The opening of the new hall at the production plant “Szynaka Meble Livind Sp. z o.o. (Ltd.), from left: Małgorzata Kwiatkowska – Deputy to the Chief Labor Inspector; Gustaw Marek Brzezin – Marshal of the Warmińsko-Mazurskie Province; Janusz Piechociński – Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Economy; Jan Szynaka – President of the Szynaka-Meble Sp. z o.o. (Ltd.); Anna Wasilewska – Member of the Management Board of the Marshal’s Office; Alina Szynaka – Vice-President of the Szynaka-Meble Sp. z o.o. (Ltd.) with grandson Antoś.
The company you are the President of is a modern business of international reputation. When your father, Jan Szynaka Senior, opened in 1957 a home-based, 150 square meters large furniture manufacture, presumably no one did expect that 50 years later the Szynaka Furniture Group will be the industry leader?
My father as a craftsman pursued the idea of creating something, that in the time of deep communism would allow to avoid shortage of raw material and tools. This gave a birth to the concept of establishing a joint initiative connecting local carpenters – this is how Workers Cooperative “Jedność” (“Unity”) was established. It consisted of all local carpenters, thus enabling a more efficient material flow. It was the initiative to successfully integrate local craftsmen, but it was not good enough for my father, as he planned to establish his own production plant. It was exactly in this plant, quite large for that time, that me and my siblings learned our father’s profession. There, apart from sharing his technical, woodworking knowledge with us, he would also teach us principles to follow later in life. After school, as soon as we got home, we would quickly sit down to do our homework and then run to the workshop and help our father. We did not play football, did not play with our peers outside, did not go on holiday under canvas, or on camps. We dedicated all our free time to work, or rather learn in the workshop. This learning would often be painful as I remember, I would quite often come back home wounded after working with sharp tools, but I do not regret anything. It is thanks to the teachings of my father, the discipline and woodworking lessons he gave us that I can now be honestly proud of the current shape and position of the Szynaka Meble Group. After his death, his severe illness, I took over the plant fearlessly, there was not one thing that could stop me, at least not in the furniture industry. The only matter standing in my way was the unsure political situation. I have taken over the plant in 1985 and set myself a goal to develop it further.
Was there any particular moment in the company’s history that appeared to have a decisive influence on its development? Your takeover in 1985? Or maybe building a new, 800 square kilometers large production hall four years later? Or was it successful export attempt?
Well, the takeover was unfortunately caused by my father’s illness and death, so it seems difficult to call it a groundbreaking moment. Also the new production hall was just a step in the company’s development. The company had to meet the requirements of the market, further actions would have been impossible otherwise. Exporting our goods on then newly opened eastern markets can surely be considered as such a moment. This has undoubtedly allowed us to spread our wings, promote our company not only within the country but also on the giant eastern market – unfortunately, as you are perfectly aware, after some time the branch has collapsed and we were to seek for different outlets and means allowing us to survive the crisis. To me, the most groundbreaking, but also the most difficult moment in the history of the Group was making the decision to buy out the declining “Mazurskie Meble” production plants in Iława and Nowe Miasto Lubawskie. I can perfectly remember the 1st September 2007, when we officially became owners of these falling “MM” plants. Making this decision cost both me and my wife many sleepless nights, long hours of continuous discussing and analyzing. Back then, it was a quite significant and costly investment to us – if anything went wrong, it would have been disastrous. Making such a move did not only mean the possibility of losing everything, but more than that we were deeply concerned with the human factor of this operation. All our employees were counting on us, we were responsible for their employment, for their families. Quite frankly, our greatest fear was “not to let all those people down”. Apart from that, we obviously were worried about ourselves, our children’s future. Fortunately, we were lucky enough to succeed – because it needs to be emphasized that besides experience and intuition, what is also very important in business is luck.
How many people do you employ in five production plants altogether?
A small correction – we have six production plants, our own logistics center with an area of more than 44,000 square kilometers and the Exhibition Center of an area of 1,500 square kilometers, where the annual furniture trade fairs dedicated to our industry partners take place. Thanks to these fair trades we are honored to host the most prominent people of the industry. Moreover, we have purchased the 19th century Palace in Mortęgi, near Lubawa. Currently, the building is under renovation that will allow the Palace to regain its magnificence by the end of this year. The building will serve as a training and recreational center for our employees, as well as for external companies interested in conducting trainings for their staff. Apart from the Palace, the complex will consist of, among others, a new restaurant, hotel and its own brewery. There already is a thriving stud farm. To answer the question, nearly 3,000 people found employment at the Szynaka Meble Group, which makes us the largest employer in the Warmińsko-Mazurskie province.
