The way furniture is finished affects not only its aesthetic appeal but also its protection against external factors, thereby extending its longevity. The term “how furniture is finished” doesn’t refer to color but to the proper choice of coating materials and the correct application process. “Proper” here means that the coating is reliable, of high quality, and, importantly for furniture makers, optimized for minimal paint and varnish material usage. Those who see the benefits of this approach to painting turn to LTL Group. This approach is comprehensive, as it involves correct equipment placement and an efficient exhaust ventilation system.

The company representatives—from management to managers and technicians—will always tell you: “We don’t sell paint and varnish materials; we offer advanced finishing technologies,” meaning the company provides expert-level services. The result is a proven increase in woodworking production capacity and a reduction in the cost of finished products by 10-25% without additional investments, thanks to comprehensive client support, including the supply of coating materials, setting up paint lines, and staff training. One of LTL Group’s core know-how solutions is using expertise and technological solutions to guarantee a reduction in the final product cost without compromising quality or the technical process.

– Have the current challenges, including the wartime difficulties affecting the national economy and the furniture industry, hindered LTL Group’s ability to deliver its usual level of service to furniture manufacturers?

– we asked the company’s owner, Dmytro Tymoshenko.

– Since we are inseparable from the industry, its current problems affect us too. First and foremost, this involves losing part of the market due to similar challenges faced by our clients. Unfortunately, some clients have even ceased operations under the weight of these circumstances.

However, the war has forced us to pivot, so to speak, toward the west. We’ve opened two new offices—in Ternopil and Zakarpattia—and diversified our warehouse, managing to move it from Irpin, where battles later took place. We retained a large portion of our team, but the country’s ongoing mobilization needs continued to shrink our workforce. The shortage of qualified workers is now dangerously acute. For example, while we initially had fifteen technicians on staff, only three remain.

– How does your company manage to maintain a high level of service in such challenging times?

– At the core of our success lies our primary mission—not just to sell coatings, but to optimize our clients’ production through advanced technologies and expertise. We offer comprehensive solutions that enhance production efficiency, reduce costs, and maintain high product quality. This approach not only provides durable furniture coatings but also significantly reduces production costs without the need for new equipment investments. Such a strategy helps our clients stay competitive even in today’s challenging environment.

– One negative trend since the war began, causing a decline in sales volume for suppliers and manufacturers alike, has been the rising cost of goods and services. Does your company experience this as well?

– Actually, no. Prices in euros remain nearly unchanged, and we maintain pre-war price levels because we can offer our clients our own paint and varnish brands at competitive prices. Nearly none of our foreign suppliers stopped partnering with us due to the war; we even gained new ones.

Our advantage lies in helping clients reduce production costs, not by using cheaper, lower-quality materials but by minimizing material consumption without sacrificing finish quality. For instance, if a client previously applied three layers to achieve the required coverage and durability, we can now provide the same quality with one or two layers.

– What characterizes the market you currently operate in?

– Although the market has shrunk, it has also become more demanding. Clients with money dictate their terms, and we, as suppliers, must adapt to meet their needs.

– So, hypothetically, you need to offer “fifty shades of grey” in your product line?…

– Or thirteen shades of white…

– I must also ask you about the Painter’s School, created by LTL Group, which has helped prepare qualified wood finishers for individual companies and the furniture industry. Has the current economic downturn in Ukrainian furniture making forced the company to suspend its activities?

– The school is still functioning. Admittedly, it takes longer to form training groups, but we still hold two or three sessions per year.

In the first year of the war, training was conducted in Ternopil; now, it has returned to Kyiv. We also offer offsite training, providing on-site preparation or advanced training for painters directly within companies that invite us, allowing employees to stay engaged in production. This format is now more convenient for many companies.

– What are the current goals for the company?

– To keep all our regional offices operational, as none stopped working even during the most critical periods of the war. Even in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia. We have enough for taxes and employee salaries, and that’s good enough.