Ironing out the kinks

In May, anticipating increased demand from the Euro Cup, and more established clientele, we ordered another industrial iron for Bubbles. The contract stated that we'd have the iron in three weeks ... by June 18th at the latest. That date, as well as many others since then came and went with no iron to show. The additional 1,000 sq/ft of space we leased sat wanting an iron for months. Finally, today September 10, for the first time, we saw the iron safely to it's new home.

 

 If we could count the hours and relay the conversations we've had with the local rep as well as the manufacturing company about our order status with this iron we'd all undoubtedly feel like we've been banging our heads against a brick wall... which is exactly what we had to break through to get this massive 1.5 ton iron into the building.

This iron (left, Iron1) has been running at full capacity - with stretches of work where it did not turn off, or rest for 15 solid days (around the clock, 24/7). Of course, every machine has a breaking point (which is part of the reason why we wanted and ordered another iron) and this iron is no exception. A part broke (graphite ring) mid-summer and left Bubbles with tons (literally) of ironing to do by hand until the needed part was DHL'ed from France (of course the Ukrainian distributor doesn't have spare parts on hand). The part actually had to be shipped twice because the first time it was installed a careless hand broke it a second time resulting in an emergency flight to Kiev to meet the part (again) at the airport and hand deliver the graphite ring. Frustrating.   

During this time all hands were on deck ironing, some work was contracted out ... and though challenging, it was a great way for our little business to grow together as a team. We became a company of solutions. Some of our employees volunteered to work the extra needed hours, would put in a 12 hours shift, break just to sleep and eat, and comeback to keep ironing by hand for 12 more hours. At one point we had 15 workers all ironing sheets by hand in Bubbles. And, yes, when necessary, we even brought the work home. 

Here's to Iron2 and a hassle free installment (fingers crossed) tomorrow. 

Great Employees

We have great employees at Bubbles - here's a photo of most of our 20 full-time workers. 

Ukrainian businesses are not known for "employee training's" or "boss involvement" ...

So having weekly training meetings, and an owner who's a part of every step of the process from getting clients, to folding and delivering the finished product, is new.

Last week we had everyone write down one employee who each person felt had worked hard, and gone above and beyond ... the results were overwhelmingly one lady. 

We acknowledged this woman for her great efforts at the weekly training meeting, and gave her an additional day's wages as a "than you."

Everyone was in shock - no one here has ever heard of such a thing.

And since then we've been asked multiple times if that is going to happen every week ... to which the answer is no - but at random times we'll do it again.

We mentioned this to a local friend who when he heard we gave the woman who worked the hardest an additional day's wages then said, "You took back the bonus after you gave it to her, right?"

"Uh, NO. That would defeat the purpose," we explained.

 To which he scoffed.

I guess that's just one example of the type of Ukrainian business owner's mentality that we're learning to work with and trying to overcome.