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R. Maleronkaitė, originally from Jonava, left for the United Kingdom, Bristol, after 4 years of studying Lithuanian philology in Kaunas. This city was chosen by a woman together with a friend a decade ago because it did not seem so big, but at the same time cozy and beautiful.
“I never wanted to travel to London because it is too big for me. Even more so when you are from Jonava, even Vilnius looks great. Then I did not know anything in Bristol, together I was interested in the cities of England, I looked at the photos. We just agreed with the rental agency, we rented an apartment and left. However, my friend quickly returned to Lithuania and I really liked the city, so I stayed, ”she said.
Photo by Sigismund Gedvila / 15min / Redita Maleronkaitė
10 years left
R.Maleronkaitė did not go to earn money or help her family, but simply by herself. While still studying in Lithuania, he had a job that he liked, but he didn’t earn enough, so he couldn’t travel frequently.
“In Lithuania, it is not so easy for an inexperienced young man to find a job that allows him to travel as much as he wants.” In any other European country, you have the opportunity to work, leave, travel, return and continue the same job or find another one without difficulty. Practicing there is not essential, the basis for you to work, “he explained.
It is true that this plan was valid for ten years, after which he returned to his native Jonava.
“It just caught our eye then. Before I got on the plane, I knew I was leaving for ten years. I just thought that the age range, between 20 and 30 years old, was ideal for traveling, for self-discovery,” she is convinced.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Wine shop “Ot Tai!”
In emigration, E. Maleronkaitė worked not only in a coffee shop, pizzeria, or snack shop, but also repaired phones.
“The variety of jobs that were interesting at the time allowed me to travel, to have more free time for myself,” he said.
Love for Italy became the basis of business
R.Maleronkaitė said that he traveled mainly along the Mediterranean Sea, visited Greece, Spain and the Canary Islands. However, she was very impressed with Italy, which, as she says, fell in love 7 years ago and spent three months here every year.
“I had to visit Greece and Spain, but the Italian culture became closer. There I had to meet a couple of sommeliers, with whom I stayed,” he said.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Wine shop “Ot Tai!”
Ten years later, R. Maleronkaitė returned to Lithuania in November last year and immediately began developing plans to implement his own business idea.
“It just caught my eye, I thought about it all the time, but I never thought about implementing it.” I have always loved wine, and since I had to meet some winemakers in Italy, a sommelier for the whole family, it was a great start to making the wine selection the way I would like. I had to interact with many, find out what they are selling, what they have to offer. As a result, most of the wines with us are Italian, I know what I offer, what I tried. We are not selling a bottle, nor a drink, but an experience ”, he assured.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Wine shop “Ot Tai!”
Sell what you can’t find in Lithuania
Admittedly, she co-founded the store with a friend who didn’t want to be mentioned. R.Maleronkaitė, the co-owner of the store, which has been operating in Jonava for two months, explained that his wish is to sell products that others do not have in Lithuania.
“It is a big challenge, it is very difficult to find something that others do not know exists, and it is even more difficult to deliver it in a small city.” But Jonava inspires me. It is a city that I have seen in a different place in another place during those 10 years and every time I return I wondered where to buy wine, where to buy something more interesting to take to the guests.
I can not say that there are no offers in Jonava, there are, but there is no knowledge, nor attention to the product and the customer. I thought it should change, and most of the time we all expect something to change, but I’m from people who want to be part of the change. In fact, it is going quite well, people notice it, “said the interlocutor.
Sigismund Gedvila / 15min photo / Wine shop “Ot Tai!”
However, according to R. Maleronkaitė, it was difficult to find suitable premises. Wine needed a place to be exposed to direct sunlight, but at the same time it wanted shop windows.
“To see what I am selling, because I cannot advertise, but I will not prohibit you from seeing it,” he said, adding that he finally found a place on Klaipeda Street in late January, where it is now located.
Also, quarantine was changed. R. Maleronkaitė and his business partner intended to open the store on March 15, but the next day the government introduced quarantine across the country. However, she welcomes this period.
“Quarantine was perhaps a positive thing, we had more free time to search for products that we would like to offer later. It was time to calm the excitement a bit, which was infinitely more in creating everything. From creating a logo to labels on bottles, “We do everything. The quarantine was financially, I think, harmful to everyone, but emotionally it was a quite useful period,” he said.
R.Maleronkaitė has already noticed that Lithuanians like sparkling wine and red wine more.
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