A passion for furniture, a family heirloom. The Furniture Lab - Reghin, Mures, workshop opened through Start-Up Nation

Valentina Ciobota, administrator of The Furniture Lab - Reghin, Mureș: "I grew up next to my grandfather's small carpentry workshop and it seemed natural that at some point I would take over the business and bring it up to today's requirements. The Start-Up Nation program offered me the financial support I needed to start the business, and Felder Gruppe Romania gave me the security of a reliable partnership." (INTERVIEW)

Valentina Ciobota's passion for furniture runs in her family. She spent her childhood in her grandfather's small carpentry workshop, and starting a business in furniture production was more than natural. He opened his own workshop through the Start-Up Nation and produces furniture to order, she designs furniture according to her clients' needs and puts her personal stamp on each piece she creates, adding a different and unusual element each time. Even if the organization was quite difficult and the decisions were hard to make at the beginning, Valentina believes that it is worth the effort to build something in this field.

Key points:

• Production: custom-made furniture in chipboard/ MDF

• Equipment purchased through Start-Up Nation:

  • Hammer K4 perform circular saw with mobile forming table
  • Hammer F3 Mobile Table Milling Machine
  • Hammer A3 41 2-operation combined straightening/thick-trimming machine
  • 2 x Felder AF 22 M Professional Mobile Exhaustion System
  • Festool hand tools

• Criteria for choosing the machinery supplier: the security and confidence of a long-term partnership, flexibility and adaptation to processing needs

• The secret of success: the passion, courage and support of those close to you

• Tips and advice for future entrepreneurshave a very well thought-out business plan and take into account possible changes of direction their business might take.

INTERVIEW Felder Gruppe Romania: Valentina Ciobota, administrator The Furniture Lab - Reghin, Mures

How were your first steps in the industry? 

Valentina Ciobota: Growing up in a family of carpenters, I hit the road with all the advantages. Being on my 3rd business I was starting, I already had a client base and potential projects, but I still believe that it wasn't and still isn't easy. There are many things to prepare for and anticipate, but also many unknowns that come with risks, disappointments, problems. But in the end, it is definitely worth the effort to build something in this area.

What exactly do you produce? 

Valentina Ciobota: We make custom furniture from chipboard / MDF. We design the furniture according to the client's needs, but we always add something different and out of the ordinary, be it a play of light, a new material or a different and unexpected role for a particular piece.

Why did you choose Felder Gruppe Romania as supplier for your machinery? How would you characterize the partnership within the Start-Up Nation project? 

Valentina Ciobota: When I started the project I was a bit overwhelmed, there was a lot of information about an area I didn't know from a business perspective, decisions to make, the right equipment to purchase. That's why I chose the equipment supplier who gave me the most reassurance, was the most cooperative and had the most patience with a novice in the wood industry like me. Felder Gruppe Romania gave me security, I felt that I could rely on their partnership and they were also very attentive to my production needs.

What were the problems you faced in running the program? What were the biggest obstacles you overcame?

Valentina Ciobota: The organization was the most difficult, it's quite demanding to plan a production business. During the program you accumulate a lot of information that becomes quite overwhelming, you have to make quite important decisions and at the same time you also have to respect the specifications of the project you have committed to.

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If you are one of the future entrepreneurs who want to open a business through Start-Up Nation, find out what other problems Valentina Ciobota faced during the funding program, as well as her recommendations and advice for future entrepreneurs in the furniture industry, by reading the full interview here.

The interview with Valentina Ciobota is part of Felder's campaign of stories you can read here.