{"id":5935,"date":"2021-02-25T13:26:20","date_gmt":"2021-02-25T10:26:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uafm.com.ua\/?p=5935"},"modified":"2021-02-25T13:26:56","modified_gmt":"2021-02-25T10:26:56","slug":"uam-v-oblychchyah-interv-yu-z-igorem-melnykom-zasnovnykom-kompaniyi-ita","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uafm.com.ua\/en\/uam-v-oblychchyah-interv-yu-z-igorem-melnykom-zasnovnykom-kompaniyi-ita\/","title":{"rendered":"UAFM in the Faces: Interview with Igor Melnyk, Founder of ITA"},"content":{"rendered":"

Anniversary is the best reason to remember the past<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span>The capital’s ITA<\/a> company, which has a quarter-century anniversary in February, has a rich history. And not only in view of the solid years but also in their richness, in the tortuous difficult path, she has travelled. Especially in the first years after creation, in the years of formation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Its founder Igor Petrovich Melnik has something to remember.<\/span><\/p>\n

Can confirm the well-known saying that there is nothing worse than living in an era of change. And it is even more difficult to start a business in such uncertain times. And that’s exactly what happened to him. The company was created at a break: in the conditions of an unbalanced, confused Soviet economy, which still resisted, surrendering its position to market entrepreneurship – albeit assertive, but still incompetent, uncivilized, nicknamed the “wild market”. However, about everything in order\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

After graduating from Lviv University of Forestry, he worked in distant Surgut. When the Union ordered a long life, he returned to Ukraine and began to look for a job. Of course, first of all in woodworking – the field in which he understood. I found acquaintances who were in the same search, and “for three” registered the company, entering in its name the initials of their names, but still not clearly imagined: for what, what exactly to do? But he orientated himself, knowing the industry in its then state: woodworkers, and especially the so-called furniture makers, suffocated from the shortage of quality finishing materials – varnishes, paints, primers and more. Especially those who had exports. But no less novice furniture, the number of which multiplied at a time when the market has opened its arms. But everyone fell into the trap of his uncivilizedness, everyone – both beginners and experienced – was covered by one trouble: everyone lacked working capital, so they were deeply immersed in barter.<\/span><\/p>\n

The newly created ITA<\/a> did not escape such heavy participation. Barter allowed entrepreneurs in Ukraine to survive. “ITA<\/a>” was aimed at the supply of LFM from abroad, and there the methods of the wild Ukrainian market did not work: pay – you get the goods. But the entrepreneurial destiny took care of the offspring of Melnyk and his colleagues: a German company, miraculously well-known and authoritative, agreed to provide Ukrainian start-ups with deferred payment. But there was still little reason to rejoice in such luck: although with a delay, but with the Germans had to pay in foreign currency? And where to get it in the conditions of local barter economic relations? A way out of the predicament was found, although barter was needed here as well. Furniture customers settled with the LFM supplier with their furniture, and ITA<\/a> sold them through stores to have funds to pay the Germans.<\/span><\/p>\n

The scheme worked quite successfully, which allowed the company to “build muscle”. And when it became really obvious, the idea to furnish by myself arose. Solved – done: established the production of technologically simple items – tables, stools, etc. (from the practice of selling other people’s furniture already knew that it is in demand).<\/span><\/p>\n

In woodworking technologies, finishing operations are closely related to others – adhesive, sanding. Logically, the company decided to have a range of consumables and related purposes. This is also a plus for customers: when one supplier can make complex purchases – and paints, and adhesive systems, and grinding and restoration tools. And veneer, which is also in the context of finishing materials, and a wide range of related products, for example, tools for the mechanical and manual application of LFM and more. Thus, having significantly expanded its range, ITA has made an important step in its development and strengthening its position in the current rather competitive market.<\/span><\/p>\n

The current “ITA<\/a>” is no longer what it was twenty or even ten years ago. Its name was formalized, because only the first letter, so to speak, is filled with real meaning: of the three former founders, only Igor Petrovich remained its owner. Nevertheless, ITA<\/a> has strengthened its position in the market and in the industry also by the fact that its name has become an officially registered trademark. From a company-seller turned into a company-technologist. Has in the catalogue all categories of LFM of world trademarks. Offers system solutions at all stages of planning, preparation, finishing of products from any materials and the subsequent care of them; qualified reasoned and competent advice on finishing materials and works. The company’s technologists are ready to come to give meaningful advice on the spot, if necessary, to choose the best colour and technological version of the finishing material, to test it. With modern colouring machines, the company’s technologists can create individual colours and their tonalities based on imported materials for the specific needs of specific customers.<\/span><\/p>\n

When the co-founders left the company, the entire burden of management worries in it, which had already grown and was also burdened by furniture production, fell on the shoulders of Igor Petrovich. I’m tired, to be honest, so I decided: I will drag this “cart” to retirement, and there I will hand over my business to the young. And so it happened. Now he still serves his company, but mostly in the role of advisor.<\/span><\/p>\n

– I was somehow unlucky with sensible management assistants who came to the company and did not stay long,<\/em> – says I. Melnyk. – So I decided: you need to prepare them yourself – to educate and improve in business. And it worked. I withdrew from daily affairs, being sure that I was passing them into safe hands. First of all, this applies to the current director, whom he also invited to co-found.<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

And before retiring, Igor Petrovich decided to release his young successors from the furniture business. He could still carry that extra load, and to them, it would be like a suitcase without a handle. So he sold everything to the last nail, because there was really no urgent need for non-core furniture for the company. It is nice that the new owner is quite successful in furnishing.<\/span><\/p>\n

– Usually, something important is timed to each anniversary. What can ITA boast of?<\/b><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

– Well, for example, a recently created online store. We plan that this anniversary year it will reach the estimated sales.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

We want to pay more attention to wooden house-building. We have a considerable choice of materials for this segment of woodworking – both for interior and exterior decoration and protection of wooden structures. Given the fact that wooden construction, as foreign experience shows, has great prospects, we want to take over some of the finishing work performed by builders. That is, to sell them not only materials but also fragments of future houses – beams, cladding, etc., already equipped, protected from external factors.<\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

\u2026 Concluding the excursion into the history of ITA<\/a>, we congratulate it on behalf of all colleagues in the Association with a solid anniversary, we wish further prosperity, so that the path ahead is smoother and easier than what has already been passed.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\t\t