Helen Shibanik
Key takeaways
- 4:14In the first week of war, suppliers stopped all work entirely; by the second week, approximately 10-30% resumed but only to sell existing warehouse inventory leftovers.
- 6:15Retail business models flipped—before the war, delayed payment terms exceeded inventory turnover; after the war started, suppliers demanded full payment on delivery.
- 2:10Major customer Novus operates 89 stores with over 48,000 SKUs but had its newly relocated main office and flagship supermarket completely destroyed by shelling.
- 10:20Retailers have taken heroic actions including providing toys to children in bomb shelters, allowing cash withdrawals at petrol stations when banks ceased operations, and donating company trucks to armed forces and territorial defense.
- 12:24Despite severe psychological exhaustion and unknown daily risks, retailers open stores each morning and have decreased working hours for staff to manage the trauma of repeated bomb shelter visits.
In Helen Shibanik's words
“I'm Ukrainian and it really hurts to see how the Russian occupiers are destroying my native land every minute, every day somebody loses their homes, relatives, and loses hope.”
War notes: How Ukrainian retail business is managing the impossible. Poland & CEE Retail Summit.1:10
“I'm proud of my country that I have never been proud before. I'm proud of soldiers and all those civilians who help them to win this war.”
War notes: How Ukrainian retail business is managing the impossible. Poland & CEE Retail Summit.2:10
“Retailers are fighting like heroes to ensure that the population has a possibility to eat, drink, feed their children, and just support the economy of Ukraine.”
War notes: How Ukrainian retail business is managing the impossible. Poland & CEE Retail Summit.9:20
“I have never seen the people of Ukraine so united. I have never seen such enormous support of the president. I have never seen such pride when pronouncing 'I'm Ukrainian.'”