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Amid the onset of the Russian invasion, we obtained an electronic mail from Ukraine. The sender was the co-owner of the Whidegroup, an ecommerce company in Zaporizhzhia, close to Crimea. Politely, Anastasia Zhuk requested if we’d renew her firm’s listing itemizing.
She didn’t point out the battle and its upheaval on her enterprise, household, and life — solely the request, adopted by a thanks.
Thus started my dialog together with her, resulting in this interview. Our total audio dialog is embedded under. The transcript is edited for readability and size.
Kerry Murdock: Inform us concerning the Whidegroup.
Anastasia Zhuk: Whidegroup is a boutique ecommerce growth company. We work with small-to-medium-sized ecommerce companies worldwide. We concentrate on Shopify and Magento, though we’re skilled on many platforms.
We do design, growth, and integrations of ecommerce websites with ERPs, CRMs, logistic options, and so forth. We additionally work with service suppliers — delivery, funds, others — and assist them develop extensions and functions to combine with the most well-liked ecommerce platforms.
My husband Anton and I based the Whidegroup in 2014. The corporate is situated within the industrial metropolis of Zaporizhzhia. My husband already had expertise working within the ecommerce trade, managing initiatives and consulting with ecommerce retailers. We’ve got about 20 staff, all in Ukraine.
Murdock: Zaporizhzhia is in southeastern Ukraine close to heavy combating.
Zhuk: Sure, that’s right.
Murdock: Inform us concerning the battle’s affect on you, your loved ones, and the Whidegroup.
Zhuk: It’s undoubtedly not the simplest of occasions for us. A few of our staff tried to go away Zaporizhzhia for safer locations. Anton and I are in Western Ukraine, as is our 5-year-old son. We didn’t go away the town due to the battle. We had been on trip on February 24, when the Russians invaded. We’ve been unable to return.
I’ll always remember that morning. My husband woke me up and stated, “The battle has began.”
It’s historical past that we’re seeing with our eyes. Our kids see, too. It’s a tragic state of affairs. We’re praying and hoping that the battle received’t final years.
Two of our staff are exterior Ukraine now. They went with their youngsters to Poland and Serbia. Just a few are right here in Western Ukraine. The others stay in Zaporizhzhia.
Our authorities has enlisted individuals to patrol and shield the town militarily. So, a few of our guys full their each day duties for us after which combat within the battle afterward. I don’t know the way they do it. Possibly they don’t sleep. I’m unsure.
However I’m very grateful and blissful to report that we will nonetheless meet all expectations of our purchasers.
Murdock: The place is Anton?
Zhuk: Anton is just not with me. He left us yesterday and went to Lviv, a metropolis in Western Ukraine. He joined a volunteer group that receives humanitarian support from Europe — drugs, hospital provides, gear — and distributes it to these in want.
Murdock: Let’s discuss extra concerning the Whidegroup. You talked about experience with Magento and Shopify.
Zhuk: We began as Magento builders. That was Anton’s experience. He had his personal ecommerce retailer on Magento. He was additionally a developer, designer, and marketer.
We do all kinds of integrations, extensions, pace optimization, and consulting. We do migrations from Magento 1 to Magento 2.
Murdock: You are able to do it.
Zhuk: We will do it. Our Shopify experience was vital throughout Covid as many retailers needed to transfer rapidly from offline to on-line. We had been capable of assist them.
Regardless of the battle, we’re open for enterprise, able to serve ecommerce corporations.
Whidegroup residence web page.
Murdock: How can of us attain out to you and the Whidegroup?
Zhuk: They’ll join with us through our web site contact type or through electronic mail.
We can be very fast with consultations, recommendation, and no matter help they want.
Murdock: Anything?
Zhuk: I hope everybody learns extra about Ukraine and our historical past. We’ve got at all times been a nation that loves freedom, that doesn’t invade different nations. We solely wish to reside our life. Don’t watch Russian TV or learn Russian media. It’s a fairytale they inform concerning the battle.
We don’t want anybody on our land. We wish solely to have our nation.
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