VINTAGE, WAR, VOLUNTEERING WORK
The story of a Kharkiv business that survived the war to help people
The lives of two women from Kharkiv, like the lives of all Ukrainians, were divided by the war into "before" and "after". The "before" part had a small profitable business, normal everyday life, usual worries about the family, dreams, and plans. "After" began with the shelling of Kharkiv, the occupation of the part of the region, new everyday problems, and inevitable difficulties related to the business, to which Maria and Nastya devoted many years. They were able not only to save their business but also to organize help for thousands of civilians and the Ukrainian Army.
Below is Masha's direct speech. The story of a person who, like millions of Ukrainians, did not give up.
Below is Masha's direct speech. The story of a person who, like millions of Ukrainians, did not give up.
VINTAGE
The idea came to us when Nastya moved to an old professor's apartment filled with useless junk. Instead of taking it all to the trash, she began to sort it and look through it. She found the Etsy platform and listed there a couple of small things - a box, stamps, something like that. She called me: "Masha, you need to shoot it somehow beautifully."
At that moment, we were both on maternity leave and could not normally do our main work. Nastya was a notary, I was a photographer. Well, it went on and on. The first small sales ("aah, we made $1000!"), the first difficulties, mistakes, and challenges.
At that moment, we were both on maternity leave and could not normally do our main work. Nastya was a notary, I was a photographer. Well, it went on and on. The first small sales ("aah, we made $1000!"), the first difficulties, mistakes, and challenges.
At first, we sold old things from that apartment. Then we went to a flea market, then another one. Once before the New Year, we came across Soviet Christmas tree ornaments. I remember the conversation: "Maybe we should not deal with them? They are very fragile, it is difficult to pack, who needs them anyway..."
We risked and tried. And it was the ornaments that became our profile, inspiration, and the basis of the entire store. Such a fragile business. Today, our collection of vintage Christmas tree decorations is about 60,000 pieces. From the simplest baubles and cones to rare collectible figurines.
We risked and tried. And it was the ornaments that became our profile, inspiration, and the basis of the entire store. Such a fragile business. Today, our collection of vintage Christmas tree decorations is about 60,000 pieces. From the simplest baubles and cones to rare collectible figurines.
Initially, the entire office was at Nastya’s place on several shelves. Then it was moved to my flat and occupied a whole room.
Later, we took the risk of renting the office and hiring a single employee to help with packing.
As of February 24, the Grannysbox project included three stores + three more in partnership, 10 employees, and an office warehouse of 80 square meters, filled with glass ornaments to the ceiling.
Later, we took the risk of renting the office and hiring a single employee to help with packing.
As of February 24, the Grannysbox project included three stores + three more in partnership, 10 employees, and an office warehouse of 80 square meters, filled with glass ornaments to the ceiling.
WAR
We were freaking out a lot. All February. February the 22nd is my birthday. And my father and brother gave me a trip to Bukovel as a birthday gift. On the 17th, I said: "Where, where will I go? You're out of your mind." And then we calmed down. Well, because THIS CAN'T HAPPEN.
And I went. And Nastya went too - for three days to Barcelona, with her eldest daughter.
We actually never, ever go on vacation together. But only three days, everything is under control there, we just go there and back and continue working. And our main assistant went with her children to Kyiv for the weekend and was stuck there due to family reasons.
And I went. And Nastya went too - for three days to Barcelona, with her eldest daughter.
We actually never, ever go on vacation together. But only three days, everything is under control there, we just go there and back and continue working. And our main assistant went with her children to Kyiv for the weekend and was stuck there due to family reasons.
As a result, on the morning of the 24th, we were all out there somewhere. I was in Mykulychyn, Nastya was in Barcelona, Alina was in Kyiv. Anya - in Northern Saltivka. Vlad and Vira - in Oleksiivka. Remote employees – all in different places.
And all our 60,000 ornaments and other items - china, glasses, clothes from the 50s, books, brooches, brass pieces, vases – were alone in the office in Zoifer street, left on Wednesday as usual: a cup that someone had not washed, slippers, cookies in the kitchen, flowers on the windowsill.
