Village and business. How to develop your own business if you're not in the city
"We need to realize that no one will build big factories here. All we have are our hands, skills, dreams, and intentions," says Liudmila from Vinnytsia and shares her story on how to develop your own business in an ordinary village. And we share ideas on where everyone can start.
How to develop the Ukrainian village? This issue is one of the most important for modern Ukraine. One answer may be to allow villagers and small-town residents to thrive there, rather than look for a better life in big cities. This story of growth is happening now in the town of Bershad in the Vinnytsia region, where a school of hairdressing was opened on the initiative of a resident of Ustia Village, near Bershad, for everyone who wants to study.
Liudmila Komysh's "Private author's school of hairdressing art 'Bravo'" project became one of the 24 winners of the microgrant competition, "Village. Steps to Development." The artist took part in the competition of microgrants to train young hairdressers and develop hairdressing in the village. And it turns out that it develops the village at the same time.
Liudmyla Komysh
Teaching to develop
Ms. Liudmila is an experienced hair artist with 20 years of experience. Before moving to Vinnytsia, she worked as a hairdresser in many Ukrainian cities, including Kyiv. Five years ago, Liudmila returned to her native Ustia to take care of her old grandparents and was sadly surprised that she never managed to find a hair specialist who could work with scissors and a comb on the level of the capital's salons.
Liudmyla Komysh is a teacher of geography and biology. In the turbulent 90s, she was forced to leave school and study to become a hairdresser to feed her two young children. During the retraining, she realized that this was her true vocation. While still a student of her first hairdressing courses, Ms. Liudmila became a mentor for younger colleagues. She studied and improved all her life.
The teaching past (and Ms. Liudmila worked as a teacher for 10 years) taught her to be interested in methodology, listen carefully and analyze any information. "In school classes of famous artists, I always thought: here I would do it differently, the theory is lacking, and there's not enough practice here," the woman recalls. "That time might be when the idea arose to develop an author's course for hairdressers, putting in my vision and many years of experience."
The profession of hairdresser is now at the peak of fashion. When Ms. Liudmila was just starting her career, it was considered unprestigious, but now the art of beauty is very popular and relevant. Many people undergo retraining because they don't get moral satisfaction from their previous professions and, therefore, don't have the financial return, and yesterday's school kids don't want to sponge on their parents, strive for independence and their earnings.
Currently, in cities, the profession of hairdresser is offered in various establishments and salons. But what to do in the village? For example, in Bershad there is only one professional lyceum that teaches school graduates, after which you can become a cook or tractor driver; there's no profession of a hairdresser. Therefore, one of the important ideas of the artist's project was an education for local youth, which would reduce migration and allow school graduates to stay in their villages and work on the ground.
How to create your vocational school in the village
The "Village. Steps to Development" competition (the project is implemented by the Charitable Foundation "MHP to Community") allowed Liudmila Komysh to implement the idea of a private author's school of hairdressing and buy everything one needs for training and practice. She had experience in writing business plans; at one time she was the director of the Bershad ATO Assistance Fund, helped ex-soldiers find themselves after returning from the war, and therefore had experience in grant competitions. During the quarantine, the competition took place online: training, conversations, instructions for paperwork. All documents were sent by e-mail.
"I wasn't sure of victory," the artist admits, "because there are many excellent projects, so I calculated other opportunities to start my business. For a while, I would have to work only to realize my dream and I steeled myself." But my project was supported by both the community and the competition committee, which once again confirmed its need for people, which I'm, of course, very happy about."
For a grant of UAH 50,000, Liudmila purchased professional hair dryers, clippers, trimmers, curling irons, scissors, combs, styling brushes, and training mannequins of various lengths and hair colors for the Bravo School.
She invested in advertising and consumables herself. To announce her Beauty School to the community, she wrote an article in the district newspaper, printed out information booklets with which she traveled to villages and educational institutions, and gave radio announcements at the local market. "Grapevine" and good relations with other artists and owners of hairdressers helped a lot.
Why is this necessary?
The schools' goal is to help teenagers choose their future profession, create conditions for improving the professional skills of hairdressers, promote hairdressing services among the population, especially young people, and as a result, increase the aesthetic taste.
Education at school takes place in blocks. Everyone can choose the block they need. Groups of 2-10 students are formed and an individual schedule is drawn up for each group. The training takes place in the Dolaris beauty salon (here Ms. Liudmila rents one of the rooms), so there's an opportunity to gain not only theoretical knowledge but also to practice practical skills.
The most common and affordable specialization for beginners is a hairdresser. This specialist not only cuts, dyes, dries, and curls hair, but also skillfully uses a clipper and hairdryer, knows the features of chemical solutions of paints and their biological effects on humans. They work with women, men, and children. Liudmila Komysh's author's method is designed for beginners. In just 2.5 months, students will acquire basic knowledge of geometry and modeling of haircuts, colors, master the wisdom of bio-perm and keratin procedures, will take a barber course. At the end of a certain block, students receive a diploma or certificate.
