Furniture workshop funded by Start-Up Nation 2017

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

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

George tells me he has always been passionate about crafts. "I made ceramic decorations years ago. When I moved to Constanta, I needed a dining room table. Out of a wardrobe door, with a screwdriver and a tree saw I bought at Obor I made a table. I dressed it in 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 for a friend. I made the project, I bought my straw, I went to a workshop, they cut it, they carved it. Then, seeing that it could be done, I thought I'd start a business, buy my own machinery. That's how it came Gradan Artmob SRL.”

We applied in August 2017 and in October 2017 we received the acceptance

George had no money to invest in machinery. "I tried to find a grant. Initially I wanted to access European funds but it was hard to 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 January 31, 2017, I saw that we were making 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, canting machine, multiple drill. They were going to check if the machinery needed fit the profile of the business. 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 program out of a total of 10000 fundable projects. In the last two hours of registration, the number had reached 19,000. The budget for each individual grant was 200.000 lei. You could fit within this budget or, in the case of bigger projects, the difference would be provided from your own funds. Having no other sources, I tried to stay within the 200,000 lei.”

At Danibrum I found the best value for money within my budget

After signing the financing contract, it took another month to sign an addendum and then it was on to procurement. George analyzed the machinery on the market. "I sent out RFQs to several firms. 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 within my budget. From them I bought all the 3 machines, the circular with movable table and the engraver LOHMEYER FKS 325 IQautomatic canting machine HOLZMANN KAM 215 EPS and multiple drill GRIGGIO GF 21.”

„The collaboration with Danibrum went very well. After I received the Start-Up Nation funding and made the decision to buy from them, they delivered the machines very quickly. I didn't even have to go to them in Comănești. Everything was done by email. Delivery and installation was very easy. I didn't have to pay them in advance or access any line of financing to have the machines delivered. They basically agreed to credit me 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 machinery. The funding was transferred to my account just one day after the verification visit.”

I took on 2 jobs

„The funding received from the SME Office through the Start-Up Nation program is non-reimbursable. There is a monitoring period starting in September and they (the SME Office) will come once a year to check if I am respecting the conditions I initially agreed. They are interested to check whether I have not alienated the machines and to check whether I am keeping the jobs that I have taken. I've taken two jobs. They must be disadvantaged people, for example unemployed or recent graduates. I've already submitted the documentation to the AJOFM (AJOFM) announcing that I have two vacancies. The procedure is that people who fit the required profile are sent for interview. So far no one 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 too affected by the situation. "I'm the only one working at the moment. I'm the only employee in the company. I go to the client, I measure, I 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. In the beginning we will work together, I will teach them what to do. That way I'll have more time to develop the business.”

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