OUR SAGA
Not so long ago, a man returned home exhausted from a grueling day at work. Feeling weary, he sat behind his computer, frustrated with the day that had passed. Determined to channel his frustration into something productive, he resolved to delve into media creation. His goal was to make videos—not for anyone else, but solely for his own relaxation and enjoyment.
He quickly began planning his forthcoming creative endeavor. However, when the time came to purchase necessary equipment, he discovered a surprising gap in the market. There seemed to be no webshop specifically catering to his newfound hobby. The man couldn't believe what he was seeing. Instead of working on his creation, he spent the rest of the night researching to confirm if his discovery was indeed true.
As days passed, he dedicated every evening to scouring the internet, searching for a webshop that would satisfy his content creation needs. Unfortunately, after a week of relentless searching, he found no such platform. He turned to his ever-wise wife and shared his newfound discovery, saying,
'My dearest, I want to create YouTube videos. And once I begin, I might even start a webshop selling the equipment because there isn't one out there.' His wife looked him in the eyes and responded, 'No, my dear. It should be the other way around. You should start that webshop and then see if you have time to make YouTube videos after.' A moment of silence followed. However, the man chose to heed his partner's advice, thus laying the foundation for Orinaku.
As months flew by, the man worked day and night, meticulously crafting a business plan, conducting research, and curating a product inventory. Like a painter, he filled the canvas that would soon embody his envisioned company. One evening, he sat down with a close friend, savouring a fine glass of liquor, and shared his journey in laying the foundation for this venture. The friend, intrigued, eagerly engaged in a brainstorming session, exchanging ideas.
As the night wound down, the man turned to his friend and asked, 'Would you consider joining me in this endeavor?' His friend, contemplating, expressed the need to delve deeper and promised an answer in a few days. After a series of days passed, the friend returned, having thoroughly researched and discussed the proposal, and finally declared, 'Yes, I will be your business partner.’
The subsequent months proved intense as the two men devoted all their time to the inception of Orinaku. They tirelessly contacted manufacturers and distributors, designed the webshop, and embarked on numerous other tasks too extensive to recount here. The two men worked so hard that they both almost collapsed by the sheer workload they encompassed. One night, when both men were so tired and were about to give up, the brother with whom they shared an evening drink saw what the two men envisioned for Orinaku.
That same evening, the brother decided he would lend the two men a hand. He would help them carry on this immense task of making Orinaku a success. The three men worked with patience, precision, and skill for months to come, until Orinaku was finally ready to be unleashed on the world.
“Happiness is not something you find at the end of the road. it is has always been there as you walk on it.”
The saga you've just read recounts the real events that unfolded in the creation of Orinaku. These events, while not extraordinary or exceptional in any way, carry a strong message and lessons for anyone willing to listen. Whether you've discovered a niche market and cornered it alone or you're among many trying to build something similar, your idea might not be unique, but your approach to creating it is. Consider the thousands of painters throughout history—each has their own repertoire and style, never painting exactly like another (unless they're a copy fraud). Despite the odds, despite naysayers telling you it's foolish to start, take that leap! They might be right, or perhaps you'll create something you're passionate about, proud of, and entirely your own.And remember, as in the saga, enjoying a creation together is always better than doing it alone.
ORINAKU TIMELINE
PREPARING IS KEY
Perhaps you've heard it before: 'Anyone can start a webshop.' While there's truth in that, it also speaks volumes about your ambition and success in launching one. Less than 2% of the webshops out there generate enough income to sustain a livelihood. We believe this low success rate stems from that exact approach. At Orinaku, we've taken a completely different route, one that, while we're convinced it enhances the chances of success, demands triple the amount of effort. Preparation is key. We dedicated time to scrutinize every aspect of Orinaku's essence. We delved into understanding our target audience—what they desire and require, how and where we source our products, and, above all, how to best present them to you, our valued customers. The idea of merely starting a webshop felt hollow to us; we aimed to infuse it with a soul. Rather than just establishing a company, we set out to build a brand—Orinaku. With an impressive name as our starting point, we meticulously constructed a thematic framework around it, inspired by Daniel's passion for Japan.
