Mark Dumnych is a collector who gathers, restores, and sells vintage watches. His collection consists of Soviet, Swiss, and dozens of other rare, carefully restored devices. Listening to personal wishes, the VintageDuMarko brand always strives to offer its clients the best from its assortment. In the opinion of the team, vintage watches are not only a great gift for any occasion but also an investment that over time increases in value.

How it all started

Mark has been passionate about watches since early childhood. His grandfather had a Soviet-made “Vostok” watch, which he hardly ever wore but didn’t allow touching.

“I remember how my grandfather constantly wound the mechanism. From this click, I wanted even more to disassemble that watch to understand how everything inside is arranged, what exactly makes the wheels spin.”

In school years, Mark had the opportunity to work in the buying and selling of watches. On the advice of elders, he traveled through villages in Transcarpathia, collected watches from elderly grandmothers, and then engaged in their resale.

“A watch is such a thing that basically doesn’t spoil. It can sit for fifty or even a hundred years. Even if it’s broken, that’s not a problem. A professional watchmaker can easily fix it in literally two hours.”

For 2011-2012, reselling was a great way to earn money. By then, the watch industry was already experiencing change. Quartz watches were fading into the past, replaced by super cheap Chinese mechanisms powered by batteries.

“If you compare Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine, it was Ukraine where the most cool Soviet watches were produced. People here had taste. Sometimes we found very unique items in excellent condition. Often, grandmothers even gave us those watches, saying, ‘Keep it, Grandpa doesn’t need it anymore, his eyesight is bad.’”

Aiming to become a high-class professional, Mark began carefully researching watches, gradually purchasing more expensive models. Over time, resales turned into a serious business with a broad circle of acquaintances and clients for whom collectible watches carried a certain historical value. By the age of 17-18, he was earning $2000–$2500 a month.

“In fact, I learned through trial and error. When we first started, I bought a watch for $15. I didn’t have enough experience to understand what kind of watch it was and determine its value. Two days later, I closed a deal for $5000. I wasn’t even surprised that the buyer drove 300 km by car to pick up the watch personally. Two days later, I was offered €12,000 for that watch. But it was too late.”

Now, after years of work, the collector analyzes each item very meticulously. If he buys a collectible watch from someone or at an auction at the request of his customer, he guarantees the authenticity of the item and the reliability of the deal.

“Many wealthy people engaged in collecting certain things don’t look for those items on eBay or elsewhere. They have intermediaries. It’s more convenient for them to create a request rather than sit around, search, and communicate with someone. They just want to receive a specific item in excellent condition for a clearly defined price. And you, as an intermediary, decide where and how to search for this item. The main thing is to remember two requirements: stick to the budget and do everything professionally.”

An Etsy store

In the mid-2010s, Mark, following his parents, moved to Belarus. The move opened new opportunities for the business. It was then that the entrepreneur first learned about Western Bid.

“I looked into various marketplaces. Many of my friends from Ukraine sold their watches on eBay, but I didn’t like that platform immediately. I saw that this site had no future. Its interface hadn’t been updated for a long time, and the commissions were high. Instead, when I saw Etsy, I realized that this site definitely has potential.”

Thus, the entrepreneur attended Western Bid courses, where he learned how to use Etsy most effectively. After completing the course, sales for the VintageDuMarko brand almost immediately began to grow. Over three years, the store has made over two thousand sales. The average check increased from $100 to $500.

“It’s no secret that watches are quite a profitable product. The earnings are always good here. However, due to the complexity, it’s not the most competitive niche. To reach a certain level, to learn to professionally understand the field, and to restore the product well, it takes several years of hard work. That’s why there will never be huge competition in this niche, unlike in traditional industries such as hairdressing or manicure salons.”

Another nuance, which he calls the main paradox of their work, is the difference in customer attitude.

“Strange as it may seem, the more expensive the item you sell, the less people bother you. Sometimes a client will buy a $50 watch, then be dissatisfied with the quality or delivery time. Meanwhile, a person ordering a $1500 item does it with a single click, without asking anything. They’re not even particularly concerned about standard shipping.”

Now the team plans to start their own watch manufacturing, not just restoring vintage pieces. They are also developing an accessory line — watch cases.

“The main thing is to analyze the audience, understand what people like, and only then start. We are not living in 1998 anymore, when there was nothing cool on the market… Now, the VintageDuMarko brand sees prospects in thematic watches, i.e., those created for a specific event.”

After February 24

Before the full-scale invasion, Mark and his family planned to return to Ukraine and settle in Kyiv. Political swings in Belarus were intensifying. Once a peaceful sovereign state was becoming increasingly dependent on its eastern neighbor.

“When everything started, I was already in Poland within a week. We just realized that living here (in Belarus — ed.) was impossible… As soon as missiles flew from Belarus to Ukraine, all internal satisfaction immediately evaporated. I suddenly wanted to get out so as not to become a helpless part of the system.”

The move was sudden and chaotic. Although they managed to transport the stock, many work connections in Belarus, built over the years, were lost. Initially, it was difficult, but after a year, the business almost doubled in size.

Gradually the store is moving away from Soviet watches because the demand for them steadily declines. Instead, Swiss watches are becoming more popular among buyers.

“Over time, people forgot that the Soviet Union scared everyone with a nuclear mushroom. That state formation disintegrated, becoming history. But the current war reminded everyone, especially the older generation, of what the Soviet Union really was. And it creates immediate reactions in people.”

In the future, Mark definitely wants to return to Ukraine, reconstruct a house in Transcarpathia in the village where he grew up, and meet with friends.

“I am confident that soon the war in Ukraine will end, and wonderful times for business development will come. Our people are very inventive… In my youth, after moving to Belarus, I was most surprised by the lack of smiles among people. In Ukraine, it’s a completely different situation. Here, the driver manages the minibus, talks on the phone, chews seeds, and still manages to joke with passengers. A positive atmosphere prevails.”

Western Bid

Western Bid entrepreneur affectionately calls it a big aid. After the full-scale invasion, the company supported the store and helped during the move from Belarus to Poland.

“I already call Yevhen to the German office as if talking to my father at home. We stay in touch almost every day. If a problem arises, they try to resolve it immediately. And I also really like that the company strictly adheres to deadlines. If it’s necessary to resolve financial matters, they don’t tell you to wait a week or two. Everything is usually done within a day.”

Mark is extremely satisfied with Western Bid’s work. Currently, the entrepreneur uses fulfillment warehouse in the USA, and in the future, plans to try the “hired worker” service.

“I like that Western Bid is constantly evolving. Sometimes I leave remarks or suggestions for improvement in my personal account, and then I notice that changes are happening. There is feedback. And that’s wonderful. It ensures mutual development.”

Conclusion on the role of Western Bid

For Mark Dumnych and his brand, Western Bid has become an indispensable partner during the crisis of relocation and scaling:

• Support during relocation: Assistance in transferring the business from Belarus to Poland helped preserve the enterprise and reach a new income level.
• Operational financial transactions: Strict adherence to deadlines (solving issues within a day) provides the entrepreneur with the necessary stability.
• Educational role: It was Western Bid’s courses that helped Mark see the potential of Etsy and professionally master this marketplace.