"Indeed, the program is very rich, but it's an advantage," says the artist. "I wanted everyone who came to school in our difficult times not to regret a single hryvnia they spent on education."
The first students of the Bravo School
The first participants of the school were young women from nearby villages. Only two months have passed since the beginning of training, and young hairdressers are already serving the first clients. They do haircuts and styling independently. One of them is planning to start her business. Students cut people's hair for free. Free haircut ads have been posted on social media and the local press; they're done for the poor, and retirees. People are happy to come, communicate with girls, feel needed, and most importantly beautiful.
Now is the enlisting for the next course. The author plans to develop a 5-month course for high school students, which would give young people the opportunity to get a profession at school. Ms. Liudmila dreams of developing the school. She wants to provide knowledge not only of hairdressing but also of make-up and manicure by cooperating with local artists who still teach people at home individually. The immediate goal is to participate in the tender from the Employment Center.
Is the village not a business?
"Doing business in the village is not so simple," admits the founder of the School of Hairdressers," but nothing is impossible when you want it. On the contrary, I believe that rural business has its advantages; you can rent cheap space here, the grants for village development help. It seems that 50 thousand isn't such a big amount, but often the villagers don't have the start, and such programs are very helpful at the first stage."
In addition, Liudmila Komysh notes that the village has other starting opportunities to start a business:
"Almost everyone has at least a piece of land, a mini-tractor, a goat or a cow, vegetables and fruits that can be grown for sale or canned, almost all housewives can sew or knit. When I headed the charity, I helped ATO veterans write business plans. One of them planted a garden, the other one breeds goats; each of these businesses is quite profitable. The problem is that very often our people are afraid of independence for some reason, they think that to be an entrepreneur you need a lot of money; they're waiting for someone to come and give them a job. We need to realize nobody will build factories here, all we have are our hands, skills, dreams, and intentions. So we shouldn't be afraid and create a job ourselves, start working for ourselves and become masters of our own lives."
There is a persistent misconception that it's more difficult to do business in the countryside than in the city. In reality, there are many opportunities in rural areas to start your business from scratch. At the same time, the costs of organizing and running a business are much lower; at least because land, labor, and resources are cheaper. In addition to self-evident ideas like selling agricultural products, products of extraction and processing of available natural resources, installation of kiosks and trays for resale of everything, experts name a few more home business ideas that are most effective in a private home.
Apiculture
The apiary is a lucrative business and pays off in one season on average, but it requires special knowledge and hard work. One needs theoretical training and knowledge of nuances. It is best to consult with an experienced beekeeper before purchasing hives and other equipment. Reading special literature will also help. But as a result, you get products that are in demand all year round: honey, propolis, pollen, beeswax, and more.
Production
These include companies that use local raw materials. There are many options: woodworking workshop, production of feed, flour, canned vegetables and meat, jams, sausages, dumplings, and other semi-finished products, bath brooms. You don't need to start with large production. And some products can be made at home.
Collection of herbal teas and berries
The idea, though non-standard, is quite cost-effective. Herbal healing, soothing and invigorating teas are still in trend. With a competent organization, a decent income with minimal money is guaranteed. This will take only your time to collect herbs, berries, flowers, calibrate them, dry with a special dryer (the last point is necessary).
Needlework
Weaving furniture and products from straw, vines, willow twigs, making souvenirs from pebbles, wood, making garden figurines from plaster or polymer stone are not very difficult jobs and such handmade is sold in the cities at a very expensive price tag. Of course, you must also learn it. Maybe you already know something, but to improve your skills and abilities, there are books and many guides on the Internet. You can cook soap, make jewelry for hairstyles, print funny T-shirts and sweatshirts with funny inscriptions. Such products are best sold online. By the way, for all other types of business, you shouldn't neglect the Internet and social media engagement; your presence will not hinder development. You can also go to mass events and fairs or open your gift shop.
Rural tourism
Holidays in the bosom of nature and travel in Ukraine are becoming increasingly popular. Residents of cities, tired of the hustle and bustle, stress, and bad environment, seek at least a day to escape to nature, relax and recharge. What do you need? House with rooms for rent plus the surroundings, which provide many options for leisure so that guests can walk the trails and go fishing, steam in the sauna, go to the forest for mushrooms, visit the farm and ride horses. It is convenient to look for clients through the Internet and mass media of the nearest big city. And unobtrusive and polite service and your trademark in the form of the same herbal teas or healing oak barrels in the sauna, ski rental, or sledding in the winter will encourage your guests to come back to you again and again.
