War in Ukraine: impact of the war in Ukraine on the daily life of a JOSKIN dealer

To find out more, the JOSKIN company interviewed one of its dealers near the border. The interview was conducted with Michał Stachlewski, commercial director of the company Kisiel, at the branch in Niedrzwica.

- What does your company do and how long has it been in the market?

We are recognized dealers of the tractor brands CASEiH and Steyr in the voivodeships of St. Croix, Subcarpathia, Lesser Poland and Lublin. We have been active in the sale of agricultural machinery since 1992. We work only with brands that offer customers high quality, and thus value with which to grow.

- What is the distance between you and the nearest point of the border with Ukraine?

As a company operating in the Lublin and Subcarpathian voivodeships, we are neighbors all along the Polish-Ukrainian border. The closest points are between 80 and 100 km from our facilities.

- Is your company feeling the effects of the war taking place just across the border? If so, which ones?

Like everyone in Poland, we feel the effects of war. There are financial effects from energy costs, from the increase in product prices or from the increase in the cost of credit, but above all there is the general realization that at this low cost we can help our neighbors, to show them that they are not the only ones, that there is hope for a better future, that the state is not some kind of monster, but that it has a duty to protect citizens and help others in need.

- How has this affected machine sales?

This whole situation has a huge impact on farmers' attitudes toward their investments. Should they buy or save to prepare for the worst? Faced with such aggressive actions, it is naive not to see the risks threatening all of Europe. You cannot say, "It's none of my business, it's none of my business."

- Have you noticed any hesitation among your customers to buy the JOSKIN brand because of the situation in Ukraine? If so, which ones?

Yes, customers analyze not only the price but sometimes the approach of suppliers. Do they support freedom, not only with words, but also with actions of politicians and European organizations, or do they just want to make money and therefore do not see life as the highest value? All this brings out the deeper parts of human beings and helps to distinguish between the "crude" on one side and the rational people on the other.

-Did you, given the tragedy happening right next door, make any effort in any way to help them? If so, what kind?

Besides purely symbolic actions of support, such as placing the Ukrainian flag at our facilities so that people from this country do not feel alone, we try to think long term. Each of our employees has probably contributed to supporting incoming people, and we too are ready to help. The government's action is the best example of this. In times of war, action must be taken.

-Has housing for Ukrainians been made available in your city?

In the city of each of our employees, and we are 80, accommodation has been made available for Ukrainian families. We believe that the latter will return to their homeland at the end of this period to continue building it.

- Have you employed Ukrainian workers? If so, what kind of workers are they?

No, we never hired one because our activity requires specific knowledge, as well as knowledge of the language and customers. Because of these criteria, we cannot hire everyone. Of course, this also applies to Polish workers. Without this difficulty it would be different. On the other hand, we know that a large number of our farmer customers employ people from Ukraine.

- Did the war situation contribute to any organizational changes in your company, for example downsizing or the introduction of hybrid work?

Fortunately, this is not the case, but we are all aware that we can find ourselves in a state of emergency overnight.

- Have you exported machinery to Ukraine? If so, to what extent and which machines?

Our main activity is the sale of machines in Poland, we specialize in selling to farmers who, even with their high modernity in production technology, are rather traditional in their choice. The company JOSKIN has high demands for after-sales service, therefore we sell only on national territory. Due to distance, we would not be able to serve Ukrainian customers well.

- Have you imported machinery from Ukraine? If yes, to what extent and which machines?
No, we work mainly with European suppliers.

- Do you also have Ukrainian customers in your database of farmers?
If so, what about the problem with after-sales service?

We mainly sold parts from our current stock. Ukrainian farmers used to buy production materials from us in case of emergency or when their local supplier did not have the materials in stock.

- Have local authorities implemented community safety measures?
Do/will the measures impact your daily work?

Each region has begun to secure its borders, meaning more troops and anti-aircraft, defense and missile installations of unprecedented strength. Younger men and women were also called up for military training.

- How do you rate your cooperation with the company JOSKIN in recent years?

For 100%, JOSKIN corresponds to the idea that a brand is above all a commitment to the customer, binding him for years and making him proud of his choice. For us as dealers, it is a guarantee of cooperation and an opportunity to increase financial resources through the sale and maintenance of machines. A machine bearing the JOSKIN brand is undeniably a value that guarantees profit.

- How do you see your future collaboration with the JOSKIN brand?

For us, JOSKIN is an important brand among our five suppliers. We make every effort to maximize our sales while respecting the principles of economy and good customer service. We try to properly display products and manage orders to ensure continuity and reduce delivery times. We therefore work closely with the JOSKIN regional manager to plan purchases, presentation of products on the market and contact with the main recipients. Cooperation is excellent, especially since we receive strong support from the production, after-sales, logistics and administration departments.

- Given rising inflation, component prices, fluctuating oil prices, higher transportation costs, what do you see as the outlook for the coming years?

The current war situation is a much greater threat than price increases, which can come and go depending on market needs. It is better to have higher prices and higher wages than a war that will destroy everything. Poland, 30 years freed from the Russians, has shown what you can build with hard work and the will to create. Therefore, the attitude of the Ukrainians who tried to live at the same time as Russia, but received only a dictatorship in return, should not come as a surprise. Freedom is a supreme value for every human being.

- How has the landscape changed in Poland, in the towns, villages around the border, after Russia's expansion into its neighboring country?

The whole environment has changed: you hear the Ukrainian language in the media; in the service offices there are Ukrainian customers and information is sent in the 2 languages. In the streets we see a large number of cars with Ukrainian license plates. Churches, on the other hand, provide their infrastructure so that people can pray according to the religious rite in which they were raised, etc. We are not only talking about big cities here, but also villages.

- During a recent visit to your facility in Jasionka, right next to the airport, I saw military troops. I would like to know for what purpose the troops are deployed there. Do you feel safe there?

We know that Poland is a member of world organizations that are obliged to protect their members, here I am talking about the EU and NATO, and we are trying to think of a way out of this situation. So in that sense, we feel safe: but in the human dimension, none of us can say that we do not see the human tragedy that is now taking place in Ukraine. The establishment of Jasionka near the airport makes us aware of the seriousness of the situation and the strength needed to protect values such as freedom, tolerance and economy.