Gathering of Alumni: Discussing the Performances of the "30-30" Evaluations System in Business
In the vibrant business landscape of Russia, two homegrown ventures have made a significant impact: Pure Sense, a fragrance brand, and UU, a photographer-free photo studio.
Pure Sense, founded by Ekaterina Zinchenko, has seen remarkable growth since its inception. By the end of 2023, the brand's network revenue reached an impressive 100 million rubles, with a profit of 70 million rubles. This success has been reflected in the brand's online presence, with over 77,000 Instagram subscribers.
One of Pure Sense's key achievements in 2023 was the launch of the Private Sense line, catering to banks, clothing brands, clinics, and other businesses. The brand also introduced travel sets with small bottles, making its fragrances more accessible for on-the-go customers. However, the increase in logistics costs due to Western sanctions led to a 15% price increase for Pure Sense fragrances.
Meanwhile, UU, established by Natalia Lokshina and her husband Pavel Konishchev, has been making waves in the photography industry. The studio, which operates without photographers, opened its first studio in Yekaterinburg three years ago. By the end of 2022, UU had expanded to include studios in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and Tel Aviv.
The latest addition to UU's portfolio is a flagship studio in a historic building in Moscow's Clean Ponds. The new studio features four shooting rooms, a private terrace, and skylights, contributing to a 30% increase in the network's turnover in 2024.
UU's co-founder, Natalia Lokshina, was nominated for the "30 under 30" rating in the "Entrepreneurs" category in 2024, while Ekaterina Zinchenko, the founder of Pure Sense, was nominated in the "Social Practices" category in 2022.
Ilya Elpanov, founder of "Eat Rural", another successful Russian business, launched his venture in 2015 with a monthly turnover of 150,000 rubles. These stories serve as a testament to the entrepreneurial spirit and innovation thriving in Russia today.
While detailed updates on the current status and future plans of UU's subsidiary project Up to yoU and the studio's activities after receiving the "30 Under 30" nomination in 2024 are not publicly available, checking UU's official communications, website, or social media channels would provide more precise and up-to-date information.
- Ekaterina Zinchenko, the woman behind Pure Sense, not only expanded her fragrance brand but also ventured into financing, launching the Private Sense line that catered to various businesses, generating an additional revenue stream.
- Natalia Lokshina, the entrepreneur co-founder of UU, dived into the real-estate sector by acquiring a historic building for a flagship studio in Moscow, which contributed to a significant increase in the studio's turnover.
- In the finance realm, Ilya Elpanov, an entrepreneur and the founder of "Eat Rural," transformed his small venture into a thriving business with a monthly turnover of 1.8 million rubles by the end of 2015.
