On the occasion of Dejmark’s 30th anniversary, Tatiana Pavlová, co-founder of the company and former logistics manager, shared her memories and valuable experiences from the early days of the business.
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What were your beginnings in the field of paints and coatings?
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The beginnings weren’t easy, but they were very exciting. In 1997, still operating as Finncolor Slovakia, we started a partnership with the Finnish company Tikkurila, one of the leaders in the production of construction and industrial paints.
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Without prior experience in retail, I was responsible for setting up a retail store selling paints. I had graduated from a Secondary Industrial Chemical School, and since coatings are chemical compounds, this work felt very close to my heart.
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Do you remember the first years of the business? What was the biggest challenge?
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At the start, we focused mainly on helping our customers choose the right coatings to protect and decorate their homes. A major step was opening a new warehouse in 1999, which allowed us to expand. We also began selling through additional retail stores and wholesale channels.
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As the company grew, new challenges arose. I took on the role of managing logistics on a larger scale and helped prepare staff training for our stores as well as training for our customers, which was essential to increase technical expertise in product sales. Later, we added industrial paints with new technology and gradually gained clients in this sector.
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How did the company grow over time?
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The growth was gradual but all the more interesting. Over the years, we focused not only on our retail stores but also on expanding the wholesale network. In 2004, we opened a branch in the Czech Republic. Thanks to a team of skilled and educated people, in 2012 the company underwent a major transformation – it reorganized, changed its name to Dejmark, and began operating in four markets.
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Looking back, how do you view your career and work at Dejmark?
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I am very proud of what we achieved. Many of the things we built are proof that perseverance and the right decisions can lead to success. I am now retired, but I enjoy looking back and remembering the days when we worked on expansion and building relationships with customers.
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What is life like after retirement? How do you spend your free time?
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After retiring from active work, I can fully dedicate myself to my hobbies. For more than 30 years, I have been a member of the Rock Garden Club. I devote myself to rock gardens and alpine plants with great enthusiasm—it is my favorite hobby. On club trips, we have visited many beautiful gardens, both in Slovakia and abroad. My collection of plants and dwarf trees includes about 800 species from various countries. Besides gardening, I enjoy traveling and exploring new countries, and I also cherish quiet moments with a good book.
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