The occupiers have destroyed the ordinary life of Ukrainians, but they have not broken our will to fight.
The war moves like an unrelenting roller, often demolishing everything in its path. How can one endure such conditions and restart a destroyed business from scratch?
Andriy Akopov, co-owner of the Kyiv sewing workshop "Velma," who has been making clothing for over 26 years and is now a serviceman and mortar operator in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, shared insights on this topic and more with journalists from the YouTube project "Kashтан. Business."
How the business started
Andriy's parents established the sewing workshop "Velma" in 1997. Initially, it was a company focused on sewing school uniforms for elementary school children. They operated in this niche for quite some time, producing clothing for over 20 years. However, school uniforms eventually became less popular.
5 “During this period, I began to help manage the business and shifted the focus of the company towards custom orders. The orders consisted of women's blouses, which require specific features: preliminary development of patterns, fabrics, fittings, adhesive materials, and so on,” Andriy recalls.
6 Later, the business changed its address, moving from the Darnytsia district to the Dnipro district. Therefore, it was necessary to form a team initially.
“I started to change the website. I initially gathered some tiny photographs from production, trying to understand what it should essentially be. The website was our only channel from which we could launch… But in February (2022, – editor's note) a disaster struck our country. At that moment, I did not know how to apply myself to my business. The seamstresses had left, and the workshop was not engaged in producing military uniforms, which the army needed. Moreover, it was difficult to source materials. So, I made the decision that my greatest contribution would be to join the Armed Forces of Ukraine,” the interviewee recalls.
From tailor to mortar operator
Currently, Andriy is a serviceman in the 125th Brigade, serving as the chief sergeant – commander of the mortar.
7 According to the defender, he has already served in both the Donetsk and Kharkiv directions, and is now in the Zaporizhzhia region.
“The job of a mortar operator requires you to take your turn on duty at the position, and you have to spend some time at the base,” the military explains.
However, he notes that he tries to find time to pay attention to the business.
8 “In my free time from duty, I can focus on my business: whether promoting it on social media or searching for interesting information, publications, etc. Right now, I am on leave, which I mostly spend on my favorite business,” reveals the entrepreneur.
Parents' return and the revival of the business
The war has uprooted many Ukrainians from their settled lives. Andriy’s parents are no exception; they were forced to leave the country but returned to Ukraine after six months.
9 “Of course, the workshop was empty. My parents dedicated a significant part of their lives to this business. Therefore, it was normal for them to return and try to start something again. There were premises, equipment, and some orders waiting for the owners to return. There were also two people who were waiting for their return. Thus, from one order, a new movement began. And when work is underway, it inspires,” Andriy Akopov shared.
Simultaneously, he began advertising on social media that the workshop was resuming operations and was open for orders, asking his mother to take photos. This continued until the young man came across an announcement about a government grant for veterans and their families.
0 “It was for amounts ranging from 500 thousand to one million hryvnias,” Andriy recalls. “I submitted documents for the amount of 500 thousand hryvnias. One of the main conditions was the employment of people.”
As a result, "the bet paid off": the business received a grant for the amount the owners had anticipated.
1 “I managed to convince the employment center of my clear understanding of the business plan. We quickly employed people, including internally displaced persons. We also used the grant money to purchase some equipment and modernize others. This allowed us to expand our product range and increase our production capacity,” the sergeant of the Armed Forces of Ukraine shares about the new breath of the family business.
Of course, new clients emerged, along with new quality demands for the products.
“This is the level we have now reached. I would like us to have our own line, our own brand. Because when you have your own brand, it signifies stability. For now, it’s just a dream. But I would advise entrepreneurs to try and seek paths independently. This is the key to understanding and success. You just need to try as much as possible and take action,” concluded tailor Andriy Akopov, who temporarily traded his sewing machine for a mortar to bring us closer to victory over the Russian occupiers.
For more details, watch the new episode of the YouTube project “Kashтан. Business” at this link