Unternehmer Boris Mydlarz inmitten seines Lebensmittelsortiments aus osteuropäischen Ländern.                                                                                     Foto: ASM

Amid the coronavirus pandemic, a grocery store with an unusual concept opened on January 7, 2021, in the Hamm district of eastern Hamburg: The "Ostkiste" (East Box) primarily offers organically produced food or at least food without preservatives or gluten. The goods come exclusively from Poland and other Eastern European countries. Only a small portion of the product range, which also includes natural cosmetics, is conventionally produced. "The idea for the product range came from my wife Ewelina," explains Boris Mydlarz. The entrepreneur, born in Silesia in 1979, was initially skeptical. "I thought our potential customers would primarily care about cheap and tasty products," says the family man. Eventually, his wife persuaded him. Before ordering the first items, however, the couple first conducted a survey at the location over several weeks to determine the purchasing intention of potential customers.

He received coaching from Katarzyna Rogacka-Michels, a start-up consultant from the Association of Self-Employed Migrants (ASM), during hours-long telephone appointments. He had met the consultant at a start-up forum at the Hamburg Chamber of Commerce, where she had presented ASM's start-up support services. Mydlarz, who graduated in computer science engineering in Poland, had actually planned to open his business in the second half of 2020. However, obtaining the necessary official permits and, above all, finding a credit institution that would finance the project during the economic crisis turned out to be more lengthy and difficult than expected. After receiving advice from Rogacka-Michels, the prospective founder revised his business plan. However, none of the many credit institutions he contacted was willing to grant him a loan. Finally, his brother and mother stepped in. She even sold an apartment so her son could realize his long-held dream of being his own boss.

The search for a vacant retail space proved to be a very lengthy one. This was due in no small part to the fact that the couple had initially focused exclusively on the Barmbek district. The fact that a nearby Polish store moved to the new location at the end of 2019 was advantageous for establishing the business. The location was already well-known in the Polish community. "Although around 60 percent of our customers are Polish, the rest of us come to us, including many Germans," says Mydlarz, describing their customer base.

At the customer's request, the passionate angler also sources products that he doesn't carry in his range – giving him a unique selling point compared to supermarkets. "There's little choice when it comes to products from Eastern Europe." And even when they do exist, they always contain preservatives, numerous additives, and often toxins like glyphosate. This isn't how the grocer wants to feed himself, nor does he want his children to eat this kind of food. "What you eat is crucial for your health," Mydlarz emphasizes. All "Ostkiste" products can also be found in the online shop. "But for me, it's primarily advertising. There you can see what we have. People want to see, feel, and smell food."

The Ostkiste remains closed on Wednesday mornings. Mydlarz always buys fresh produce then. The founder only employed one employee for two months. The income-to-expense ratio wasn't right. The restrictions imposed by the pandemic have also affected Mydlarz. But he says: "If you want to do something and are 100 percent sure about it, you take the risk." With that attitude, no pandemic can stop you.