It is not the first time that furniture company executives have mentioned that the past year was more challenging for their production than the previous wartime years. This may seem surprising since the expectation was that the hardest period for domestic industry and business would be the first years of the war.

But what exactly made last year so difficult for businesses, even when signs of the domestic market’s recovery became evident, the initial shock of the enemy’s invasion had subsided, and everyone had adapted to working under martial law?

Dmytro Antonenko, co-owner of DLS Mebli—the company at the heart of this story—shared his perspective. According to him, the key reason was that consumer purchasing power had not increased, while tax pressure on domestic businesses had intensified, pushing small businesses, in particular, to the edge of survival. This issue also affected B2B furniture manufacturers, as their potential clients—other businesses—were experiencing the same tax burden, significantly reducing their purchasing power.

– However, there is another paradox: despite these difficult conditions, some furniture companies are still demonstrating signs of growth…

– I can say the same about our company. Our production and sales volumes have not increased, not only compared to the pre-war period but even compared to the past two years. However, other indicators of growth are evident. They may not be groundbreaking, but they are important for us. For example, we developed several new furniture collections, launched a new corporate website that better presents our company and products. And all this, despite the fact that our leading technologists and designers have been mobilized. So, whenever we manage to introduce something new to our product range, it is truly considered a significant achievement under the current circumstances.

– What Makes Your New Soft Furniture Collections Unique?

– They align more closely with current furniture fashion trends. We expect that interior designers will appreciate them and want to include them in their projects. Some collections include a minimal set of furniture pieces, while others are more comprehensive and versatile.

– Does Specializing in Mass Production Limit Your Offerings for Designers?

– Not at all. Our product range is so broad that even within our standard furniture collections, designers can create completely unique interior projects.

– DLS Mebli Positions Itself as the No. 1 Manufacturer in Ukraine and Europe. Has the War Shaken This Confidence?

– After analyzing the product ranges of both Ukrainian and many European companies, we confirmed that DLS Mebli has the largest model range in serial production. In this aspect, we truly lead the market.Moreover, few companies can claim, as we can, that they work professionally not only with wood but also with metal. This allows us to produce some internal furniture fittings in-house, reducing dependency on external suppliers. We have yet to find a company more advanced than ours in this regard.

– Why Did You Offer Free Access to 3D Models of Your Furniture for Designers?

– The decision was not only image-driven but also practical. By doing this, we offer designers a simplified and accelerated workflow for their interior projects.Instead of spending time and creative effort on designing furniture from scratch, they can simply download our ready-made 3D models and incorporate them into their projects, customizing them with various upholstery fabrics and materials. Since we have a wide selection, it increases the likelihood that designers will also order production from us, as our manufacturing process is already well-established.

This, in turn, reinforces our position as a company that provides a high level of product customization, which we consider a key competitive advantage.

– What Does Your Production Need Most at the Moment?

– A higher level of automation and predictability in production and sales processes. To achieve this, we plan to implement a specialized system designed to: іmprove management efficiency, 0ptimize procurement operations, enhance customer service by refining collaboration with suppliers, establish and improve business processes and conduct deeper analysis of results. This system implementation is our next big goal.