SaM Solutions Supported a Project for the Inclusive Barista Coffeehouse Chain

SaM Solutions, together with the Inclusive Barista chain of coffee shops and the Samae Mae sewing company, took part in the creation of special backpacks for wheelchair users.

The unique backpacks were developed with the particular requirements of future users in mind and sewn by Samae Mae. The founder of the coffeehouse chain, Sasha Avdevich, assisted in prototype development and testing.

The backpack is made of waterproof material, has a specific size, increased wear resistance, a waterproof zipper, and an external pocket that can be opened with one hand by lifting the hook-and-loop flap. In addition, the bag has an adjustable strap and special suspensions that allow it to be hung on the wheelchair handles.

SaM Solutions sponsored the development and sewing of the first batch of backpacks. The product presentation took place on July 26 at the Dve Poloski coffee shop at 43 Kropotkina Street in Minsk, where the first users were given their backpacks by our colleagues Stanislav Rachitsky and Dmitry Ledyaev. These backpacks will now be launched into mass production and distributed through the Inclusive Barista chain of coffee shops.

Samae Mae is engaged in designing and sewing beautiful, functional things for organizing space and maintaining order in the house, on the road and in nature, such as bags, organizers, accessories for animals, etc.

The company’s founder Dmitry Bolashev:

— Dmitry, how did the idea for this project come about?

— At Samae Mae, we are engaged in the development and production of things that solve the pains and needs of customers. I have been thinking for a long time about the development of a product line for people with disabilities. Moreover, there are practically no such things in Minsk and they are pretty expensive. The idea to create an inexpensive but beautiful and high-quality product appealed to me. In addition, I’m very well acquainted with Sasha Avdevich, who is a wheelchair user. He helped formulate the basic requirements and acted as a tester of prototypes and pre-production samples.

— Why did you decide to work with SaM Solutions, and what are your impressions of your work together?

— I already had several contracts with your company for the supply of branded products. We established normal human contact. Therefore, cooperation was a given. What is also important is that IT people are always more responsive to social projects. The development of this bag is precisely a social project.

I have the best impressions. Your colleagues made a more profitable offer than I’d expected and also were okay with the slight shift in the development timeline. All issues were resolved on an ongoing basis, without pressure and in a friendly atmosphere. Should the opportunity present itself, I would gladly work with them again.

The Inclusive Barista coffeehouse chain differs from others in that all of its employees, including the founder and director, have a disability. Vasya Pavlikov, director of the Inclusive Barista chain, is the first leader in Belarus with Down syndrome. The infrastructure of the coffee houses is designed in such a way that it is convenient for employees to move in wheelchairs and do everything on their own. In addition, visitors can chat with the online administrator while the barista prepares their beverage.

The chain’s founder Sasha Avdevich:

— Sasha, what are your impressions of the project’s outcome?

— We are very excited to have such cool custom-made bags with our merch. They will definitely improve the quality of life for our wheelchair crew.

Note down the addresses in Minsk and visit the crew for a coffee: Romanovskaya Sloboda street, 8 (bank building), Internatsionalnaya street, 36 (A1 office), Kropotkin street, 43.