Mureli: From First Orders to a Premium Brand. How Partnership with SkladUSA Transformed Sviatoslav Syvash’s Business

Mureli was born from the idea of combining craftsmanship, unique design, and emotional depth in every piece. Its founder, Sviatoslav Syvash, started with his first Etsy sales, when every order felt like both a challenge and a risk. Today, Mureli ships hundreds of parcels each month to over 20 countries, focusing on the premium segment and personalized creations.
In this interview, Sviatoslav shares how SkladUSA’s logistics support helped the brand evolve from a small startup into an international business, why the U.S. warehouse became a cornerstone of growth, and why personalization has become the very DNA of Mureli.
Tell us about your business and its main directions. How many parcels do you usually ship to customers each month?
Mureli is an artisanal brand that blends craftsmanship, aesthetics, and emotional depth into every product.
We design leather and wooden accessories for an international audience that values meaning and quality over mass production. Our main directions include custom accessories, gift solutions, and corporate orders with engraving or branding.
Each month, we ship on average 300–600 parcels to more than 20 countries, with a primary focus on the U.S., Canada, and EU markets. Some clients purchase for themselves, others for loved ones or business partners. We are proud that our pieces are gifted for occasions ranging from birthdays to official diplomatic events.
Over the past year, we’ve deliberately moved toward the premium segment — both in design and production approach. Demand has grown for products that combine multiple materials, have more sophisticated construction, and above all, carry a sense of uniqueness. More and more people are seeking not just a quality item, but one with character and deep meaning.
How did you first connect with SkladUSA, and what made you choose them as your logistics partner?
We got to know SkladUSA at the very start of our journey.
I’m client number 116 in their system — literally one of the first. At that time, I had just opened my Etsy shop, and every order was a challenge: logistically and financially.
The SkladUSA team supported me by helping ship my first orders even before I was fully registered in their system, just through direct correspondence. They didn’t even require immediate payment — I was able to settle the invoices a month later, once sales started coming in. That gesture of trust signaled to me that I wasn’t dealing with just a service provider, but with a partner ready to stand by me at the start.
Since then, we’ve grown many times over, and our logistics needs have become far more complex — but because our relationship was built on humanity and mutual trust, I’ve continued working with SkladUSA.
What are the main advantages of using a U.S. warehouse for Mureli?
Having a warehouse in the U.S. is one of the key factors that enabled Mureli to scale internationally.
- Speed. Modern buyers expect delivery in days, not weeks. Thanks to the U.S. warehouse, we ship locally, reducing delivery times drastically and improving the customer experience.
- Trust. When customers see that an item ships from the U.S., it lowers purchase barriers. This is especially important on Etsy, where buyers are choosing between handmade shops worldwide.
- Cost optimization. By shipping goods in bulk to the U.S., we reduce the per-order cost and gain more flexibility in pricing for end customers.
- B2B opportunities. With products physically in the U.S., we can quickly respond to corporate requests, join collaborations, and handle urgent large orders without delays.
How has this affected order processing speed and customer satisfaction on Etsy?
The U.S. warehouse has significantly improved both order processing speed and customer satisfaction on Etsy.
We can now fulfill orders the same day they’re placed, without waiting for international transport. Customers receive a USPS tracking number within hours, and delivery typically takes 2–5 days within the U.S.
This creates several key benefits:
- Increased trust in our shop: Etsy highlights our products with the “Ships from United States” tag, which boosts visibility and purchase likelihood.
- Fewer complaints and questions: buyers no longer worry whether their order will arrive on time.
- More positive reviews: fast delivery is often mentioned alongside product quality.
- Seasonal advantage: we can participate in Black Friday, Christmas, or Father’s Day sales even just days before the holiday.
All this creates a virtuous cycle of trust: Etsy promotes our shop more → we get more orders → our stats improve → traffic and sales keep growing.
You personalize a lot of items at the U.S. warehouse. What do customers request most often, and is there a particular order that stands out?
About 95% of our orders include personalization — it’s not just a trend anymore, it’s the DNA of our brand.
People want their gifts to “speak” — to carry a message, memory, or emotion. Engraving transforms an accessory into something far more meaningful.
Most often, customers choose initials, names, dates, short notes, or quotes. But the true emotions lie in the details. It’s fascinating to see how men order engravings for their partners in an intimate, playful style — something deeply personal, understood only between the two of them. That’s where the magic is.
Sometimes I read the engravings and realize they carry a story — a private piece of someone’s life. For example, I once created a gift for my wife with the engraving “Любимой шкоде” (“To my beloved rascal”). It’s a small inside joke, but it means a lot to us.
These moments are about authenticity — and we’re grateful to be a part of them.
How does on-site personalization at the U.S. warehouse help reduce costs and speed up fulfillment?
Personalizing products directly at the U.S. warehouse is a cornerstone of our fast-response model.
Thanks to this, we can process engraved orders not in a week, but in 1–2 days — which is critical for Etsy and U.S.-based customers.
Yes, it comes with an additional cost per order through SkladUSA. For some products, we include it partially or fully in the price. But we clearly understand: without this option, we would be far less competitive.
For clients who aren’t in a rush or want more complex engraving, we also offer personalization at our workshop in Ukraine. This gives greater flexibility in fonts, styles, and symbols. But when it comes to urgent gifts in the U.S., local personalization is irreplaceable.
Overall, this service isn’t just about speed — it’s about trust, customer satisfaction, and strengthening our presence in the U.S. market.
What challenges did you face entering the U.S. market, and how did SkladUSA help overcome them?
Today, most challenges lie in Ukraine, not in the U.S. — challenges with people, with the war, with financial resources. Expanding warehouse programs requires investment. A warehouse isn’t just logistics, it’s also production and marketing.
Being a manufacturer in Ukraine is extremely difficult — we grow despite the circumstances, not thanks to them. By contrast, the U.S. market is clear and stable.
Did the U.S. warehouse ever change your business model or sales strategy?
Yes. We started expanding warehouse operations once SkladUSA launched its personalization department.
SkladUSA also has a warehouse in Poland. Under what conditions would you consider using it more actively?
Mathematically, customs clearance into Europe often makes delivery costs comparable to shipping from the U.S., while SkladUSA’s consolidation speed is already sufficient for European customers.
Most importantly, the U.S. warehouse has boosted sales, whereas European delivery tests haven’t produced the same results.
We do plan to increase European orders. That’s why we launched our own website mureli-workshop.com, which we’re now promoting in both the U.S. and Europe. On Etsy, our shop seems to perform better in the U.S., which we cannot influence as much — unlike our own site.
What new logistics services would you like to see from SkladUSA for Mureli?
We’d like to see a broader network of SkladUSA offices in Ukraine, as it was before the war. Ideally, parcels could be shipped not only through Kyiv, but also through cities like Uzhhorod or Lviv.
What does your ideal logistics ecosystem look like in the next 1–2 years?
More warehouses — in the U.S., but also in Canada, the UK, Australia, and Poland. We plan to expand in Poland as soon as we have more working capital. For now, resources are limited because we’re also investing heavily in marketing.
What advice would you give other Ukrainian artisans aiming to scale their sales abroad?
In my view, quick results are no longer realistic. You need to think and act strategically — and focus on scaling your business, not just planning it.
What should entrepreneurs look for when choosing a logistics partner and organizing overseas warehouses?
Stability. And I would measure that by the number of clients a logistics partner serves. Among all Ukrainian companies, SkladUSA has the largest client base.
These articles may also
be helpful to you












Thanks for sharing your opinion. Please help us improve this material.
Your opinion is very important to us.