However, something still felt amiss—lacking in passion. Thus, we expanded Orinaku to encapsulate the combined philosophy and core values of Daniel and David. This infusion became the guiding principle not just for our webshop but for our entire company. We dedicated considerable time to establish the company's financial and administrative infrastructure. It's important to note that we invested extensive effort in forming the legal structure, engaging in discussions with manufacturers and distributors, organizing financial investments, and acquiring the necessary permits to enable Orinaku to operate internationally. With limited prior experience in these matters, we invested substantial time in research, immersing ourselves in the required knowledge, and consulting experts to benefit from their expertise.
Taking our time was crucial. We deliberately avoided rushing through these foundational steps. We understood the risk companies face when they grow too quickly without grasping the fundamental aspects of their audience or market. Completing Orinaku's final layer required relentless day-and-night hard work. Merely downloading the product list from a distributor wasn't sufficient, as we foresaw potential problems down the line. Continuously patching new data into our growing product list would have been a challenge. To address this, we opted to create our own database, meticulously filling it with all the necessary information. This custom database not only served our webshop's content management system (CMS) but also catered to Google Shopping and the envisioned CRM/ERP/WMS we aimed to establish.
“A wise gardener prepares the soil, but only patience brings forth the blossoms.”
We invested our personal funds in acquiring essential startup materials. From printed shipment boxes, thank-you letters, and envelopes to tape dispensers, Orinaku stickers for giveaways, printers, laptops, and more. We prioritized quality, choosing to save a bit longer for better materials rather than opting for the cheapest solutions. Next, we embarked on designing, developing, and populating the webshop. Initially, we planned for a fast execution using a theme, but that idea was swiftly discarded as it failed to capture the essence of Orinaku entirely. Instead, we chose to work with Hyvä. This decision entailed constructing each page from scratch, including the responsive ones. Daniel's background as a UX-Designer proved invaluable; he aimed for a clear, transparent, and logically structured customer journey on the webshop, minimizing pushy or cross sales tactics.
None of these milestones would have been achievable without the assistance and support of some of our friends and two remarkable ladies. We meticulously focused on every detail, ensuring readiness to address any future needs, thus streamlining our business approach and enabling us to concentrate wholeheartedly on you, our customers.
THE FOUNDERS
The first Founder of Orinaku is Daniel. With his extensive experience, not just as a company owner but also as a graphic designer, web developer, and UX designer, he single-handedly laid most of Orinaku's foundational groundwork. Daniel is known for his quick and easy-going communication style, albeit with an eccentric logic that often seems peculiar to most. Essentially, Daniel embodies a paradox. He's both passionate and stubborn, traits that sometimes dominate his decisions. Yet, he's exceptionally sharp-witted and logical and always stays one step ahead in the game, meticulously calculating every detail.
One of Daniel's greatest strengths is his autodidactic ability. He swiftly learns new subjects he lacks experience in and fearlessly takes calculated risks. This quality is invaluable and brings a unique edge to Orinaku.
David, the second founder of Orinaku, and brings extensive experience in communication and customer relations, making him an ace in handling Orinaku's customer service. With tons of expertise in managing large-scale customer support communications, David fearlessly tackles difficult decisions, although his occasional impulsiveness might lead him to act faster than necessary. David is undoubtedly a workhorse at Orinaku, bringing in structure, stability, and order. He's always ready to tackle tasks that others might shy away from, stepping up to handle even the ones nobody else wanted to do.
David is refreshingly straightforward. He's as down-to-earth as they come and a true realist. One of his greatest strengths lies in his likability; he's effortlessly easy-going in socializing and adds a huge scoop of humor to every interaction.
Victor is the third and final founder of Orinaku. When it comes to online marketing, encompassing both search engine optimization and search engine advertising, Victor is the man you need to have. He has worked for several large corporations, managing extensive online marketing portfolios within the country and abroad. Throughout his career, Victor strategically plans every move, ensuring that each marketing aspect converts to success. With a no-nonsense, straight-to-the-point attitude, Victor leads all marketing-related content for Orinaku.making him a significant asset for Orinaku.
Victor is a man who can be very empathic and socially adept, yet he can also be straightforward in telling you how the situation stands. Unlike the other two founders, Victor does not lead with impulse; he carefully thinks things through with strategic planning and fact-checking.
It wouldn't be fair not to acknowledge the incredible individuals who've supported and contributed to Orinaku's journey to its present standing. While we won't mention names here, they surely know who they are. Firstly, a massive shout-out to both Daniel and David's partners. These incredible ladies not only put in hard work for Orinaku but also kept our founders grounded and focused. Through significant setbacks in both personal and business spheres, their unwavering support remains a constant source of inspiration for us.