylish shops in the bazaar is increasing.
However, the older guys are not giving up either.
No matter what anyone says, the people who have the most influence are veterans with decades of experience in this field.
When we are doing business in front of the store, they initially watch from a distance, but little by little they gather around and, at the perfect timing in between conversations, they will say to us with a smile, "If you have time, please take a look at ours too."
He's not pushy, but he does a good job of selling himself, which is impressive.
What's a little funny is that an old man follows us around without us even realizing it.
I will follow you to every store you go to.
Apparently, if we tell the shopkeeper that we brought the rug, we can get some pocket money when we buy it. (Note) This is what the interpreter said.
I thought it was quite robust, and at the same time, I felt happy that it was a kind system.
Come to think of it, there were times when the old man would disappear from some stores, but I wonder if that was because those stores don't give pocket money...