All the labeling of the boxes, the go-bags with the gold collection, and the evacuation plans were all destroyed.
And all our 60,000 ornaments and other items - china, glasses, clothes from the 50s, books, brooches, brass pieces, vases – were alone in the office in Zoifer street, left on Wednesday as usual: a cup that someone had not washed, slippers, cookies in the kitchen, flowers on the windowsill.
All the labeling of the boxes, the go-bags with the gold collection, and the evacuation plans were all destroyed.
For the first few days, we lived like in a nightmare in the fog. I was in the Carpathians, my children, animals, and parents - all in Kharkiv. Nastya left a two-year-old son in the city. I rode back on the trains that were delayed and stood in the fields without light, listening to the news, that was changing every second, with a sense of horror that I would not make it and they (the army of Russia) would enter the city.
Fortunately, they didn't come in.
Fortunately, they didn't come in.
I went with my family to a country house in the suburbs of Kharkiv. Nastya managed to take her son to Germany with the help of many people and friends, and she remained there for an indefinite period.
After the children and I were together, everyone from my family drove to the cottage, we managed to start the heating and find food, the panic subsided and survival mode was activated.
The Etsy site has put all Ukrainian stores into vacation mode. It was not clear how the post office would work. It was not clear whether it would be possible to return to Kharkiv or not.
After the children and I were together, everyone from my family drove to the cottage, we managed to start the heating and find food, the panic subsided and survival mode was activated.
The Etsy site has put all Ukrainian stores into vacation mode. It was not clear how the post office would work. It was not clear whether it would be possible to return to Kharkiv or not.
We wrote to all customers with open orders, explained the situation, and offered to return the money. No one agreed: everyone said they would wait and trust that we would be able to send the order.
Bless our Ukrainian courier company Nova Poshta: they were incredible and were able to set up work in the first week. I found their working office which was 17 km from the place where we stayed. Then it became clear that we would work somehow.
About 10 days after the war has started, I went to the city for the first time. Fortunately, our office is in the center. It was necessary to pick up at least something and take it to the country. I loaded the products for the neighbors, sent a request for help in our chat (in Ukraine it is common to have chats for all people who live in blocks of houses, apartment complexes, etc) - and people whom we had not even seen before came and helped put everything in the car: orders, packaging, something that could be easily transported. The car was loaded completely. But in the office, you can’t even notice that something was taken.
I made four such trips. I took part of the products of three stores, a computer, a printer. I was able to send the first orders.
We made a small warehouse on the veranda. The whole family helped and packed orders - especially my 84-year-old grandmother. Volunteer girls from Poltava sewed a hundred flags for us, and I began to put them in each package along with a small note saying thank you for your support. And the date: March 5, 2022, Kharkiv region, Ukraine.
We made a small warehouse on the veranda. The whole family helped and packed orders - especially my 84-year-old grandmother. Volunteer girls from Poltava sewed a hundred flags for us, and I began to put them in each package along with a small note saying thank you for your support. And the date: March 5, 2022, Kharkiv region, Ukraine.
We have paid everyone's salary for February. Then - in March. Two employees remained in the city and continued to work - at first remotely, from May gradually in the office. Everyone who worked remotely also continued to work.
Nastya buys beautiful vintage things at flea markets in Germany and ships them from there.
Nastya buys beautiful vintage things at flea markets in Germany and ships them from there.
VOLUNTEERING WORK
On the third day of the war, it occurred to me to make digital listings for donations. I made a yellow and blue heart and listed it on Etsy just for $5. Also, I wrote in the announcement that we will give all the money from this listing to the Army and volunteers. And somebody bought it. One, two, ten times.
Our friends from the USA asked us to make such a listing for them for 500 dollars so that they could transfer the money to us. I did it, and the next minute people I didn't know at all bought it too. On the first day, we raised more than 2,000 dollars.
We thought that we would raise a little, give all of them to the Army, and then there would be a victory for Ukraine...
Our friends from the USA asked us to make such a listing for them for 500 dollars so that they could transfer the money to us. I did it, and the next minute people I didn't know at all bought it too. On the first day, we raised more than 2,000 dollars.
