As Mr. Uhryn clarified, the company was lucky to find a skilled worker in Budapest, where it is now completing a private project. Yet such case-by-case solutions complicate export development, which is crucial under current conditions.<\/p>\n
\n\u2014 The experience your company has in producing furniture for various functions apparently allows you to take on comprehensive furnishing projects \u2014 what\u2019s called \u201cturnkey\u201d solutions.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 That\u2019s right. We produce both single-function furniture \u2014 for kitchens, bathrooms, hallways \u2014 and full-home furnishing. Such projects have clear advantages, though they are more complex to execute.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Furniture for schools and kindergartens has disappeared from your portfolio. Why? Has demand for it decreased during the war?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Manufacturing such furniture has become unprofitable, so we stopped participating in relevant tenders. Usually, such contracts involve large wholesale batches, and our current capacity \u2014 again, primarily due to the shortage of workers \u2014 does not allow us to deliver such volumes on time at the tender price.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Such a wide range of furniture products requires the company to be largely self-sufficient. Are there any processing operations you still outsource to partners?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Yes, we handle all the main furniture materials ourselves. We subcontract glasswork to a nearby partner company that helps us with this. We can also process stone, but sometimes we turn to partners when we\u2019re overloaded and risk missing delivery deadlines.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 As an expert who has been in the industry for a long time, how would you describe the current state of Ukraine\u2019s furniture market? Has it remained the same throughout the three years of war, or is there some improvement?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 There\u2019s definitely movement toward improvement, albeit slow. The first year \u2014 not only for our sector but for many others \u2014 was chaotic: the market collapsed, entrepreneurs were disoriented, teams lost stability, and prices soared. It\u2019s easier now in the sense that both the economy and private business have adapted to the prolonged crisis caused by the war. Companies are finding ways not only to survive but to grow gradually. When there is no chaos in the state and in people\u2019s minds, it\u2019s easier to overcome new challenges \u2014 such as the shortage of workers. Moreover, difficulties motivate those who don\u2019t give up. With each year of war, the number of orders and, accordingly, profits increase.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 It\u2019s interesting: how do kitchens ordered by Ukrainians differ from those preferred by foreign clients? Are there major differences?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Kitchen projects for foreign clients typically feature a higher level of comfort and functionality, thanks to richer and more diverse fittings and components.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 Abroad, there\u2019s a growing trend toward mini or smart kitchens, especially among young families living in small rented apartments. Do you receive such orders?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 In Europe, this niche has been taken over by IKEA, and competing with such a powerful player is hardly feasible for Ukrainian manufacturers. The appeal of smart kitchens lies in their lower price and simplified functionality. We\u2019re traditionalists \u2014 we don\u2019t work in the mass market. Our price range is mid to mid-plus.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\u2014 What are the company\u2019s future plans?<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n
\u2014 Despite all the challenges, we must continue expanding exports in various geographical directions, not limiting ourselves to Europe. In early 2022, we already had a major overseas order, but due to the war, our American partners unfortunately suspended cooperation \u2014 they were wary of potential risks.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/p>\n\n\t\t