Winning more than just customers at workplace
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Jane Tuna
Oluşturulma Tarihi: Mart 16, 2009 00:00
FETHİYE -Many seem to gravitate toward Shaman, drawn in by the Aladdin’s cave of trinkets, charms, exotic clothes and ’hippie chic’ items. The eclectic mix of products that make the shop so popular among residents and tourists alike are sourced from winter trips to the Far East and from the owner’s own unique designs produced in Turkey
Gürsu and Asiye Kasacı are usually seen sitting on cushions scattered around the entrance of their shop, Şaman, talking with friends, drinking tea and always busy with their imaginations and hands, making enchanting and unique jewelry.
"So many of our customers are friends, too. They are surprised when they meet up here and we often end up having impromptu gatherings, but of course I don’t believe it is chance. For me there is no such thing as coincidence," said soft-spoken Gürsu Kasacı, who is equally at home talking in his native Turkish, or German, the language of his youth, or English.
Aladdin’s cave of trinkets
Many seem to gravitate toward the shop, drawn in by the Aladdin’s cave of trinkets, charms, exotic clothes and "hippie chic" items. The eclectic mix of products that make the shop so popular among residents and tourists are sourced from their winter trips to the Far East and their own unique designs, which they either create themselves or have produced in Turkey.
"We make a lot of our own jewelry using semi-precious stones," said Asiye, who wears the jewelry and clothes she designs, and always seems elegant and distinctively dressed. "When we make a necklace or bracelet it already has an owner, even if they don’t know it! It is something special, just for them. Once they see it they know they have to have it," she said.
The clothes they sell are bohemian or as they describe, "hippie chic," and made from natural fabrics such as cotton and silk, which are ideal for the hot summer months. "We used to source our clothes from the Far East but now we design them ourselves and have them made from Turkish materials either locally or in Istanbul," said Asiye.
Natural attraction
Asiye and Gürsu never have to attract passing tourists with the banter typical of a seaside resort. Customers, often women, flow into Shaman, attracted by the brilliant crystals, the incense, the quiet rhythmic music and the tinkling bells from the wind chimes.
But it is not just the eye-catching quality of the display. Gürsu and Asiye seem to have a mysterious attraction about them, a style that makes them different from their neighbors in the Paspatur area of Fethiye’s old town. "We have spent many years travelling around countries like Nepal, India and Thailand. We have learned so much from their cultures and way of life. They have deeply influenced the way we live. Meditative, contemplative and centered. Not only did it have a wonderfully positive effect on us and our children, it also seems to influence the people coming to our shop," said Gürsu.
"I often drop by to see Gürsu and Asiye when I’m in Turkey and invariably end up buying something that I feel has been made especially for me," said Parisa, an artist from Iran. Her friend Işık is also a regular visitor and is happy to model her new outfit Ğ exclusively from Shaman and what was described as "her style."
The shop is now glittering, intense with color and energy from the items they made during the winter. All their regular customers are glad to be back and may be beginning to feel an urge to visit the shop, where they will almost certainly meet up with friends who have exactly the same idea. But, according Gürsu it is no coincidence.
"So many of our customers are friends, too. They are surprised when they meet up here and we often end up having impromptu gatherings, but of course I don’t believe it is chance. For me there is no such thing as coincidence," said soft-spoken Gürsu Kasacı, who is equally at home talking in his native Turkish, or German, the language of his youth, or English.
Aladdin’s cave of trinkets
Many seem to gravitate toward the shop, drawn in by the Aladdin’s cave of trinkets, charms, exotic clothes and "hippie chic" items. The eclectic mix of products that make the shop so popular among residents and tourists are sourced from their winter trips to the Far East and their own unique designs, which they either create themselves or have produced in Turkey.
"We make a lot of our own jewelry using semi-precious stones," said Asiye, who wears the jewelry and clothes she designs, and always seems elegant and distinctively dressed. "When we make a necklace or bracelet it already has an owner, even if they don’t know it! It is something special, just for them. Once they see it they know they have to have it," she said.
The clothes they sell are bohemian or as they describe, "hippie chic," and made from natural fabrics such as cotton and silk, which are ideal for the hot summer months. "We used to source our clothes from the Far East but now we design them ourselves and have them made from Turkish materials either locally or in Istanbul," said Asiye.
Natural attraction
Asiye and Gürsu never have to attract passing tourists with the banter typical of a seaside resort. Customers, often women, flow into Shaman, attracted by the brilliant crystals, the incense, the quiet rhythmic music and the tinkling bells from the wind chimes.
But it is not just the eye-catching quality of the display. Gürsu and Asiye seem to have a mysterious attraction about them, a style that makes them different from their neighbors in the Paspatur area of Fethiye’s old town. "We have spent many years travelling around countries like Nepal, India and Thailand. We have learned so much from their cultures and way of life. They have deeply influenced the way we live. Meditative, contemplative and centered. Not only did it have a wonderfully positive effect on us and our children, it also seems to influence the people coming to our shop," said Gürsu.
"I often drop by to see Gürsu and Asiye when I’m in Turkey and invariably end up buying something that I feel has been made especially for me," said Parisa, an artist from Iran. Her friend Işık is also a regular visitor and is happy to model her new outfit Ğ exclusively from Shaman and what was described as "her style."
The shop is now glittering, intense with color and energy from the items they made during the winter. All their regular customers are glad to be back and may be beginning to feel an urge to visit the shop, where they will almost certainly meet up with friends who have exactly the same idea. But, according Gürsu it is no coincidence.