Belarusian miner went into IT. Then quit and creates his own caramel brand
Anton is a mining engineer by education. He worked underground in a mine for four years. Later he retrained as an IT specialist, but even in the position of an Android developer, he experienced burnout because he didn't feel completely in his element. He wanted to create something of his own, especially since he loved to cook.
The need for another change struck when the young man had already moved from Belarus to Poland. Anton decided to take a risk and completely change his field of activity again. He put everything into opening his own business — that's how the brand of craft, natural caramel Kosmo Karmel appeared.
How's the business going?
Anton didn't just name his caramel "cosmic" for no reason.
"For me, an astronaut is a sign. He says: 'Fly into the unknown, explore, you can do it!' If my story inspires at least one person to act, I'll know it was worth it," he says on social media.
To launch, Anton initially spent about five thousand zlotys ($1300). This sum included expenses for dishes, equipment, a cupboard, shelves, work clothes, and disinfectants with a thermal bag. The most expensive item here turned out to be a professional blender from the Bamix brand.
For the caramel to acquire that perfect taste and consistency, Anton went through 100 failed attempts — and only then achieved the ideal recipe.
"As a result, it's not just caramel, but 182 days of fighting myself, living frugally, when sometimes I wanted to give up everything."
Meanwhile, one 200-gram jar of caramel, made by the Belarusian, costs 25 zlotys (almost $7).
Is it possible to support oneself with such a sweet business?
Anton admits on social media that it was easier when the Allegro platform, where he sells his caramel, didn't charge for services for the first three months. During this time, he sold almost $2000 worth of products, but after deducting mandatory tax contributions (with beginner discounts), advertising costs, and consumables, the guy ended up not even at zero, but at minus $130.
"Minus 500 zlotys [$130] in three months. Is it hard for me to admit this? Yes. Am I disappointed? Yes. But not because someone didn't buy my caramel. My complaints are only with myself. I didn't do everything I could have. I'm sharing this not for you to pity me, but to be honest," the guy said about the interim results.
However, he does not plan to stop there and has set himself a goal – to sell at least 300 jars a month. In his dreams, the Belarusian sees himself as the owner of his own production – a small, but his very own artisan workshop.
And he has every chance of success – the unique taste of his caramel is praised by both Belarusians and Poles. The former particularly note the chocolate flavor – for its resemblance to chocolate butter, which many ate with bread in childhood.
"I make the most awesome caramel in all of Poland," says the businessman, not suffering from imposter syndrome.
Two sons taken from a Belarusian woman in Italy — because she did not recognize the state and did not send her children to school or to the doctor 1919
Comments