Since the beginning of the war, the Lviv-based company «Bentko Furniture», which also has a metalworking shop, has shifted its production to support the war effort. They welded anti-tank barriers and other defensive structures for territorial defence, using factory metal supplies, purchasing additional materials, and receiving donations from individuals. Materials such as electrodes, grinding and cutting discs were particularly in demand. They worked diligently, as one would during a wartime situation, from early morning to late at night. Meanwhile, the woodworking shops, as described by the company’s deputy director Oleg Ogorodnyk, were idle, as clients asked to postpone the completion of their orders until the situation became clearer – as it was uncertain whether they would need the furniture at all.

After a month and a half, it became clear that the worst had not happened, but the war was far from over. This realization also dawned on the clients who decided to finish construction on their new homes, as they did not want to live indefinitely in someone else’s “reception rooms”.

Probably, like most colleagues from border regions, you started actively looking for customers in the European Union, didn’t you?

–  Yes, primarily in Poland, which is nearby. But often such exports were difficult to call exports in the direct sense. Because we were looking for Ukrainian companies that represent their products abroad: at exhibitions, in their trade representatives, and made exhibitions or various trade equipment for them. This helped us during the most difficult period of the stagnant domestic market – we were able to pay our employees. The products were not simple, because an exclusive approach was required each time – individually for each ordering company, or even individually for each of their products.

When the market began to revive and stabilize, commercial orders began to prevail: the arrangement of cafes, the manufacture of souvenir shops for a large number of refugees, and the trade in souvenir products became more active.

Can we say that “Bentko Furniture” is a versatile manufacturer of products made of both wood materials and metal?

–  Yes, you can. If a client only needs a kitchen, we will make a kitchen. If they need to furnish a house or apartment “turnkey”, we will take on such work. For example, now we are competing for a tender to furnish a hotel. In short, we do not shy away from any work, because it is not the time to choose what is more profitable, but rather let others do it. Even soft furniture is accessible to us.

Strangely, you’re neglecting social media to promote your company and its versatility, especially since your company couldn’t be found on any of them.

We were in the process of developing a new version of our website before the war broke out, but we didn’t finish it. The war put that on the back burner. We’ve now returned to complete the website, and it will be up and running soon. We also had plans to purchase the building we currently rent outside the city because it’s in a very convenient location for our furniture business. But the war prevented us from doing so, and we won’t be able to open our showroom as planned this year. We’d prefer to own a building rather than rent, but commercial real estate prices are very high in Lviv at the moment.

Are you having any issues with your staff? We know that colleagues often complain about this.

We have no problems with our staff. Perhaps it’s because we’re very careful in forming our team, only accepting new members based on trustworthy recommendations. And mostly from our employees. Even if someone comes in with no knowledge of the industry they’ll be working in, we patiently train them to become experts because we’re confident that this person will be beneficial to us in terms of their moral qualities, which is what we need. Additionally, we have a list of reliable reserves, so if someone leaves the team for some reason, we have someone to replace them.

Although the company is now fully dedicated to its usual business, the war, of course, continues to dictate its rules and demands. That’s why the owner of the company, Taras Bentkovsky, has delegated current production issues to his deputy to a greater extent, while he continues his active volunteer work and undergoes various types of military training, including drone piloting. From time to time, he also involves some of the team members in taking special courses and training sessions (such as shooting and medical training), so that everyone can be useful to the fighting country in case of urgent need.