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December 23, 2025
Tamara Shulepova and her family have grown garden plants for over 20 years. Their greenhouse in Donetska oblast was among the largest in the region and was known for its unique assortment of decorative plants. The war forced them to start over twice: first in 2014, then again after the full-scale invasion in 2022.
At the beginning of 2022, the family was preparing for the new season, but shelling, constant power cuts, and a direct hit by a shell on the office building destroyed part of the equipment and production facilities. To save the plants, they had to be urgently transported and handed over to partners throughout Ukraine. Thus, the business gradually moved to Vinnytsia, where Tamara is now resuming sales and container cultivation of plants, collaborating with landscaping companies, developers, and hromadas.
The New Year season became an important part of this new phase. Tamara is developing a line of live Christmas trees and coniferous compositions in containers — an ecological alternative to cut trees. These plants can be used as festive decorations and then replanted on a balcony, in a yard, or in a public space after the winter holidays.
The Right to Business training course provided support during the restart period. It helped Tamara take a fresh look at her enterprise: not just as a production facility, but as a venture with a strategy, marketing, and a clear vision for development.
Tamara Shulepova:
"Plants literally saved me during the most difficult moments of the war — they kept me going when everything around me was falling apart. And the Right to Business course helped me understand how to save and grow my business: how to talk about my business, how to find customers, and how to plan for growth. Even Christmas trees are not just a seasonal commodity for me, but a way to give people a real sense of celebration and hope that continues to live on.”
Today, Tamara's business is not only about selling plants, but also about influencing the hromada. She cooperates with Vinnytsia Zelenbud and landscaping companies, and has also supported the local psychiatric hospital by donating coniferous plants to create a park for patients and wounded people. For her, this is a business that brings life back even after loss.
Plants by Tamara Shulepova___________________________________________________________________________________________
Anastasiia Seredchenko began making candles in 2018. At first, it was a hobby that fascinated and inspired her; over time, it evolved into her own business. The war changed everything: Anastasiia’s husband joined the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and she registered as a sole proprietor, deciding to build her business in the challenging realities of frontline Kharkiv.
The turning point was the Right to Business training course. For Anastasiia, it was a real impetus for development. The training provided new knowledge about running a business and helped her decide on the name, logo, packaging, and promotion of the brand. Thanks to grant support, she purchased new forms and materials and developed her own brand, Travnevi.
Anastasiia Seredchenko
“In frontline Kharkiv, the course was a breath of fresh air for me. There were people around me who were creating something, and that was very inspiring. I realised that my work could be serious, that people needed it. Candles are lit during shelling or when there is no light ”
Anastasiia’s brand embodies a love of nature, aesthetics and national motifs. Plans include the launch of a new ethnic candle collection and further business development.
For Anastasiia, this is a life’s work that is not only about beauty and atmosphere, but also about values, support, and light for people in the darkest times.
«Travnevi»
