A “crazy” impulse buy led these sisters to start a social enterprise

It’s hard to believe that Rania and Zaina Kanaan are only 29 and 32, respectively. The Canadian-Palestinian siblings have been in business together since 2011, first launching an ecommerce venture, then setting up a social start-up back in 2014.

It’s thanks to determination and hard work that they were selected to be two of the entrepreneurs fronting Facebook’s #SheMeansBusiness programme in the region. Launching late last week, the microsite aims to train and help other female business women along their journey. MySalaam met Rania to find out more.

You began in 2011 with an ecommerce venture, followed by a social enterprise a few years later. Your initial business has evolved, hasn’t it?

We’ve been doing this [Charicycles] since the end of October 2014. Before that, we started an ecommerce marketplace [ananasa.com] that sold handmade items made in the Middle East. We’re still doing it, but we adapted it slightly, because a marketplace in this part of the world is very expensive to run. You have to spend a lot to compete with big players, who have massive budgets. We changed it to be more of an informative platform than a trade platform. 

As for Charicycles, why bicycles?

We lived a big chunk of our lives in Montreal, and there you commute everywhere on bike. Three years ago, during a time when I was not doing great financially, I walked into Go Sports, and I found this beautiful bike that I decided to buy on credit. When I went home, my family started shouting at me. I mean, it was August in Dubai, and I didn’t have the money for it!

How did Zaina react?

Zaina called me crazy, but then she expressed interest in getting a bike, but wasn’t going to spend thousands on it. So we found an old frame and customised it. Every time she would ride it people would ask her where she got it. That’s when we realised there was an opportunity for this kind of custom-made product.

What’s the social element here?

Not only does this product reduce waste and CO2 emissions, but also for every five bikes we sell we donate a bike to a refugee camp in the Middle East. [We donate] to schools, where they use it as part of a reward programme, so whenever a child excels in school they receive a bike as a reward.

Where are your customers from at the moment?

We started selling to mostly Dubai-based customers, but now we have expanded to the rest of the region.

Logistically, is it easy?

Shipping is not that expensive, and we have shipping partners. We package them in a way that you only have to do very simple mechanical work once you receive the bike.

Any plans to go global?

We ship to the GCC and the Levant, but we are hoping to expand. Our aim is to eventually export this concept. We want to go to the UK and enter Europe, and then North America.

You’re part of the #SheMeansBusiness programme. What challenges have you faced setting up a business?

It’s expensive to set up. The laws are not very clear when it comes to running a social business, as we’re not a charity.

It’s also very hard to bootstrap a business; we’re completely self-funded. Investors in this region do not understand social impact businesses.

It’s probably not a quick return for them…

Exactly. There’s big competition for funds here, so investors are more likely going to invest in a company that’s going to scale in a year or two.

How do you hope to benefit others through #SheMeansBusiness?

We have a network of amazing women who keep us sane, because it’s easier to talk about your emotions with someone who understands what you’re going through. It’s a great support system.

What are your plans for 2017?

We’re approaching new clients; we’re approaching hotels, and we’re approaching grocery shops that deliver, trying to convince them to not buy a new fleet of 200 bikes and instead just recycle what they have. It’s going well. We’re also looking to be in Europe by 2018-19.

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