Back in 2014, Yuriy Namaka and Taras Yalovenko, entrepreneurs from the town of Radyvylove in the western Ukrainian region of Rivne Oblast, established a small business, Venko Workshop, producing various wooden items.
“The idea emerged during conversations with our friends,” Namaka and Yalovenko say. “We thought it would be fantastic if Ukrainians could furnish their homes and offices with unique products rather than settling for standard designs, especially given the limited options in our area at that time.”
Transformative order
In its early years, the workshop undertook a diverse range of projects, creating wooden keychains, furniture, bespoke design solutions, and unique lamps for restaurant decor. But one pivotal order – to produce a wall panel for a hotel in Kyiv – led them to realise that the natural beauty of wood texture could be turned into a distinct business avenue; specifically, a niche but popular product.
However, the initial 3D panels that the entrepreneurs showcased at a furniture exhibition did not yield the anticipated results; although visitors appreciated their designs, there was little interest from potential customers. Consequently, the team concentrated on refining their products. And each new event they took part in brought them increasing attention and positive outcomes.
Today, the eight employees at Venko Workshop create 3D wooden wall panels, wall decorations, and other customized products. They primarily work with multilayer birch plywood, treating each component with oil wax, as they believe it is the texture that renders their products truly unique.
“These are not just wall panels that can be used to cover bare walls, but a unique interior element that captivates, stirs emotions, and elevates a space – making it timeless rather than trendy!” says Namaka.
Trade mission to Germany
Initially, the company focused on the Ukrainian market, but the founders recognized they had potential to expand into foreign markets. As they put it, “Don’t just sit there when the world beckons you to rise to the challenge.”
While they had had previously made sporadic sales to customers abroad, including in the United States, now they sought to develop their export strategy systematically. The opportunity to do so arose when they joined a trade mission to Germany organized through the Rivne City Ambassadors project. The project is implemented by the Smart People business school under the EU4Business umbrella, jointly funded by the EU and the German government, and implemented by the German federal company Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ Ukraine) GmbH.
“We connected with potential partners at the Stuttgart Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the support from the German government and the EU was instrumental in helping us to establish relationships with local business representatives,” Namaka says.
During their visit to Germany, they met representatives of local companies Nimbus, Häfele, and Homag. They also met with designer and architect Alex Mialudvs, who proposed installing Venko wall panels in a showroom featuring products from Ukrainian and German designers and manufacturers. Their interactions with representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora and business owners in Ravensburg also proved fruitful, with local interest in Venko panels growing. Moreover, Czech designers, who discovered Venko during a trip to Germany, also expressed enthusiastic interest in the brand’s products.
“These initiatives are immensely beneficial,” Namaka notes. “We need to implement more such programmes in Ukraine, as they broaden entrepreneurs’ perspectives and expose them to global business trends, and teach companies how to address societal needs. The most significant opportunity we gained from participating in the programme is the possibility to form partnerships with German entrepreneurs, as their trust in us as manufacturers has significantly accelerated our outreach efforts," notes Namaka.
Ambitious plans
Inspired by the professional self-presentation of the German company Nimbus, which produces lighting devices, the founders of the Venko Workshop recognized the importance of establishing their own showroom. Consequently, they began renovating their own premises and bringing the idea to life at their production site. They expanded their team by hiring two more employees. They say that seeing the tangible prospects of entering the European market has provided the team with the crucial motivation to grow and develop more actively.
Namaka describes this journey metaphorically: “The seed has been sown. Now it needs to be nurtured and cultivated!”
“Currently, we’re moving forward with confidence: We’re entering the international stage and showcasing a self-sufficient, high-quality Ukrainian product capable of competing effectively in the global market.”
