From Donetsk to Lviv: How Marketing Knowledge Helped Yuliia Grow Her Business During the War

Yuliia Uvarova is the owner of "Labzona," a company specializing in the sale and servicing of laboratory scales and instruments. Professional, ambitious, and constantly focused on growth, she continues to upgrade her knowledge and approaches to work—even during wartime. Her story is an example of how education and the introduction of new tools can help businesses grow in the most challenging times. 

Labzona: From Donetsk to Two Locations 

Yuliia started her business even before the war. "Labzona" was initially based in Donetsk and later relocated to Kharkiv. In recent years, the business has expanded and now operates in two locations: Kharkiv and Lviv. 

“We sell and service laboratory equipment. Our range is wide—from analytical scales for research institutions to platform and crane scales for industrial enterprises. In Lviv, we’ve already built a team of repair specialists, and in Kharkiv, we received a grant and are actively looking for new staff.” 

Despite difficult conditions, Yuliia managed to preserve and expand her business, and now her company serves clients in two cities, overcoming challenges and limited resources. 

Learning Through the “Marketer” Course 

Yuliia decided to enroll in the “Marketer” course developed by the NGO Age of Opportunity, with technical support from UN Women in Ukraine and funding from the UN Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF). Her goal was to expand her knowledge in digital marketing. The absence of an in-house marketer in her company pushed her to explore new business development strategies. 

“I had basic marketing knowledge, but the world changes rapidly, and it’s important to stay updated on the latest tools and trends. The course helped me not only refresh what I already knew, but also master new technologies, such as ChatGPT and AI tools.” 

Yuliia applied what she learned to the company’s operations. For example, with the help of ChatGPT, her team creates helpful content for clients—articles about calibration, repairs, and equipment features. This helps maintain client engagement and deliver up-to-date information. 

“The course was very structured. I learned how to use email campaigns, work with creatives, and optimize marketing expenses. We’re already implementing these tools in our work.” 

Most Memorable Course Takeaway 

Yuliia noted that the course gave her valuable insights into how to save company resources: 

“We learned how to combine the roles of marketer and SMM manager to reduce the need for extra staff. Now, our employees can create social media creatives and launch them into advertising. This significantly reduces costs.” 

Despite difficult times and limited resources, Yuliia was able to make the most of the course and plans to continue working with instructors to improve her company’s marketing strategies. 

Course Results and Future Plans 

The “Marketer” course helped Yuliia optimize processes within her company, save resources, and find new approaches to attracting clients. She notes that the knowledge gained can be applied even with limited budgets. 

“I live by the principle ‘day by day.’ We keep growing, joining new courses, attracting funding, and searching for employees. There’s a lot of work ahead, but the knowledge from the course helps us move forward confidently.” 

Yuliia Uvarova’s Advice 

Yuliia recommends the course to anyone looking to improve their marketing skills: 

“This course is suitable for business owners and those just planning to start. It provides a clear understanding of how modern marketing tools work and allows you to immediately apply that knowledge in practice.” 

Yuliia Uvarova’s story is a powerful example of how, even in the most difficult times, it’s possible to sustain a business, discover new opportunities, and achieve success. 

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The “Marketer” course from the NGO Age of Opportunities helps women and girls gain skills to promote their businesses on social media and find new growth opportunities. Learn more about our programs at www.agepossibility.com.ua 

The “Online Academy for Women Entrepreneurs and Leaders” project is implemented by Age of Opportunities, funded by The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) with technical support of UN Women Ukraine. The United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF) mobilizes critical support for local and grassroots civil society organizations working on women, peace and security and humanitarian action. WPHF is a flexible and rapid financing mechanism supporting quality interventions designed to enhance the capacity of women to prevent conflict, respond to crises and emergencies, and seize key peacebuilding opportunities. 

This publication is produced with funding from the United Nations Women’s Peace and Humanitarian Fund (WPHF), however, the views expressed and content included does not imply official endorsement or acceptance by the United Nations.