Business Lockdown: For entrepreneurs Skripka & Zhadan, shutdown is ‘best time to improve’

Editor’s Note: Ukraine’s businesses are struggling after the country introduced nationwide restrictions on movement and travel starting on March 12. The restrictions have been strengthened since then and are set to last until at least May 22. Most businesses are closed with employees working remotely or not working at all. The exceptions include supermarkets, pharmacies, banks, parcel delivery services. The borders are closed to most forms of traffic, except Ukrainians returning on foot or by car. Most domestic transportation is closed or heavily restricted. Estimates range on how deeply the ensuing recession will harm Ukraine. The Kyiv Post talked with entrepreneurs about their daily struggles, asking how the quarantine has affected their ventures and what they are planning to do once it’s lifted.

We want to hear your personal story of survival during this national lockdown. Please contact us at [email protected].

Kristina Skripka and Yana Zhadan
co-founders of Foodies and The Naked Bar

Skripka: “We are not a big company, Yana Zhadan and I only employ six people. We had been already thinking about how to keep the team working before the quarantine was officially announced.

“The hardest decisions were about adapting to the new reality of the quarantine with our responsibility for our team. We are a small team and we moved in recently in our gallery, so it was not possible to keep the same salaries, nor the same amount of working hours. We don’t have any savings, as we are still paying back the credit we took. Our working time decreased from 16 to eight hours per day. We now have about 40% of our regular visitors, but we tried to keep 70% of the previous salary rate while involving people in our new project — delivery service of food from farmers.”

“Our team, suppliers, and gallery partners… are our main values. Our love for people, community, and delivery make us keep going despite the difficulties. 

“Usually small businesses (use their) operational money, but we lack savings. Right now, takeaway orders keep the bar going.

Food on display in the art gallery The Naked Room in central Kyiv. Kristina Skripka and Yana Zhadan created the Foodies delivery service to bring fresh food from farms to city dwellers during the shutdown.

“Our grocery and delivery service really inspired us, so we decided to keep doing it (even) after the quarantine ends. Of course, we need to change it and rethink the list of products, to strengthen the concept – becoming a service which is connecting farmers with citizens. We are looking for new suppliers to (unite farmers and create a pick-up point for customers).

“Our bar is ready to come back to its regular hours in the framework of the governmental restrictions.

“We want to feel a little more protected by the government. It doesn’t mean that we are frustrated (with the current situation), but we are doing everything by ourselves to support our team, local suppliers. Ukraine is such a powerful country because of its people who are collecting money for medical workers, raising funds to help the elderly during the quarantine, supporting firefighters extinguishing fires in Chernobyl. And we also want to feel (support from the government) in this. As a small business and also as a cultural project, we would like to receive some support from local authorities for our team. And it is not about being demanding or selfish, but we need to know we can rely on our country, as much as the country can rely on us.

“The only help we received was the cancellation of (some) arrears fines. But we receive help and support from our guests! Concerning the business community, let’s support each other and collaborate. The community is the biggest source of inspiration in these hard times. It’s also an occasion to re-think our models and the best time to improve.”