Shop Qatar 2018, along with other events organised by Qatar Tourism Authority (QTA), provides a golden opportunity for small Qatari companies to grow and expand their operations, some events organisers and local fashion brand officials have said.

“Shop Qatar and other QTA events have given us the platform to elevate our brand to the Qatari audience,” Q-Label’s marketing and public relations manager Pooja Adam told reporters on the sidelines of a press briefing on Shop Qatar recently.

“It is important for us to be seen by Qataris as a benchmark for modest wear where ‘East Meets West,’ so that is our main aim as a brand,” she pointed out.

Q-Label, a local brand launched in 2017, took part in the recently-held Arabian Fashion Show at Mondrian Doha, one of the main events of Shop Qatar last week. All its travel wear designs and collections (European Influences) and in-house production are done in the country.

Adam said that they have been keen to be part of the QTA event, which she believes will help them grow.

Citing the success of the Heya Arabian Exhibition last year, she noted that more people have noticed Q-Label and its customer base expanded.

“The Arabian Fashion Show was our second show in Qatar in the last four months,” Adam added.

About the impact on local companies of the unjust blockade, she pointed out that the siege on Qatar even helped them to reach more clients.

Echoing Adam’s view, Design Creationz (sister company of Q-Label) account executive Primrose Fernandes said the blockade has not made a single difference in their operations. Design Creationz operates with a small team and manages events in Qatar.

“What I see from my contacts from day to day, when I deal with designers not only from Qatar but internationally, they are really very interested to open new markets here, it is like a new opportunity for them,” she said, adding, “These include Italian, Spanish, German, Hong Kong, Indonesian, and Chinese brands, as well as Turkish and Lebanese brands.”

“They see this blockade as an opportunity for them to start business here and it is really interesting. It has created many opportunities,” she stressed.

Citing the success of Heya, Fernandes said, “Many embassies in Doha also partnered with us and each country sponsored two designers to participate at Heya. I haven’t felt the siege has affected us a bit.”

Shop Qatar also provided a booth for local companies like Q-Label at Mall of Qatar, along with other startup and home-based enterprises.

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