Disney sells 3D-puzzles invented by Ukrainian Ugears company
Source：https://delo.ua/
From：Taiwan Trade Center, Kyiv
Update Time：2019/01/16
Disney Corporation started to sell Ukrainian 3D-pazzles invented and manufactured by the Ugears company.
There are four puzzles’ models, created specifically for Disney, available in the shops now. The price for each is 50 USD. According to Hennadii Shestak, Ugears General Manager and co-founder, 700 Disney shops all over the world started the sale.
The negotiations with Disney started in spring 2017 and lasted eight months, Shestak says.
“The first step was made by Disney’s agent, who appeared to be a good friend of our distributor in the USA, they offered us to work-out and manufacture models for the corporation.” – Ugears General Manager says.
During the negotiations, Ugears underwent audit twice, the preparation process for the first one included 400 points.
“The corporation considered business transparency, full tax burden, an average salary at the enterprise and social atmosphere, in which our employees work (especially workshop and warehouse workers). Many requirements matched to the Ukrainian Labor Code.” – Shestak comments.
He also emphasized that his team passed the audit without any remarks, which strongly surprised the future famous buyer.
According to the entrepreneur, Ugears is the first company for the last 22 years, who was allowed by Disney to keep their trademark on the package.
“We cut our profitability for this, but got a huge amount of contacts with our products instead. I am sure that our presence on the Disney’s store shelves will increase brand awareness in the global scope. Consequently, it will increase our sales and profit,” – Ukrainian company General Manager emphasized.
Shestak also informed that the puzzle models created specifically for Disney, Ukrainian manufacturer sells exclusively for the corporation.
In 2014, Ugears startup started its path on the Kickstarter crowdfunding platform. Now, it is a successful Ukrainian company with two hundreds of employees. “When we produced the first wooden coloring construction sets, I took 10 units home. I did not hear any noise from my two daughters for two hours. Thus, I understood that the product will be successful.” – Hennadii Shestak says.
By now, the company produces half a million of models per year, which buyers are people of the age 25+ from all over the world. Everyone do the puzzles – starting from grandchildren to parents of ripe years.
By countries, Ukraine buys only about 8-10% of sets by now. The US and Canada share 33% of sales, the other 25% go the EU, and the rest go to Russia, Australia, New Zeeland and Asian countries.
Source：https://ain.ua/en/2018/11/02/disney-began-selling-ugears/