Interview with the owner of the stores "4 seasons Shoes Market" and "Shoes Dnepropetrovsk"

Friends,

In mid-October 2015, Torgsoft went on a two-day business trip for automation. Usually, only a technical specialist goes on such trips, but this time we decided to visit Zaporizhzhia and Nikopol with an enhanced team. After installation and training, we had a conversation with the owner of the stores "4 Seasons Shoe Market" and "Shoes Dnipro". Here's how our conversation went.

Nazar, how long have your stores been open? Why, among all the variety of products, did you choose shoes?

My parents were in the vegetable trade — a quite common business in our region. Business was going well, but in winter, there was a lull. So they opened a market stall (naturally, I helped them), where they sold different goods. At that time, we met a married couple who made shoes (by the way, we still cooperate closely with them — they are now the owners of a shoe factory). After opening the first point, we opened the second, then the third. The idea of opening our own store came to mind, and I found a website where it was described in detail how to start a business. After studying the information, I decided that I could do it! We bought this store ("Shoes Dnipro"). After some time, we decided to expand: we rented a space from the government. It was in a very poor condition, we fixed it, and for a long time it was a store-warehouse.

One day, after visiting several shoe supermarkets in Dnipro, I thought: why not open a similar store? So, the store-warehouse was transformed into the first shoe supermarket in Nikopol ("4 Seasons Shoe Market"). Of course, a lot had to be redone here: there was a major renovation, several trees had to be removed, parking had to be made, and the surrounding area had to be improved. I must admit, all this happened during a difficult period in our country when many took a wait-and-see position.

How do you survive in a competitive market?

At first, I tracked the assortment of other shoe stores and their interaction with customers. However, at some point, I simply stopped paying attention to them, because for every product, there is a customer! Especially since my products are of good quality and reasonably priced.

Did you have any concerns about automation? Why did you choose Torgsoft?

I started thinking about automating my stores about a year and a half ago. At that time, I downloaded the demo version from your website, found a scanner, and tried working with it. At that moment, everything was fine, but I didn't buy it — just didn't have time to study the full functionality of the program. That's why later I decided to pay for the license with training. Before that, I would always approach your booth at exhibitions, you would hand me a package with promotional products and souvenirs, and I would leave thinking about automation. After another such meeting, I finally decided to buy Torgsoft.

What events, aside from the shoe exhibition in Kyiv, do you attend?

We go to Lviv (where there are manufacturers from Poland and Western Ukraine) and, in the last couple of years, to Istanbul (where European and Turkish shoes are prominently represented).

How would you characterize the business climate in Nikopol?

Compared to 2014, in the current year, purchasing power has dropped by about 40%. However, we do not despair — we are looking for new solutions and expanding our assortment. For example, in previous years, leather ballet flats were popular, but in 2015 people are actively buying textile shoes from us.

Could you share your plans?

In some time, I plan to open a store for denim clothing near "4 Seasons Shoe Market" (I will also automate it with Torgsoft).

Nazar, thank you for the informative conversation! We wish you prosperity, effective ideas, and loyal clients! Until next time!

It's not the first entrepreneur who tells us how in his youth he helped his parents in their business and then opened his own — probably, the habit of working and earning from childhood, knowing the value of money and communicating with completely different people, contributes to this! The story told by Nazar once again confirms that we should boldly take action on what we are passionate about, regardless of the political climate and "the weather outside"!

Friends, be bold, make your dreams come true, and everything will work out!

20.10.2015