Events 
On December 14, 2023, we honour the incredible milestone of 28 years of the COLLAR Company. This year has been filled with events, challenges, and achievements. Our team actively participated in leading international trade fairs, expanded the presence of our locally manufactured pet supplies both in Ukraine and international markets, launched new collections of innovative products, received awards, and continued various social projects. Let’s take a closer look at how 2023 unfolded for COLLAR Company.
COLLAR Company – 28 Years
Participation in International Exhibitions and Entry into New Markets
Our team participated in nine major trade fairs for the pet industry on different continents, showcasing products manufactured in Ukraine. We represented COLLAR Company at the following international foremost pet industry trade fairs:
- Global Pets Forum, Germany, January 25-27
- Pet Industry Leadership Summit, USA, January 30 – February 2
- ExpoZoo, France, March 10-12
- Global Pet Expo, USA, March 22-24
- Zoomark International, Italy, May 15-17
- SuperZoo, USA, August 16-18
- PETSA, Brazil, August 16-18
- PetExpo, Poland, September 8-10
- CIPS, China, December 7-10
Throughout the past year, the Company successfully expanded its product presence both within Ukraine and globally. We established a fully functional office with local staff and a warehouse in Poland, a showroom in Lviv, and a warehouse in the Kyiv region. These new warehouses enhance our capabilities to fulfil wholesale orders faster and utilize the most efficient logistic routes.
Our pet supplies received awards from leading American business magazines, and COLLAR Company earned a spot in the “Forbes NEXT 250” list. In December 2023, we received another international award from the premium American magazine “Pet Business”. The award went to our “WAUDOG Nylon Recycled” series in the collar category as the best product and garnered an honour from the “Pet Business Industry Recognition Awards”. The “EVOLUTOR” series of pet accessories was recognized by the top American business publication “Pet Age”, and received an award from the editorial team as the highest-quality product setting the gold standard in the pet industry. The Ukrainian edition of Forbes included COLLAR Company in the “Forbes NEXT 250” list, which features the most successful companies in Ukraine that will shape the future business landscape and inspire others with bold decisions.
Corporate and Social Responsibility of COLLAR Company
COLLAR Company actively fosters a corporate culture that promotes teamwork, creativity, innovation, and effective collaboration among employees. In 2023, for the first time in our history, we organized a guided tour for the children of our employees, and warmly welcomed representatives of other companies and journalists during a Company Visit, where we shared insights into our work.
As a socially responsible business, we continue to assist pets, promote adoption, conduct canine-assisted therapy sessions with Lilu, support youth football development in Chernihiv, and engage international partners in the revitalization purposes of our hometown. With the help of our partners, we successfully restored two kindergartens and purchased the necessary medical equipment for hospitals.
In 2023, we assisted shelters and animal centres such as “Step to Pets,” “ZooChance” in Chernihiv, “Best Friends,” “Sirius,” “ZooPatrol UA” in the Kyiv region, and the search and rescue canine unit “Antares” in Pavlograd. We also collaborated with the Ukrainian Pet Association Worldwide “UPAW”, the “Save Pets of Ukraine” initiative, the charitable foundation “Hvostata Banda,” canine associations, and centres training service dogs. Each month, we contribute funds for 1500 portions of pet food through the “Happy Paw” animal rescue fund. Our team believes that with joint forces, we can enhance the situation and help animals affected by war, recognizing the importance of this initiative.
In 2023, we conducted 250 human-canine therapy sessions with Lilu at the Chernihiv Rehabilitation Center “Vidrodzhennia.” We also started conducting sessions at the “School of Mary Family Development Center” and the “Clever” development centre for children to instill a humane attitude toward animals. We continued to support the development of canine therapy in Kyiv at the “InNiKos Club” centre and sponsored educational conferences and events aimed at advancing this therapeutic method.
