Join the project # ПідтримайСвоїх (#SupportYours) and help small businesses together with Visa!

Currently, small businesses need our support more than ever.

Today, even one purchase from a local manufacturer can save him from closing his business.

#КупуйУкраїнське (#BuyUkrainian)

Support those who support

For some people, shopping is entertainment, and for others it is a lifelong business, a business that feeds thousands of Ukrainians. Behind every storefront, sign or web page is someone's dream and even a family tradition.

By choosing local producers, you support the economy of the entire country. Good deeds in difficult times are more than good deeds.

As part of the global #WhereYouShopMatters campaign, Visa supports small Ukrainian businesses and invites everyone to join the initiative.

It's easy to do — buy Ukrainian from local producers. Visit shops, markets, and fairs where local brands are represented.

Vsi.Svoi is one of these markets. It’s a project that popularizes Ukrainian products and cares about Ukrainian entrepreneurs. Here you will find goods from more than 200 manufacturers and be able to help small businesses, the heart of communities and the economy of cities.

And Visa will help make shopping convenient and pleasant!

Stories that inspire

We share with you the stories of people who help small and medium-sized businesses survive the quarantine and support Ukrainian manufacturers. As part of the #ПідтримайСвоїх (#SupportYours) campaign, we share stories that inspire to buy local products and treat ordinary shopping with responsibility.

Victoria

UkrPoshta, Export Product Owner

I always approach shopping with great responsibility. If I used to buy from well-known brands because of their prestige, a few years ago I started paying attention to Ukrainian manufacturers. Their quality and prices are pleasantly impressive, although life is not easy for them.

I often work with small and medium-sized businesses that sell products on international marketplaces, so I know their problems. For example, our laws practically do not describe the conditions of cross-border e-commerce sales. PayPal is also considered an obstacle. Exporters cannot accept payments and then withdraw them from an ATMs in Ukraine, only through intermediaries with high interest.

But we, the buyers, can help small businesses. This will also benefit our economy. Many people buy cheap, low-quality goods from China, and Ukrainian brands offer exclusive and high-quality goods. And local business provides jobs for citizens of our country. In my opinion, the choice is obvious.

Among the cool brands, I can mention Leosklo from Lviv, brands at Vsi.Svoi, Woodoo Case on Instagram, Dari Jewelry. You can often get exclusive things from such local manufacturers, for example, with engraving.

That's why I adore Ukrainian manufacturers. I support local business. I buy from small ones.

Leonid

SoftServe, Application Architect

I work in IT and spend a lot of time in coworking spaces. Around me there are also many entrepreneurs from the fields of trade, production and marketing. Everyone has their own problems: manufacturers — with import of components, export of goods, VAT return; traders — with automation of operational activities, management of warehouse stocks. A lot of time is spent on routine. As an entrepreneur, I also understand them, even though I am working on my IT product.

Yes, our small business faces many challenges today. You know, I like that our manufacturers are appearing in Ukraine — the same clothing brands that can replace European counterparts. For example, Hide makes very stylish clothes in the style of streetwear. Among other interesting brands, I can mention Kachorovska. You can order any kind of shoes from them. Moreover, you can choose the materials, color, and design yourself. And also, the My Coffee franchise network. I like both the model and the quality.

If we remember the quarantine in March, without a small business it was difficult for us to find even a cup of coffee in the center. Therefore, in my opinion, the more small businesses we have, the more goods and services we can provide. This, in turn, has a positive effect on the economy, and on all of us.

Anastasia

English and Spanish teacher at Racoon School

I am a poet and a teacher of foreign languages on courses. This business also has its own problems. My friend has her own foreign language school and often complains about unstable income and its dependence on the number of clients, every month is like a lottery. In addition, it is not easy to find qualified personnel.

From my experience, I can say that among Ukrainians there are many people with great ideas for business. But they often lack the push to implement. And when you share your ideas, you can get help and support that will help you bring your idea to life. I myself have several business ideas, I even developed a business plan for my own foreign language school. But while I am certifying myself as a teacher.

Although I am surrounded by many people with business ideas, they are often afraid to start their own business or do not know how. Therefore, it is important to support both the small business that we already have and those people who just want to create it.

Oleksii

EatEasy, Marketing Director

I work as a marketing director in the field of healthy food, and I have many acquaintances in small business. They often face difficulties, for example, bureaucratic entanglements when processing permit documents. There are always so many forms, certificates, statements required.

In general, I believe that a small business is a teenager who does not feel very well, facing various challenges. And if it is not supported, it is unlikely to grow into a stable personality. Therefore, it is necessary to constantly help and accompany small entrepreneurs. And this is not only about the state, but also about the audience that uses the products of small businesses.

I would advise small entrepreneurs themselves to establish a dialogue with the city authorities, propose solutions, ask questions, and constantly develop. Many people succeed in doing so.

For example, among my favorite Ukrainian brands I can name the EatEasy healthy food factory, Vognyar sauces and Mr. Caramba, FIRM barbershops, HURT clothing, VeteranoCoffee and VeteranoPizza. I hope that, over time, small business in our country will receive the support it deserves. And it starts with us — ordinary buyers who buy from small businesses.

Eugenia

Freelancer, Front-end Developer

After the events of 2014, after large supermarket chains began to actively label products in stores with the flags of the countries of manufacture, you begin to wonder whose products you buy. And I think that the market also actively reacted to the situation. Many small businesses began to appear in Ukraine and the existing ones began to actively develop, and we began to pay more and more attention to them.

I can't say that I deliberately started seeking out products from Ukrainian manufacturers, it just happened naturally. Information about them began to actively appear in my space through advertising on social networks, articles, recommendations of friends. At some point, I realized that I went out wearing things that were all made in Ukraine. I was wearing a down jacket, a dress, a bag, boots, and even a phone case with a painting by a Ukrainian illustrator.

I am personally convinced that you can buy clothes, shoes and accessories of excellent quality and with a good design from our manufacturers, you can buy a good book in Ukrainian from our publishers, natural cosmetics from local brands. You can go to a bar where you will be offered products exclusively from local producers. An oyster farm even appeared in Ukraine!

Small business offers us quality products and services that we want to consume and support, because this is support not only for business, but also for our country.