The capital-based company “Grade-Plus,” a member of UAFM actively utilizing opportunities to expand its product distribution channels through participation in international exhibitions provided by the Ukrainian Association of Furniture Manufacturers (UAFM), thereby supporting domestic furniture manufacturers in the current challenging, restrictive conditions of wartime. For two consecutive war years, the company showcased its products at an exhibition in Poznań, Poland. It recently set up a permanent exhibition-sale of its furniture in the new Furniture Center in Obolon.

– What attracted you to this newly created furniture trading platform? – we inquire from Oleh Lysenko, co-owner of “Grade-Plus” (his business partner is Eduard Kholod).

– Its novelty in organizing trade is precisely what appealed to us. It is the first trading centre that offers four furniture concepts in one trading space. One of these concepts – residential furniture – successfully integrated furniture for various purposes from our “Grade” brand. We filled the trading area in the renovated Furniture Center with our updated collection of exhibition samples. Since kitchens dominate, we also set up a zone for their design.

– Is your participation in Polish exhibitions indicative that Poland is a priority foreign market for “Grade-Plus”?

– We do indeed sell a significant portion of our export products to Poland, but not only to this neighbouring country. Furniture exhibitions in Poznań have an international format, so by participating in them, we aim to attract not only Polish clients.

– Have the calculations after participating in several international exhibitions been confirmed?

– If there were no positive outcomes, we would not bother with this challenging matter. However, from the initial contact with potential clients at the exhibition to the final result – signing a contract – is a sometimes lengthy and challenging path. The process mostly involves face-to-face negotiations between the company owner and potential clients, which is currently a problem. Especially for male entrepreneurs. Phone calls do not have the same effect as one-on-one communication. Therefore, in war conditions, participation in foreign exhibitions may not be as productive as one would hope. But thanks to the Association, we at least have what we have, thanks to its exhibition support.

– For a significant number of Ukrainian exporters, the war has changed relations with foreign clients, often not for the better. Have your relationships with foreign counterparts changed?

– No, our relationships have remained as partnership-oriented as before the war. For them, the main thing is to have stable supplies. We manage to provide this stability.

Of course, in the first weeks of the war, like probably all companies in our industry, the company took a pause, but already in March-April, it informed clients that it was resuming work and product deliveries. This pause practically did not negatively affect our relations with foreigners. The same applies to Ukrainian clients, which allowed the company to achieve 70 percent of pre-war production volumes by the end of last year.

– Your company positions itself on its website as one for which “development is the main motto.” Has this statement changed?

– The statement itself has not changed. However, regarding the pace and scale of development, they are not currently the same as they were accustomed to before. Already at the end of 2021, when it became clear that dark clouds of possible Russian aggression were gathering over Ukraine, we adjusted our plans, significantly “freezing” some projects significant for the company’s development. Unfortunately, our worst predictions, in this case, came true.

Yes, the scales and pace of development are not what we were used to, but we are not standing still. We gradually update the machine park and increased warehouse capacities. In other words, there is progress for the company because there is faith in Ukraine. This progress is cautious, and very calculated because there are currently more risks for entrepreneurs, but we decided to take some risks. However, the risks are moderate, also considering that we operate largely with indispensable credit funds.

We inquire about the social and public components of the company’s activities, which have become prominent for most companies since the war began.

“Grade-Plus” and its owners are no exception. In addition to the standard care for employees at war, providing for their proper equipment and satisfying other front-line needs, the company’s founders have created a charitable foundation funded by the company’s funds. From social networks – because Oleh Lysenko does not like to boast – we learned that in the fall, the foundation “Help and Win with Us,” together with other philanthropists, donated medical supplies and sets for newborns to Maternity Hospital No. 1 in Mykolaiv, and later, food kits to students of Chernihiv Lyceum.