On the way to stellar heights

Andriy Mulyavchyk set up a furniture company in Kyiv almost ten years ago and called it “Andromeda”, although this mythological Greek woman had nothing to do with furniture. Just a star name, before that it is partially consonant with his name.   

Andrew’s arrival in furniture – a coincidence, as well as many of his colleagues in the shop. Thirty-year-old job seeker – for a month, until he finds a job in the speciality – got a job in one of the Odessa furniture companies sales managers. This step in life, as they say, turned out to be fateful. A month passed, and he not only stayed to work there and further but also grew his career: he became a senior manager. For two years he headed the company’s branch. He was able to implement several major projects to equip the offices of companies, restaurants, gas stations, shops and more. The success of these projects gave him confidence in the cause, which he began to really like.  Thus, the furniture business attracted Andrew irrevocably – developed his managerial and entrepreneurial skills, enriched his knowledge of the specifics of furniture, practical experience. Which eventually became the basis for an independent furniture business.

Andromeda started its own furniture production with several workers who furnished it with hand tools in a small garage. Slowly the staff grew, modern furniture technologies began to enter the garage. In fact, even now, although garage furniture for Andromeda is a thing of the past, it is in the small business category. She has not yet become a star, like the celestial Andromeda, but she is undoubtedly on her way to the stars.

The staff has furniture designers, but without designers, as Andrew said, the company can do without specializing in the implementation of ready-made design projects.

– Working with the array, which Andromeda is rightly proud of, was the target set when creating the company?

– Oh no. Many projects have already been implemented, based on particleboard and metal. But such projects are just a business, and working with natural wood is also for the soul. The priorities are dominated by ash, like alder, occasionally use oak.

– It would seem that in the first place should be oak, which is traditionally the most authoritative species in furniture…

– If you go into professional details, the oak has more waste in processing than ash. In addition, ash is not inferior in strength and decorative properties to oak, and even cheaper. Stairs are often made of oak. 

We also love and know how to work skillfully with natural veneer from different types of wood. A restaurant project is currently underway, in which the main finishing material will be American walnut veneer – wall panels, countertops, cabinets.

– In the history of “Andromeda” there was a period in the beginning, the company took over the supply functions, selling some furniture materials, including stone veneer. In fact, it is registered as a trading and manufacturing company. Why has such a need disappeared over time? Economic unprofitability, fierce competition in the market? 

– But it is much simpler: trade worries distracted from the main thing – the implementation of projects, which were becoming more and more. Often large and quite complex.