How to create a chocolate factory in 20 years: an interview with the founder of the confectionery MixVille
Work And Study Inspiration / / December 25, 2019
How it all began
- Oleg, however, that your business started with an unsuccessful search for friend chocolate?
- Yes, I was looking for chocolate gifts, I realized that the choice is very small: hazelnuts, almonds. And I wanted something unusual. So the business idea was born. We thought and realized that the money for the big factories we have, therefore, started with the creation of an online designer chocolate.
- meet in the end got the chocolate of your production?
- After about a year, yes.
- You say "we" - who is this?
- We started together with a partner. I clearly understand its pros and cons. And I do not try to be what I am not. That is why for bookkeeping and other uninteresting things to me, I immediately called the man and gave him a share of the company, we are working together with him to this day.
I believe that if the cool ideas come from you, not when you're sitting in the pose of the sage, and when you're driving in the car or have fun with your friends, do not build from a human system, which gently leads daily and always goes to bed at one and the same time.
Organized and meticulous people, on the contrary, do not carry loose way of life and to read books on the development of creative thinking. In business, equally necessary, and those and others.
- Before create MixVille, you try to do business on something else?
- Of course, it was necessary to have something. Initially, when I came to Moscow, stupidly did not have enough money and need to earn. He engaged in the resale of building materials, fruit.
- How did you come to Moscow?
- from Dnepropetrovsk, but before you go to the HSE, the year disaccustomed Ryazan to take a training course.
- You entered the tower, began to live in the dorm. Your young business did not prevent violent student life?
- No, on the contrary, helped. You can discuss ideas with fellow students, not to think about food. Of course, sometimes it went to study, and we came to a pair of huge bags of chocolates, because they themselves initially brought orders for the metro to reinvest the maximum profit.
Running MixVille
- Tell me what you have done in the first place? Where I got chocolate?
- We decided to produce chocolate outsource because we had only 100 thousand, most of which had to go to the site, ingredients and packaging. So we phoned pieces 50 restaurants with an offer to make products in their facilities. Surprisingly only agreed to the most expensive restaurant in Moscow.
- And when did you manage to run their production?
- About three months later. First we had a nook outside Moscow size of 20 meters, but still his.
- You're very knowledgeable in the process of production, or simply to hire people?
- Understand this is easier than it seems. A week is enough to understand the basic principles.
- How many people are now working in MixVille?
- 58 people.
The spirit of a startup
- At age 23, it is difficult to control those who are older than you?
Now the level of people was different, they are more adapted to the reality and does not ask: "What allows himself to this guy?".
35-year-old educated person will assess your level and will respect you. Harder with young confectioners, who have come from afar. They think that if the company's turnover - 1 million rubles, we put it in his pocket, and they inject over 25 thousand rubles.
Naturally, there were management problems, which are superimposed on the lack of experience. We had to themselves as "put". It is a painful process that lasted for the first six months.
- You have three lines of business: corporate orders, customized online b2b and Cafes ...
- four already. We are opening a sales point, now working for two - in the "Golden Babylon" and "Prince Plaza". The development of sales outlets - our main ambition with their appearance we have been born again, and again there was the spirit of a startup. For this project (we call it the "islands"), we have attracted investors.
- Are not you afraid that with the release of retail disappear your main feature - the variability? There will come a man who sees chocolates and wants something, something in the window and there.
- We spent a lot of money for research, and found that almost no one is interested to sit for 20 minutes on the site, to select a chocolate bar.
Time is too expensive. The bulk of the main thing that it was tasty and cool packaging.
Therefore, the meaning of the confectionery has not in a long choosing, and that you can just come in and buy the good sweet gift. We are now even remake the site to the attention of customers was devoted to gifts. For example, a kit for those who want to attract a girl, or to make peace if nakosyachil. But our designer, of course, also continue, in case the person does not find anything suitable.
- And where the ingredients for chocolate purchase?
- Now in Russia. Some were from abroad. This was reflected in the value of certain ingredients, fortunately, is not the main.
- So you move quickly?
- Yes, just we had to raise some prices. If before that something was worth 25 rubles, and now - 35.
- I think to go to other markets?
- When we communicate with investors, we discussed this issue. But when you have, for example, 1 million rubles, and the question arises, to put it in another market or marketing, the second definitely give many times more exhaust. It makes sense to expand when you have 80% of the Moscow market. So do not think about it, the more so because we had a bad experience.
We opened a shop in the center of St. Petersburg, but did not get. People are very different, call back several times, and refuse the order, if the courier is late for 10 minutes. In Moscow, faster and more interesting.
- Are you thinking about how you can optimize the delivery process? To create a car park?
- Car Park - there is no right, because it will pay off only after 3-4 years. One will buy a car. As long as we are satisfied that there is, for example, a minivan Toyota. When you need to take 200 thousand chocolates, it is impossible to fit them into a passenger car.
On the way to the top
- How do you like the Toyota GT86 to go to meetings with investors?
- Very cool coupe, suitable for those who are not burdened with family. Such a car passes right attitude to business: passion, audacity - that need to budding entrepreneurs.
- You're not conceited, having such a big business at such a young age?
- At first it was a little bit, but you know eventually that pride and arrogance only interfere on the way to the top.
- When you travel, you try the chocolate in the other countries?
- Oh sure. In Japan, for example, I tried chocolate with wasabi, bacon. I pay attention to the packaging, additives, composition. When doing business, everything is perceived differently.
- Who do you see yourself in 10 years?
- a serial entrepreneur, whose behind 2-3 large projects. In my opinion, Tinkoff is doing the right things from a business perspective. He creates works about 3-4 years, and when he was tired and has a maximum value of the business, he sells it. This is an ideal scheme, I, too, should always be new.
- What would you advise budding startups?
- It is necessary to consider himself the most intelligent.
Not hatched the idea for years, it slows down the process. And do not listen to any advice. You will need them later when you will be millions.