Period in France 2010-2024
In 2010, I moved to Paris and settled in the 16th arrondissement. The markets in Eastern Europe had become unstable, so I wanted to find new professional opportunities and earn a better income.
When I arrived in France, I spoke only basic French. I began studying at the Alliance Française and gradually improved my language skills.
My first job was as a manager in a construction company that worked mainly with Russian-speaking clients. I already had practical and technical experience. As a teenager, I renovated houses with friends and repaired cars and motorcycles.
One of my main tasks was organising the import of construction materials from Poland to France. This activity generated good profits for the company.
Later, I tried to start my own import business. I brought Polish food products to France and tried to sell them to supermarkets such as Carrefour. However, transport costs were too high, and the business was not profitable enough. I therefore decided to create my own transport company.
I ran the transport company until 2024. My plan was to develop it into a medium-sized business and later return to importing goods. However, the company was more profitable when I worked alone. When I hired drivers, the profit margins became much lower.
To create another source of income, I opened a storage facility in Trappes with space for around 200 pallets. The storage business was more profitable than hiring additional drivers.
I also organised international removals and transport services between France and countries such as Israel and Canada. Transporting artworks became one of the most profitable parts of my business.
The COVID-19 pandemic seriously affected my activities. Around half of my storage clients stopped working or disappeared, and the transportation of artworks almost completely stopped.
After the pandemic, the transport market had changed considerably. Prices were lower, competition was stronger, and companies from countries such as Ukraine and Romania offered very competitive rates. It became increasingly difficult to continue the business.
Later, I moved to Alsace and closed my storage facility near Paris. I began working mainly between Paris, Strasbourg, and Mulhouse. I lived in Ferrette, a small village near Basel and Mulhouse.
After the war in Ukraine began, I went through a difficult emotional period and gradually lost motivation for my work. The wider political and economic situation also affected the French and European transport markets. During this period, I began learning German.
I later met my current partner, who is Ukrainian and was living in Germany. After about one year together, I decided to move to Germany and end my business activities in France.