We thought that we would raise a little, give all of them to the Army, and then there would be a victory for Ukraine...
So far, it's July now. For the entire time, we raised more than 3,000,000 hryvnias in total.
Later we added children's drawings, T-shirts, and souvenirs with Ukrainian symbols.
Every day for 100 days in a row, I wrote a diary and published it on Instagram and on the store page. We have now switched to weekly reports.
Our clients in Japan made an exhibition "100 days of war" with our photos and texts.
Every day for 100 days in a row, I wrote a diary and published it on Instagram and on the store page. We have now switched to weekly reports.
Our clients in Japan made an exhibition "100 days of war" with our photos and texts.
At first, the raised money was chaotically transferred to various needs - something was purchased, and someone was donated. Then we began to bring medicines that were not available in Kharkiv, initially for friends and neighbors. A team of our friends bought them in Poltava and Kremenchuk and delivered them to Kharkiv by train, where volunteers drove them to the addresses.
Since April, people started asking for food. By that time, I was already going to the city every week, and there were enough products in the supermarkets. Weekly purchasing, packing, and loading in the office became a normal routine.
Since April, people started asking for food. By that time, I was already going to the city every week, and there were enough products in the supermarkets. Weekly purchasing, packing, and loading in the office became a normal routine.
On average, we deliver products and medicines to 40-50 addresses per week.
Solitary men, disabled people, mothers with children, people who feed a bunch of animals left with them, just people who are in a hopeless situation and who are rejected everywhere.
We are helping, our phone numbers are the word of mouth, and the number of applications is increasing. But every day we get less and less money.
Right now, we developed a system for incoming requests (we are sorting them at the very beginning; we are forced to cut off so-called hunters for humanitarian aid, those who are not in critical need, etc., but there are still a lot of critical requests). We usually buy a basic food set, and medicines and deliver them with our 3 cars.
We are helping, our phone numbers are the word of mouth, and the number of applications is increasing. But every day we get less and less money.
Right now, we developed a system for incoming requests (we are sorting them at the very beginning; we are forced to cut off so-called hunters for humanitarian aid, those who are not in critical need, etc., but there are still a lot of critical requests). We usually buy a basic food set, and medicines and deliver them with our 3 cars.
Help for the military was always a separate paragraph.
Since February, we bought and handed over dozens of bulletproof vests, helmets, and various ammunition worth hundreds of thousands of hryvnias. We have already bought and driven two pickup trucks.
First-aid kits, tourniquets, medicines – we even did not count how many of them were bought. And in this field, too, the requests do not end, and the money runs out very quickly.
Since February, we bought and handed over dozens of bulletproof vests, helmets, and various ammunition worth hundreds of thousands of hryvnias. We have already bought and driven two pickup trucks.
First-aid kits, tourniquets, medicines – we even did not count how many of them were bought. And in this field, too, the requests do not end, and the money runs out very quickly.
In July, we faced the fact that the flow of donations was running out. The last upload of help we bought on the money we raised on Facebook for the first time. Raised. Bought. Delivered. But what to do next is not yet clear.
We are trying to contact charity organizations but this process has become complicated everywhere. Nevertheless, we will continue to work until there is at least the slightest opportunity.
We are trying to contact charity organizations but this process has become complicated everywhere. Nevertheless, we will continue to work until there is at least the slightest opportunity.
Today, our task is to restore the shop as much as possible, so that by the season it will start earning again, and we can continue to transfer part of the earnings to volunteer needs.
At the same time, we are looking for those who can help us, so that we can help others.
At the same time, we are looking for those who can help us, so that we can help others.
The office was and remains in Kharkiv. I hope it will stay here further.
We believe in the Army and Ukraine.
We work for victory.
We work for victory.
Details if you want to help:
PayPal: Grannysboxetsy@gmail.com
PrivatBank: 5363542013179834, Volkova Maria Viktorivna
PayPal: Grannysboxetsy@gmail.com
PrivatBank: 5363542013179834, Volkova Maria Viktorivna