“HAMMER” is a Ukrainian trade and service company representing over 40 global and own brands of smart and effective industrial and household chemicals, woodworking industry materials, construction, and weapon care products. Its well-organized service complex works to professionalize its clients’ businesses. Thus, customers are attracted not only by the wide range of products offered for various purposes but also by the company’s ability to provide the most effective technologies for their application.

Since one of the company’s product lines is related to woodworking, this became the basis for its membership in the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers. Therefore, we couldn’t leave out “HAMMER” in our series of stories about how our members are coping with this crisis that has been devastating the country, its economy, and complicating the development of domestic entrepreneurship for almost two and a half years.

“HAMMER” can be an example of how to effectively and profitably use social media for the company. It is admirably proactive in its field, participating in various public profile events and actions that work beneficially for its image. A recent example is its participation at the beginning of the month in the “Kyiv Car Fest” festival, where it set up its presence in an outdoor location to best present its products and share useful tips on their application.

The company is also socially active, which is important and commendable in these difficult times. Again, this month, to mark Children’s Day, it supported an action by the charitable foundation “Dobrodiiv Club,” even creating a children’s version of its logo. In May, it participated in the charity event “Ukrainian Army of Business Empaths,” which we covered in detail in our news digest.

It regularly organizes and conducts its own events aimed at promoting the company’s products and service capabilities. Recently, it held a truly bright event – the day of its flagship brand “Maxi Color” – filled with interesting interactive activities.

At “HAMMER”, everything is done thoroughly and properly, so even the hardest period in its history has been reliably documented to ensure that even in peaceful times, the horrors of the war and its impact on the company are not forgotten. The sad events have been filmed and thus documented. The company’s director, Natalia Nikitenko, suggested watching this video.

The sad period of war in the film is preceded by the joyful, pre-war times. We see a festive atmosphere, joyful faces of the team gathered at the beginning of 2022 for a corporate event, which was a great success. Important, large-scale plans for the year were discussed at the event, aiming to take an even bigger step in the company’s development. However, it was not meant to be. A few weeks later, clouds began to gather over Ukraine from the northern neighbors, anxiety grew, but the worst was hard to believe. Yet, the disaster struck.

The first hours of the war were spent by the “HAMMER” team in the corporate chat. Scared, worried, and confused employees, especially women, wanted to know how to act in this situation. They consulted each other. Some decided to stay in the capital, while others decided to leave. If leaving home, where to go? Some men joined local territorial defense units.

Then we see the unfortunate – the ruins of the company’s warehouse destroyed by enemy missiles. And the face of its owner. There is no despair – only determination not to give up. This was passed on to the team. They gathered, mobilized against the adversity, and moved what was left to Ternopil. This allowed them to continue fulfilling commitments to clients, maintain supply channels, and preserve jobs – not a single employee was laid off. They quickly adapted to the peculiarities of remote work.

When the situation in the capital relatively improved – at least the enemy was no longer at the outskirts – they returned to the office. Everyone worked together on urgent tasks facing the company, regardless of status or position. This unity and dedication helped overcome both psychological distress and the losses the company suffered from the war. Within a few months, they fully stabilized, returning to regular operations, occasionally interrupted only by air raid sirens.

They did not forget about the needs of the army: painting vehicles sent to the front in camouflage colors, weaving camouflage nets, and buying and delivering reliable footwear to the soldiers.

They even celebrated a housewarming, moving to a new office.

This is the story of the company’s resilience and reality during wartime.