Peter Velikanov – Talent, Passion, Steel, and a Collection of Amazing Products!
This is an interview with Peter Velikanov (Пётр Великанов), a retired engineer from Dnipro who makes terrific custom bikepacking racks, trailers, and handlebars out of steel.
Good morning, Peter! How or why did you start making bike accessories like racks and bottle holders?
I have been an active cyclist since 1980; I have always done something for my bike with my own hands. I began to make racks for myself and my friends. When the products reached a decent quality, I began to replicate them for others.
You are an engineer. Do you still work for a company, or are you retired and focus on bicycle parts?
I worked in many companies, now retired but continue to cooperate actively, passing on experience. I used to make bicycles and I still do.
Your Instagram is very active with many followers. Did you always use it? How did you get the idea to focus on Instagram?
The idea to use Instagram came two years ago, a lot of photos of my work were accumulated, and it was the off-season. I had free time and started posting two posts a day. From the beginning, there were few subscribers, then the circle expanded. Popularity was not the goal. I wanted to find my target audience to share my work with. The principle was simple to publish the collected material and continue to acquaint others with my current work.
Popularity was not the goal. I wanted to find my target audience
When someone sees my work for the first time, it doesn’t happen often, but it does happen. They get shocked, in a good way. It just blows the roof off. The general likes of all posts begin. But soon, everything passes, and you get used to everything. It is essential that you find exactly what you need and that it will last a long time.
Do your customers usually share pictures of what they like, or have their own ideas, maybe with a drawing? Is there a lot of discussion before production?
They share photos and sometimes make sketches or drawings. There are always a lot of discussions. The service must be performed accurately, and it is essential to understand every detail. Especially since the work is often carried out remotely, it is necessary to eliminate errors. The client’s ideas are welcomed, the optimal solution is found, and the other concepts are discarded. I really don’t like making copies of brands.
Do your customers also come from other countries, and what country do most come from (besides Ukraine?)
Orders from different countries rarely come. It’s challenging without traveling to meet and communicate in person.
What has changed for you and your business during the war? Are your family and friends safe?
A lot has changed with the war.
In the beginning, there was a siege, stunned by the inevitable tragedy, very nervous about helplessness and not being able to help. Then I realized that I needed to continue to work, if possible, earn and share earnings with the APU [ = Armed Forces of Ukraine ] and REFUGEES.
Access to the account has been handed over to my grandson; even death will not be able to stop the publication.
I am relatively safe, and my life is not in danger yet. This is the time I use for work. But a rocket can always arrive at any moment, I realize. Access to the account has been handed over to my grandson; even death will not be able to stop the publication.
What do you think about the future of your business and the future of the country?
Well, first of all, it’s not a business; it’s an opportunity to express myself, communicate with people, and be helpful to them.Yes, I take money for my work; I do it consciously. I need to keep the workshop and materials and consumables. And our material world is arranged in such a way that every work must be appreciated. Why not offer a service for money.
It’s not a business, it’s an opportunity to express myself
Secondly, this kind of activity is very specific, with my departure there will be no one to continue it, I mean next to me.
Third, I am confident of the victory of good over evil. And it doesn’t matter who’s on whose side. Ukraine will win, for two reasons: the people cannot be defeated, and even if a battle or war is lost, it will not end, Ukraine will rise from the ashes, from the ruins. Our nation has a very strong spirit and it unites us, and the desire for Freedom and Independence motivates us a lot.
GLORY TO UKRAINE!
And it’s not just words, like a victory cry:
Hooray!!! or Banzai !!!
In this Call, Faith is right.
Belief in Victory.
Belief in the Future.
СЛАВА УКРАИНЕ!
И это не просто слова, как победный клич:
Ура!!! или Банзай!!!
В этом призыве Вера в правоте.
Вера в победу.
Вера в будущее.
You can find Peter on Instagram @pitvel_velikanov
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