Roman Denisenko, event-manager of Omega:
Nice to meet you, Marko!
We thank you for your time. I want to start with a general, but very important question. Tell us, please, what was the reason for you to choose such business direction as selling car parts from online-shop?
Marko Koval, owner and director of "BUS-shop" online-shop:
Actually, I started my business 10 years ago. At those times in Ukraine, especially in its western part, such small commercial vehicles as Renault Kangoo, Volkswagen Caddy were very popular, so even among people they were called "buns".
Accordingly, in the beginning my shop, which I then opened in Ivano-Frankivsk, had a range of car parts only for Volkswagen Caddy.
Firstly we were concerned on clients from western regions of Ukraine. With time we understood, that it was necessary to expand our target auditory, as we had analyzed, there was a huge demand on our products in different regions of Ukraine, - and so then we opened the online-shop. That time this business direction had only started to develop, and we, thanks to our painstaking work, settle in unoccupied field fast enough. And now we can say that we have clients in each region of Ukraine: from a small regional shop we have quite fast turned into the car parts online-shop of All-Ukrainian scale.
Roman: The 21st century gives us a difficult challenge both in daily life, and on economical level. Tell us, please, how was the first day of this all-out war for you? What were your thoughts that time, and how were you able to adapt your business to new conditions?
Marko: I remember clearly the day of February, 24, when I gathered all our employees in the office. We spent some hours, analyzing the events, which were changing in an instant: we watched the news on TV, read different Telegram-channels. Then we went away, as we realized that some time on we wouldn`t be able to deliver orders, as the post services had temporarily stopped their work. And some days we stayed still in such a non-working, "suspended" condition. As soon as we decided to return to our work, we faced with a heavy demand, because many ordinary shops were closed. Also many internally displaced people from different parts of Eastern and Central Ukraine came to Ivano-Frankivsk, and they temporarily planned to stay in Western Ukraine, or to go further to Europe. Accordingly, they all needed oil and different parts for cars to confidently continue their way on, and we helped them to find everything necessary, being in touch almost 24/7. Gradually all suppliers resumed their work, including Omega. It was felt really as unification that time, even as it was hard, and there was no 100%-confidence, what would be next. But I am greatly thankful, firstly, to my collective, and also - to partners, that together we were able to overcome uncertainty, and we continued to work further. As time showed, we did a good thing, so it was right decision.
Roman: We know that your company now is actively working on expansion of its activity, connected to selling car parts. Can you tell us a bit more about it: on what do you focus your attention now and why?
Marko: These days we have, as I`ve mentioned before, quite a particular specialization - light commercial vehicles, so we sell yet not all models and brands of cars; but we are actively working on addition of new items to the website. And our ambitious goal is the covering of all market of light commercial vehicles to offer all existing car parts from all known brands. We have a purpose to become one of the best online-shops for owners of light commercial vehicles, with the best service and range of goods. When we reach this goal - we will plan further steps for developing.
Roman: How do you find our delivery service? Do you see some improvements in its work for previous year?
Marko: We are really pleased with opening of Lviv logistics centre of Omega, which has happened this year. This is your huge advantage comparing to other suppliers. As it guarantees us that the availability of goods is as close as possible, and accordingly the shipment is in the fastest way. So, this way, we can provide our customers with high-quality and efficient service.
Roman: The world gradually moves from paper documents to electronic, and we keep up with the times. As it is, at the same time, sparing both of natural resources, and of your time and money. Do you work with our electronic document flow? Tell us about your impressions as to working with it.
Marko: I think the EDF is our future, sooner or later; we will give up paper documents. I remember, how we started with paper copybooks, where the manager put down all our orders, and the accountant recorded all our expenses. Today it is necessary to have fast and convenient decisions, and the electronic document flow is the requirement of time, with which we, of course, also keep up.
Roman: These days we all are much thankful to the Armed Forces of Ukraine for the ability to live and work. Omega directly takes part into helping our army, providing cars and maintaining regular fundraisings for army needs. We know that you just as actively do volunteering as we, and at your instance in 2022, during the all-out invasion, CO "CHARITABLE FOUNDATION "BUS-SHOP"" was created, which is actively helping the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Tell us, please, about it in detail.
Marko: From the beginning of the all-out invasion we sensed a great necessity of military men in car maintenance. So we started to help actively with spare parts, and also organized fundraisings for purchasing cars to the front. In 2022, already during the all-out war, we opened our car-repair shop, and there we constantly repair military cars. Often we repair them on our account. In autumn of 2022 we decided, for the convenience, to create an official charitable foundation, which was named after our shop. Our foundation deals with different kinds of help: apart from spare parts and cars, we purchase drones, thermographic cameras. In fact, everything, that is in demand and that we can finance, spending own resources and involving our partners` resources.
Roman: Which achievements of your company for previous year are you mostly proud of?
Marko: Our business, as any other, couldn`t be possible without people - our employees. So, undoubtedly, our main value is our working collective. And I am glad that we were able to provide people with work, in spite of all outside challenges. Because when people work and have competitive wage, they have an ability to support their families, - and this is the most important for us.
We continue to develop and make plans, thanks to our Armed Forces. Along with us our suppliers work, and we all together influence supporting and developing of our economics. I like strong and resolute character of our nation, it inspires. And so we will definitely win!