{"id":11920,"date":"2023-05-30T14:21:33","date_gmt":"2023-05-30T11:21:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uafm.com.ua\/?p=11920"},"modified":"2023-05-30T14:21:33","modified_gmt":"2023-05-30T11:21:33","slug":"uam-v-oblychchyah-mebleva-kompaniya-donna-davno-napratsyuvavshy-znachnyj-eksportnyj-potentsial-navit-v-umovah-vijny-aktyvno-jogo-naroshhuye-zokrema-beruchy-aktyvnu-uchast-u-prestyzhnyh-mizhnarodnyh-vy","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uafm.com.ua\/en\/uam-v-oblychchyah-mebleva-kompaniya-donna-davno-napratsyuvavshy-znachnyj-eksportnyj-potentsial-navit-v-umovah-vijny-aktyvno-jogo-naroshhuye-zokrema-beruchy-aktyvnu-uchast-u-prestyzhnyh-mizhnarodnyh-vy\/","title":{"rendered":"UAF\u041c in the faces: the furniture company DONNA, having long established significant export potential, actively continues to expand it, even in times of war, including by actively participating in prestigious international exhibitions, as shared by its co-owner Natalia Donchenko."},"content":{"rendered":"

The DONNA<\/a> company consistently adheres to the creed “We are a manufacturer whose furniture quality fills the meaning of ‘Made in Ukraine’ with triumphant content”. And indeed, in its field, it has already achieved numerous victories in the furniture industry. Its business revolves around custom furniture production, as well as creating its unique collections in collaboration with well-known Ukrainian designers.<\/p>\n

The war and all the difficulties it brings to domestic businesses have not forced the company to deviate from imbuing its products with triumphant content, nor even to halt factory operations for a day, according to the co-founder of the company, Natalia Donchenko. It is precisely because its furniture is in no way inferior to the products of elite European manufacturers and the company actively supplies furniture to Europe and the USA, even in times of war. And just last year, it further expanded its export horizons by presenting interior items from author collections created in collaboration with Ukrainian designers in Azerbaijan. It was not a random choice for this country to be selected for the presentation mission: DONNA <\/a>has been collaborating fruitfully with Azerbaijani designers for several years now.<\/p>\n

However, the war did impact the company’s operations and forced it to engage in activities beyond furniture manufacturing. A memorable chapter in its wartime history was the past Christmas when the entire furniture factory transformed into a “candle workshop” overnight. The company’s employees and guests handcrafted 3,000 trench candles throughout the night, which were then sent to the front lines the next day. This volunteer event was not spontaneous but was prepared in advance. In early December, Natalia Donchenko announced a fundraising campaign and materials collected for the production of a batch of trench candles. Thanks to the support of numerous friends and partners, cardboard blanks, metal cans, and a machine for pouring paraffin were delivered to the production site just before Christmas. The funds raised during this extraordinary holiday event were used to purchase warm clothing for the soldiers fighting the enemy on the most challenging frontlines at that time.<\/p>\n

– And even before that, immediately after the start of the war, furniture production was temporarily halted, and we started sewing bulletproof vests, – recalls Natalia. – By summer, the first major furniture projects during wartime emerged, allowing the company to reach production volumes exceeding half of the pre-war level by the end of the year. This year, the company has steadily increased this indicator with each passing month. Potential clients are returning to their pre-war habits of valuing life and are willing to pay for their specific demands, which were never impossible for us to fulfil. And, of course, this is thanks to our glorious army, which reassured us that it would not allow a situation as threatening to the country as it was in the first weeks of the war. Ukraine’s stubborn resistance to the enemy is convincing internally and globally. Potential foreign clients are more daring in investing money in projects entrusted to Ukrainian companies. We experience this in our own company: there are even more international orders than domestic ones. This activation also has the motivation that Europeans, supporting Ukraine in its struggle for the right to exist, are helping not only with weapons and targeted financing but also by actively purchasing Ukrainian-made products.<\/em><\/p>\n

– This year, you started with activation of exhibition activities, as we have already mentioned. You participated in three prestigious international exhibitions: two in Paris – “Maison & Objet” and one of the most authoritative furniture forums in Milan, “iSaloni.” Clearly, you aimed to further increase your export potential. Is this becoming an increasing necessity for you?<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

– Yes, it is for companies like ours. We operate in the high-end price segment, and we have no intention of lowering our standards. Therefore, our business fate relies heavily on seeking success in international markets. Moreover, we already have furniture collections that give us confidence in the success of such endeavours. Participating in foreign exhibitions has confirmed this.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\t\t