You are one of the very few companies of entirely Polish capital on the market to have such a significance.
That is right, when establishing this company with my wife we decided to base it entirely on Polish capital. We did not want to be dependent from external, especially foreign, entities. It was the tough time of creating a company with no support, only and solely with our own resources, our own hard work. Due to this I can honestly say, that contrary to some other companies we have established our company single-handedly and made it a brand present across nearly all continents. We represent Poland, the might of Polish entrepreneurs, our case shows how much can be accomplished without any external support. Polish businessmen must remember about their identity. Become convinced to run their businesses by themselves, independently.
One might also say that the Szynaka-Meble is a family company, and not only because a couple of people called Szynaka work there.
Definitely, yes. The fact, that I have developed this company with my wife, and that my children also contribute to it is not a case of nepotism, it is a natural order of things. Before our children were hired, they honed their skills in other companies. I wanted them to experience working in external companies, not connected with the Group. Have a chance to form their own opinion on the labor market. Besides, my children were not given lucrative positions, it is not that easy. They had to, they still do, gradually acquaint themselves with the company from its very core, department after department. Obviously, a successful succession can only be the case when the company’s next leader is thoroughly familiarized and well aware of each and every part of the company. I myself have started with working on a machine. However, what truly makes us a family company is that all employees are a part of it. We try to maintain a family atmosphere by, for instance, events we organize for our employees and their own families, so that they can take a break from work and spend some quality time with their friends. One could mention “Szynaka Days”, family picnic, employee Christmas, etc. These events take place annually and as long as I manage the company they will be continued. This is what makes our company a family company. This is where our strength is – employees who work for the company’s benefit, indentify themselves with it.
Grandson Antoś already contributes to the company as a model in furniture advertisements
On the picture Alina and Jan Szynaka. Grandson Antoś in the background.
“Szynaka-Meble always close to people” is the company’s motto. Please elaborate on this idea…
We are driven by this goal since the very beginning. What is meant by being close to people consists of multiple aspects. People as persons who drive the economy, create new trends for companies, set increasingly higher requirements. Those are the people who decide over what is in demand on the market. Being close to people is a cornerstone of making products designed for them and dedicated to them. All products that leave our production plants have to meet the most rigorous requirements and criteria given by customers. “Always close to people” is also our internal policy. Employees are of fundamental significance to every organization. Regardless of their position, all employees must be treated equally. Favoritism is out of question, as such behaviors are unacceptable. The Szynaka Meble Group consists not only of employees, but also their families. Therefore one of the most important principles of our company is caring for whole families. We organize annual family picnics for our employees, prepare gifts for their younger ones on Christmas, share the Christmas wafer together (a Polish Christmas tradition which symbolizes the unity of the family). Employees and their families are of the most importance to us. Apart from all social, employee-related actions there is also one thing that allows us to call our company a family company. In the whole history of our company’s existence, despite numerous perturbations and problems we faced, there was never a payment that was late. It did not even occur to me, that any employee could not receive his salary on time. People are of the utmost importance – this is where our motto and policy come from, this is what makes people exceptional and always on the most important position in every hierarchy.
Are you planning any new investments in the close future?
The Szynaka Meble Group is the leader of the furniture industry. In order to achieve such a market position we had to invest in the development of production plants, machine park, new technologies and, of course, employees. From the first days of company’s existence we have been under constant development, so we are so used to it, that now we cannot imagine not making investments (smile). On a serious note, obviously the increasingly growing contemporary market requirements force us to develop continuously, to follow the changing trends. In following years we plan investments that are supposed to strengthen our leading position even more. We plan the purchase of new production lines, that will allow us to increase production and make work easier. We also anticipate to make use of new energy technologies, that will enable us to take care after the environment better. In 2015-2020 we plan making investments in all plants within the Group. The earliest investment will probably take place July this year, it will be the opening of a new headquarters in Lubawa. We also plan to open the complex in Mortęgi by the end of this year. Investments conducted by the Group do not only aim to enhance production processes, but also improve working conditions of our employees.
Thank you.