It is indeed unusual to see a company among the UAFM members, whose names often include terms like “wood,” “furniture,” or “design,” called “Perchatka-Center”. At the same time, it is pleasant to note that a company supplying a wide variety of work gloves to the domestic market has joined our industry community, although, for instance, construction workers probably use their products just as much.

The assortment of “Perchatka-Center” is impressive: over 250 types of work gloves, positioning the company as a leader in the domestic market in this product category.

– It might be easier to determine which types of work gloves are most frequently purchased by furniture companies.

– Furniture companies most often purchase cotton gloves with latex coating, knitted gloves, synthetic gloves with nitrile coating, synthetic gloves with nitrile and polyurethane coating, knitted gloves, padded gauntlet gloves, and reinforced combination gloves (fabric/leather).

Representing the company solely as a supplier of gloves is generally accurate but not complete, as it also produces work gloves under its own trademark “Seven.” However, since its production facilities are far beyond Ukraine – in India and China – it turns out that it imports gloves not only from foreign manufacturers but also from its own production. Moreover, it acts as a dealer for several domestic manufacturers of work gloves.

– Why did you organize production so far away and not in Ukraine or closer neighboring regions?

– There are several reasons for this. The raw material base is better there, material costs are more favorable, and production processes are more optimal. Logistics costs for transporting goods do not outweigh these advantages.

– In what cases do you look for suppliers abroad – when there are types of gloves that neither you nor anyone in Ukraine produce?

– In Ukraine, we have a small number of suppliers, and relying solely on them would be wrong, especially since there are significantly more suppliers abroad. This dependence became particularly apparent with the onset of the war. Therefore, during this period, we actively began seeking suppliers abroad, primarily in Europe. For example, logistics with distant Asian suppliers became significantly more complicated. Such diversification safeguarded the company during the challenging first year of the war, enabling it to maintain its market positions. Moreover, imports offer commercial advantages for us. To ensure quality stability and a wide range, we are developing our own trademark, “Seven.”

– Presumably, the largest volume of your products is sold in the countries where your production facilities are located?

– No, the majority of our gloves are still sold in Ukraine. Of course, we won’t neglect export opportunities, but for us, export is currently less about survival and more about exploring new opportunities. We have already started moving in this direction: recently, we shipped several batches of products to neighboring countries – Moldova and Romania.

– Regarding staffing, which is currently an unsatisfactory issue for nearly all entrepreneurs, how relevant is it for “Perchatka-Center”?

– We have implemented several strategies that helped us retain employees and create a comfortable environment for them. Adapting to the labor market during the war, we demonstrated flexibility and openness to new work formats, which allowed us to attract new personnel. Competitive financial motivation also played a significant role.

Previously, when hiring a manager, it was important for us to see prior experience in similar roles. Now, we’ve realized that young people without experience can also be suitable, as they are remarkably goal-oriented and quickly acquire the necessary skills to deliver the expected results.

– What are the company’s main objectives for the near future?

– We have set three primary objectives for ourselves:

1. Increase the number of retail chains where our products are available.
2. Expand exports.
3. Become a market leader not only in the range of work gloves but also in household product categories such as sorghum brooms, shovels, rechargeable flashlights, and construction bags.

This would further stabilize our business and strengthen the company’s market position.