The article has been automatically translated into English by Google Translate from Russian and has not been edited.

How Ukrainian in 22 of the year earned $ 100 thousand on boxes for wedding rings

'17.04.2019'

Source: MC Today

Yana Anokhina 2019, participant of the MC Today “New Faces of 22” rating, she is engaged in business for five of them. Boxes for wedding rings, which the girl produces under the brand Voeu Du Coeur, appeared on the cover of the world-famous wedding magazine Martha Stewart Weddings and on the pages of Vogue. They are bought in 38 countries of the world, the company’s income during this time has passed for $ 100 thousand.

MC Today tells how Jana found an unusual niche and avoided conflict with American rivals.

From programming to photography

Yana Anokhina was 12 years old when she had a computer and the Internet. Purposeful schoolgirl from Dnipro decided to learn programming and even wrote her own website. Then she mastered Photoshop - and the photo became her passion.

In 16 years, Yana met with the guys from the photo studio, who made a graduation album for her class. After high school, she immediately went to work for them. I had to get up at 4 in the morning to go to the shooting from the Dnieper to schools and kindergartens in Dneprodzerzhinsk, and then back to retouch photos in the studio.

For the season, Yana saved up for a camera and decided to work for herself - shoot weddings. By the 19 years in the girl's portfolio there were 20 weddings. For the shooting she received about 5 thousand UAH, but most of the money went to consumables. The fact is, Yana filmed and thought out the decor herself.

"Ukrpochtoy" to America

For beautiful pictures of the rings were needed spectacular boxes. Newlyweds usually did not bother with such details. And Yana decided to make the boxes herself. In search of suitable material, velvet, went around all the shops.

“Velvet boxes just appeared in the United States, and nobody in our country did them,” recalls Yana.

The result was liked by both the clients, and Yana herself, and the girl suddenly became fascinated with the handmade. Soon she exhibited several works in the international online store Etsy. A few weeks later, Ukrposhta sent the first order, a box for $ 40, to the USA.

“I didn’t expect anyone to be interested in boxes at all. It was unbelievable, ”recalls Yana.

First error

The first was followed by other private orders. Soon, an employee of a wedding agency came to Yana, who wanted to buy 30 products right away.

“Then it was a huge party for me,” says Yana. “I was delighted, I bought materials and worked on them for a whole month.”

When everything was ready, the woman suddenly stopped communicating. So Yana learned the first lesson - to take a prepayment.

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Those boxes sold through Etsy. And then the missing customer suddenly returned and inquired about her order. Then Yana made a new batch in emergency mode.

Team appearance

At first, Yana made the products herself. Each took several hours.

“This occupation so fascinated me that, even going to Uzhgorod to look at sakura blossoms, I took the materials to the train and collected the boxes right in the compartment,” recalls the founder of the brand.

A few months later, Yana realized that she was not coping and hired her first assistant. Then the second. Now she has a whole team: some employees create boxes, others correspond with customers, and others send orders.

International recognition and first conflict

Soon the work of the brand Voeu Du Coeur appeared on the cover of Martha Stewart Weddings - the world-famous wedding magazine. The boxes were written by European and American media and blogs, including Style Me Pretty, Brides and Wandering weddings.

Once on a photo of products competitors from the USA who made a similar product came across. They patented their boxes and began to demand that Yana should withdraw her sale.

“I already had several employees who depended on salary. I decided to save the situation, - explains Yana. - Literally overnight, radically changed the design of the boxes: instead of square, it made octagonal. And quickly issued a patent for them in the United States and Ukraine. "

The peak of glory happened two years later. Vogue has included Voeu Du Coeur products in the selection of the best wedding accessories.

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“Vogue editors noticed our brand on Instagram and wrote to the post office. At first I didn’t believe my eyes, ”recalls the entrepreneur. “Then I reread it and started jumping all over the room.”

For publication in Vogue had to pay 200 pounds sterling (about 260 dollars). But, according to Yana, it was a recognition - the magazine makes such offers only to those whose work they are interested in.

 

 

Tiffany dreams

Ukrainians rarely buy boxes, but Yana doesn’t get upset because she initially focused on a foreign market. Her brand has an English-language website and an Instagram account. Goods are sent by Ukrposhta and DНL.

Voeu Du Coeur accessories range from $ 47 to $ 147, depending on size and shape. Every month Yana receives hundreds of orders. For three years, income has passed for $ 100 thousand. Boxes are bought by residents of 38 countries: they are sold not only online, but also in showrooms in Germany, Austria, France and Canada.

“There are several wholesale customers among American and European jewelers. There are no big names like Cartier or Tiffany, but we are working on it, ”smiles the founder of Voeu Du Coeur.

Jana no longer takes weddings, only sometimes she takes pictures for the brand pages on Instagram and Pinterest. He also deals with organizational work and brand development.

“Half of success is luck, the second half is work,” says Yana. - I am sure that a person can earn any amount. The main thing is to believe in your dream, not to put on the crown and work. ”

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