This year, the Amber Galbyn Group of Companies started creating amber products. The jewelry, souvenirs, icons, and paintings have already been exhibited twice at the Amberif International Fair in Gdansk, and in November they will be presented at the Jewelry, Gems and Technology Forum in Dubai.
What does it mean to manufacture and sell amber products in Ukraine? How profitable is this business? Is there any talk of creating your own amber brand?
We talked about this in the interview from Halyna Usik, Head of Production of the Group of Companies.
Last year, the subsoil users of the Amber Galbyn Group sold sun stone for export and represented raw materials at fairs in Gdansk. As a reminder, Burprom was one of the first companies in Ukraine to acquire special permits under the new laws, and in four years it has passed all the necessary stages and was the first started industrial amber mining.
However, the management has set the most important task for 2024 - to scale up to the production of its own amber products.
"It was a further development of the Amber Galbyn companies. After all, the mines were at such a stage of development that we had to process our amber ourselves and were ready to develop production," says Halyna Usyk.
"Amber Galbin: legal amber business is cool!
The group of companies has been operating in strict compliance with the law since the beginning. Therefore, it was not a risky decision to set up its own production, says the CEO.
"If earlier the amber industry was a crime, because there were a lot of [illegal] miners and producers, now there are many laws that you can rely on and work well. Now there is a certain legal framework. We want to show that amber can be handled legally, with dignity, and develop. Looking at our company, we can conclude that legal amber business is cool!"
Ideas for products are found by the director and artists
Specialists and talented people were hired to create the products. They are carefully assisted by other employees, who together form a friendly professional team.
The ideas for the products come from artists. Many of them have graduated from specialized institutions and have the appropriate education.
There are also those who have a gift and creative vision without education, explains Halyna Usik.
"Our boss (co-owner of the Amber Galbin group of companies, Oleh Bogelsky - ed.) gives us very unusual and challenging tasks. We can do almost anything. I can't say that we can do absolutely everything, but we are trying very hard. Now we have worked well on the military theme. We make models of Hisars tanks, we have F-16s, bayraktars, and some products that are truly unique."
After Gdansk, Amber Galbin products are going to conquer Dubai
Having established production since the beginning of the year, the group of companies in March introduced her products to the whole world - she took them to an international fair "Amberif Spring 2024 to Gdansk.
And at the end of August, the products let's go to the fall fair.
"Gdansk is the world capital of amber. There is a globally operating amber association there with powerful gemologists. (The Baltics and Poles, who have family businesses, have been exhibiting at the fair for many years. But our company is different in that we have everything in a complex. We had an extraordinary booth, ranging from various raw materials to unique souvenirs... Now we will participate in the Dubai fair and enter the Arab market. The souvenirs we make are extremely competitive because we have technologies that no other manufacturers have. We are unique," Halyna Usyk is convinced.
"Amber Galbyn Group opened a store in Rivne
Ukrainian customers can also see and buy the unique products of the group of companies. Starting July 31, in Rivne, at the premises at 94 Kyivska Street opened shop and gallery.
It is often visited by tourists, for whom amber and amber products are the hallmark of the region.
Buyers are interested in jewelry, raw materials, symbols, and small mosaic paintings.
Soon, Amber Galbin products will be available for ordering online - the group of companies will open an online store.
Amber Galbin's craftsmen help treat the military
And also a manufacturing company cooperates with the Center for the Treatment and Rehabilitation of Neurotrauma for War Veterans in Klevan, Rivne Oblast.
Every week, the craftswomen hold workshops for defenders from different units who have severe brain, spinal cord or spinal cord injuries. That is why some of the products are unique in that they are created by soldiers undergoing rehabilitation in the hospital.
"Our guys are so interested and warm to it - they are really looking forward to us. They are pleased that we bring them to do something new every time. For example, we started with a mosaic of paintings. We made willow trees. We make shamballas. In our store, we display the products of our defenders, and the money from their sale goes to the Armed Forces," says Halyna Usyk.
"Amber Galbin will make Rivne the capital of amber
Today, Amber Galbin's production is at a high level. We have all the necessary equipment, and we will soon purchase laser cutting machines with computer numerical control for the new direction," Halyna Usyk shares her plans for the near future.
"That is why a powerful company like Amber Galbyn will be able to organize such a worthy exhibition with the support of local authorities and the state, so that people will come to us from all over the world, just like to Gdansk. After all, everyone now knows that Rivne is the capital of amber!"