Furniture workshop funded by Start-Up Nation 2017

We met in the Penny's parking lot. As soon as you get off the motorway towards Mangalia, right at the roundabout in Agigea. From there to the furniture workshop, the space just rented by George Viziru, is about 200 meters. "It's kind of small. I don't have as much room as I'd like, but I'll manage.." I look around and notice that the space is not so small, especially for a start-up business. "I wanted to buy a hall. I wanted to access European funds. That's how I found out about the Start-Up Nation programme. That's where it all started.”

From a wardrobe door, with a screwdriver and a tree saw bought at Obor I made a table

George tells me he's always been passionate about crafting. "I did decorations on ceramics years ago. When I moved to Constanta I needed a dining room table. From a wardrobe door, with a screwdriver and a tree saw I bought at Obor I made a table. I dressed it in a tights and put wheels on it. That's how I discovered my passion."From passion to the idea of a business things went naturally. "Slowly, slowly I started making furniture for myself or a friend. I would do the project, buy my pallet, go to a workshop, have it cut, have it stained. Then, seeing that it was possible, I thought of starting a business, buying machinery. That's how it came about Gradan Artmob SRL.”

I applied in August 2017 and in October 2017 I received the acceptance

George didn't have the money to invest in machinery. "I tried to find a grant. Initially I wanted to access European funds but it was hard to make the score. In 2017 projects in the service area were encouraged. I spoke to the consultant and he told me about Start-Up Nation. The company was set up after 31 January 2017, I saw that we made the score and decided "Let's get started!" In the first phase we prepared the business plan file, with all the documentation that had to be submitted to the SME Office. Here I also included the necessary machinery, which I was going to buy with the money I received, circular, cant machine, drilling multiple. They were going to check if the necessary machines fit the business profile. I applied in August 2017 and in October 2017 I received the acceptance.”

George's project was in competition with 19,000 others. "As of the afternoon of the last day of registration, around 8700 companies were registered in the programme out of a total of 10000 projects eligible for funding. In the last 2 hours of registration, the number reached 19,000. The budget for each grant was 200,000 lei. You can fit into this budget or, in the case of larger projects, the difference is provided from your own funds. Having no other sources I tried to fit in the 200,000 lei.”

At Danibrum we found the best value for money in the budget we had

After signing the financing contract, it took another month for an additional act to be signed and then procurement started. George analysed the supply of machinery on the market. "We sent out RFPs to several companies. The first to respond was Danibrum. I also went to the BIFE-SIM to see the machines because until then I had only seen them in photographs. At Danibrum I found the best value for money in the budget I had. From them I bought all 3 machines, the circular saw with moving table and the engraver LOHMEYER FKS 325 IQ, automatic edgebanding machine HOLZMANN KAM 215 EPS and the multiple drilling machine GRIGGIO GF 21.”

„With Danibrum the collaboration went very well. After I got the funding acceptance on Start-Up Nation and made the decision to buy from them they delivered the machines very quickly. I didn't even have to go to their premises in Comanești. Everything was done by email. Delivery and installation was very easy. I didn't have to pay them beforehand or access any financing lines to have the machines delivered. They basically agreed to lend me the money until the Start-Up Nation 2017 funding was received. Then, in January 2018, after the verification visit from the SME Office, I also made the payment for the machines. The funding was transferred to my account just one day after the verification visit.”

I took on 2 jobs

„The funding received from the Office for SMEs through the Start-Up Nation programme is non-refundable. There is a monitoring period that will start in September and they (the SME Office) will come once a year to check if I am meeting the conditions I originally agreed. They are interested to check whether I have not alienated the machinery and to check whether I am maintaining the jobs I have taken on. I have taken on two jobs. They must be disadvantaged people, for example unemployed or recent graduates. I have already submitted documentation to the AJOFM announcing that I have 2 vacancies. The procedure is that people who fit the required profile are sent for interview. So far not one person has come.”

In time I want to build a team, develop the business

George is currently the company's only employee, but he doesn't seem very affected by the situation. "At the moment it's just me. I am the only employee in the company. I go to the customer, I measure, I do the design, I work on the machines. But in time, I want to build a team. I plan, as I told you, to hire 2 more employees for the time being. At first we'll work together, I'll teach them what to do. That way I'll have more time to develop the business.”

I parted ways with George convinced he would do a good job. We even agreed together to visit him again to see how such a company supported by Start-Up Nation and especially him as manager of Gradan Artmob SRL.