As Ukraine struggles to stay powered up this winter, some small businesses are thinking outside the box – or in this case, beyond the power grid. When outages become more frequent and blackouts take over, entrepreneurs like Iryna Golotina of Under Wonder restaurant in Kyiv have been forced to tap into their creative side.
Golotina's restaurant has come up with innovative solutions to keep its doors open despite the economic costs. They've devised 'Black Menus,' special menus featuring only dishes that can be prepared without electricity, allowing customers to enjoy meals even when the power is out. To add a touch of warmth and ambiance, the staff uses candles as backup lighting before upgrading to homemade lanterns made from string lights and decorative vases.
In fact, customers have grown to love the unique atmosphere created by these makeshift lanterns, with some remarking it reminds them of a dining hall straight out of the Harry Potter series. The idea has been met with great enthusiasm, illustrating how small businesses are finding innovative ways to adapt to this winter's challenges and keep their customers happy.
However, for many small entrepreneurs like Golotina, such creative solutions come at a significant financial cost – including purchasing expensive generators or alternative energy sources. The resulting price tag is often too steep for some businesses, forcing them to rely on resourcefulness in the face of uncertainty.
Golotina's restaurant has come up with innovative solutions to keep its doors open despite the economic costs. They've devised 'Black Menus,' special menus featuring only dishes that can be prepared without electricity, allowing customers to enjoy meals even when the power is out. To add a touch of warmth and ambiance, the staff uses candles as backup lighting before upgrading to homemade lanterns made from string lights and decorative vases.
In fact, customers have grown to love the unique atmosphere created by these makeshift lanterns, with some remarking it reminds them of a dining hall straight out of the Harry Potter series. The idea has been met with great enthusiasm, illustrating how small businesses are finding innovative ways to adapt to this winter's challenges and keep their customers happy.
However, for many small entrepreneurs like Golotina, such creative solutions come at a significant financial cost – including purchasing expensive generators or alternative energy sources. The resulting price tag is often too steep for some businesses, forcing them to rely on resourcefulness in the face of uncertainty.
. Under Wonder restaurant's 'Black Menus' idea is super clever and I can imagine how much character it adds to their dining experience 
. But, honestly, it's a bit heartbreaking to hear that some small businesses are struggling to afford these solutions 
. It's like they're having to choose between keeping the lights on or keeping their customers happy 
. Can't we just wave a magic wand and make all this energy stuff work itself out? 
. i mean, i love how under wonder restaurant came up with those black menus and candle-lanterns - it's like they're in some kind of magical world 
. but at the same time, it's not fair that small businesses have to shell out so much cash for generators or alternative energy sources just cuz the power grid is being all wonky 
.
I mean, I get that Ukraine's power situation is super bad right now, but I'm not sure if relying on candles and homemade lanterns all day is the most practical solution 
And what about when the power comes back on? Do they just have to switch everything back out or are there some long-term benefits we're not seeing here? 
But, on the other hand, it does seem kinda cool how customers are getting into the whole 'Harry Potter' vibe with those makeshift lanterns... 
. And what about all those restaurants that can't afford these 'solutions'? They're just gonna have to close down or cut back on services? 
Not a great look for Ukraine's economy this winter 
.
Ukraine's winter crisis is hitting small businesses hard! I just found out that 70% of Kyiv restaurants are expected to close due to power outages 
! Meanwhile, 45% of entrepreneurs are having trouble affording generators or alternative energy sources 
. It's all about finding ways to stay afloat during this tough winter