Interview with Viktoria Kolodiy, founder of the nail studio MVK
In an exclusive interview with L'Officiel Austria, businesswoman and founder of MVK Viktoria Kolodiy talks about her career path and nail art trends for the upcoming summer.
Viktoria you are originally from Ukraine. What made you decide to come to Austria, Vienna and how different is the industry here?
Viktoria Kolodiy: „My decision to scale MVK was taken when I caught in my mind short list of potentially advantageous countries I would like operate in. Austria completed the list. I discovered and analysed the market as well as target audience’s requests to be sure that services the team proposes will be demanded at the same level we have in Ukraine. There is a very high concentration of Ukrainians in Vienna who look for Ukrainian quality they get used to and expect reasonable quality-price balance. It was one of the main argument why Austria. We paid attention to international audience also. Key point was to consider special aspects of the mentality, to make detailed profile of the Locals. Austrians value the time. They spend it dosed on beauty routines. This is the major difference between Austrians and Ukrainians.”
How did your career and passion as a nail technician first start?
Viktoria Kolodiy: „Start of my career had nothing in common with passion and defining professional choice like I’ve touched some mission. I understood this later on. That was X-moment when I felt satisfaction of taking care of people’s health, giving recommendations for nail style selection. I began to work as a manicurist in a salon. That was the start. As a nail technician was aimed to build up customer base, improve my professional skills continuously, master new techniques, follow trends, inspire with fashion, look for something what resonates to me stylistically. I found minimalism. When my background was completed I was ready take the next level: to create special type of conceptual salons which differ by approach, have number of advantages, guarantee safety of providing services and consistently high quality, designed uniquely.”
What challenges have you come across while setting up your business?
Viktoria Kolodiy: „Challenges are part of the process, daily. When you scale these challenges become greater. This is a growth in geometrical progression to use an analogy. My own challenge was to define the style I am interested in. I did not want to follow standards. One of the key desire was to contribute to the industry globally. I wanted to propose something absolutely new, to be creator not in words. Setting up business successfully I needed to build a team, to find the best specialists whose potentials are strong enough to move ahead. I looked for personalities who share my position «not to be like…». They had to be motivated, aiming to hit targets.”
What nail (art) trend can we expect to become popular this season, and which ones are your personal favourite designs? At MVK you seem to focus mainly on the beauty of minimalism, how so?
Viktoria Kolodiy: „Exquisitely groomed nails, ultra natural, milky nude base, minimalistic accents in designs. This trend has been one of the biggest for many seasons in a row. Simple, chic and practical. Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, Bella Hadid, Rita Ora, Jennifer Lopez, Zoe Kravitz are big fans of these looks. Global trendsetters of the industry set minimalism as favourite accent. The runway has always favoured mini nails. My favourite designs are those which resonate with your emotional flow, current mood, sometimes you prefer thin and straight graphic lines, in a two weeks you are about to choose floral motives or dots painted in bright colors.”
What advice do you have for people striving to succeed in this career path?
Viktoria Kolodiy: „There is some basic advice actual when you strive to succeed career path: stay true to yourself always even if your position is challenging. At the beginning of our story we decided to ignore seasonal trends. They are fleeting. We are focused on creating style everyone (who trust us) will define as a personal top not looking for a season, preferences that are not erased by time, something like timeless classic, far from boring. We took unpopular decision to be non-gendered and complete our corporative Instagram with #MANicure inspired by extra looks of Marc Jacobs. The team provoked real battle. It reminds me of killing ground – who fell in love with what we do and the majority who ask «what is this?». My answer is quick «the art that has no rules». We were pressured. And … We сontinued to move the track. You need to accept any experience and be ready to be faced with a common truth – one major achievement means hundreds of losses, thousands of tries to go to the open ocean and swim among sharks.”
