The war caused trouble for the Cherkasy furniture company “Lion” on the very first day, in the early hours of that terrible morning on February 24. Two trucks with her furniture just arrived in Kharkiv, but the trade customers for whom they were intended could not unload them – no one was there. The city was already being shelled, the people of Kharkiv were trying to save themselves, so there was no room for furniture. Cars had to return loaded.

And at this time in Cherkasy, the factory started its usual working day by inertia. But it was not finished in the usual way: the workers went on the initiative to dig the fortifications and set up a block post at the entrance to the city, not far from the factory, which is located just on the outskirts. The management contributed to this in every possible way and allocated factory materials that were not destined to become furniture.

In the first weeks of the war, the factory, which had not yet fully resumed its work, was already developing a new line of furniture – for the needs of the day, as they say. Economy-class, which turned out to be necessary for housing the forced migrants who filled the city.

– However, this anti-crisis price of ours, – which continues the story of the art director of the company Alyona Kaplauch, – also interests our traditional trade customers. The company, having lost customers who ended up in the occupied territories, began to receive applications from new ones as well, because it always had a two-month supply of materials in its warehouses, therefore, unlike some colleagues, it did not stop the production of furniture due to their shortage, which was indicated to the furniture makers in the first months war

Certain difficulties sometimes arose with new clients, because they wanted us to make models for them, which were made by our former furniture partners. But we have serial, not individual production. They made changes to their models if it did not involve a radical technology change, or offered to completely switch to the sale of our products. In short, they somehow found an understanding.

And from our long-standing partners (with some, such as those from Melitopol, we have long, twenty-year partnerships that have already grown into friendships), who are under occupation, unfortunately, we receive only disappointing information – their stores have been looted, destroyed by the enemy. Those of our partners who were freed from the enemy by our defenders, the Buchanians and Khersonians, will also have to be reborn from scratch.

– Over time, the price of the new, anti-crisis line of furniture probably had to be raised, which almost our entire industry was forced to do under martial law.

– In the first three months, the price of furniture in Ukraine increased by almost half. Of course, we also started producing new furniture according to new price parameters, but all warehouse stocks were sold out at pre-war prices. And, of course, according to pre-war agreements, they were sent to customers, who over time resumed sales and were able to accept their finished orders, which we stored for them in our warehouses. Although I know that some fellow furniture makers have raised prices for their pre-war warehouse leftovers.

Moreover, we certainly respond to the requests of end-users of our furniture, whose homes, and thus the furniture, have been damaged by enemy fire. We send them parts to replace damaged ones free of charge. The management decided not to show off their charity, but to understand the condition of people who return to destroyed homes. It is a sin not to help such people!

– What is the situation this year?

– In short, the managers are working twice as hard, and the orders are still half as much as they used to have before the war.

Before the war, the domestic market loaded the factory with orders so much that there was no urgent need to look for sales outside the country. That is why they left export concerns for a better future. Who could have predicted that not a better future, but the misfortune that has befallen the country, will force us to closely engage in the adjustment of export sales? Nowadays, it is not necessary to neglect the opportunities to establish exports. That is why the company took part in the international exhibition in Poznań. Even though not all employees who speak English were able to represent the company, and therefore it was not possible to adequately attract all guests of the stand who were interested in our company’s products, they still returned with dozens of contacts, some of whom are actively working: calculations are being made, some product samples sent to potential customers. Although in practice it is difficult for us, beginners, to master foreign markets, to build competent, profitable business relations with foreign retailers. But step by step we still move forward, consult with experts, and learn from mistakes.

– Your furniture production is a family business. Perhaps, in difficult times, this is a significant plus.

– Yes, it is. My husband is the head of the company, I am the art director, my son worked for several years at the factory on various woodworking machines to fully master the secrets of furniture making, and now, when tough times have come for the company, he took on a great responsibility – he headed the production. And in general, kinship for the company is a certain feature: several married couples work in the team.

The factory continues to support the Armed Forces and develop the country’s economy. With faith in victory!