Through collaboration with international partners, COLLAR Company attracted the Japanese charity organization “Peace Winds Japan” to assist Chernihiv and its residents. Within this collaboration, agreements were signed with Chernihiv hospitals to purchase necessary medical equipment, including agreements with the Chernihiv Psychoneurological Hospital, Chernihiv Regional Hospital, and Chernihiv Regional Children’s Hospital. The total value of this assistance amounted to 35 million UAH. This partnership gives Chernihiv residents the possibility to continue receiving quality medical examinations.
Representatives of the non-governmental organization “Peace Winds Japan” also funded the reconstruction of kindergartens No. 4 and No. 72 in Chernihiv, providing 630 thousand dollars for the restoration of all damages and building repairs. These kindergartens had suffered damage due to shelling and needed restoration so that children could start their educational process on time.
Furthermore, the Company decided to forgo New Year gifts for customers and instead purchased two Nissan cars for the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Chernihiv for demining purposes. The vehicles have already been handed over to the rescuers.
Released Innovative Products and Series in 2023
We managed to preserve and expand production capabilities, as well as develop new products. Specifically, the “Militari Pro” series of pet accessories constructed for service dogs, the “WAUDOG Nylon Recycled” series of accessories made from recycled rPET polyester, the “WAUDOG R-leash” with an integrated container for biodegradable bags, the “aPump USB” aquarium compressor, the “LIKER 11” toy, and the “SuperCat” corn filler for international markets. Additionally, the “WAUDOG Treats” treats and innovative veterinary medicine “SUPERIUM” for the Ukrainian market were launched.
COLLAR Company also supported the European and World Dog Puller Championships, held in Wroclaw, Poland. Dog Puller is a dog sport that has united enthusiasts worldwide for over 10 years.
World Championships in Dog Puller took place in 2018, 2019, and online in 2021. Official Dog Puller federations are represented in countries such as Ukraine, the Czech Republic, Hungary, Slovakia, Poland, Portugal, Italy, Germany, Slovenia, Canada, and the USA. Each year, the number of sports enthusiasts grows, and everyone interested can easily join the international Dog Puller community and master the required disciplines.
Personal Recommendations from COLLAR Company Founders
The war has changed the approach to life for many people. I asked the Company’s founders for tips on how to maintain the war-life balance and the rules they discovered for themselves since the beginning of the war. Because now, the ability to take care of the team and have soft skills will determine success in the future.
How to maintain a war-life balance, and how has the war changed your approach to life and business? What advice would you give to the team, and what have you discovered for yourself since the beginning of the war?
- Always find new opportunities. Every crisis is an opportunity for development, so carefully search for and implement all possibilities.
- Focus on the essentials if you want to achieve your goal. By specializing in your direction, you gain more competencies and opportunities for development, so don’t jump from side to side and consciously move towards your goal.
- Support your team and surroundings. Currently, most people are not in the best psychological state, so the main task for leaders is to instill confidence and lift people out of this state.
Yuriy Sinitsa, founder of COLLAR Company
- Continue doing your job and moving forward, regardless of anything. Make pets and their parents happy, provide people with jobs, pay taxes, help our defenders – this is the best you can do.
- Family comes first. It means love, respect, and mutual assistance to people – both family and the COLLAR family, and all of our great Ukraine.
- Don’t worry 🙂 Despite the air raid alerts, you need to find a balance and remain calm. Only this way can you make the right decisions.
Mykola Sinitsa, executive director of COLLAR Company
Our team thanks all partners and friends who have been with us in 2023 for their trust and support. We continue to do our job, amaze you with our achievements, and fulfil our mission – making pets and people happy in 2024. We look forward to victory and peace!
Learn more about COLLAR Company
- Become our partner here:
https://collar.com/contacts/
- More about COLLAR Company:
https://collar.com/about/
- More about social projects:
https://collar.com/blog/social/ - More about pet accessories:
https://collar.com/ua/pet-accessories/ - Subscribe on our Facebook and Linkedln pages
