Talks with imago: The adventurous beginnings of our existence

The first year under the imago banner is behind us, marking a total of 17 years since our very beginnings. We decided to look back at our rough yet amusing origins and ponder one mystery…

Even though we keep growing—there are almost 50 of us now, and our warehouse and packing stations have expanded—a family-like atmosphere still prevails (in the friendly sense, with almost no drama…). How is that possible?

For those who want facts along with the chatter, we interviewed selected veterans on our team about the early days of our existence. In their words, you will find the seeds of friendship, quirky humor, and suicidal enthusiasm.

Jiří (Big Boss): The whole idea for the shop started in 2005. It was during the planning of a wooden sword battle in a tea house in Vítkovice. At that time, the ASF (Fantasy Association) existed, a group of people organizing wooden sword fights and LARPs in the Czech Republic. Back then, they opened a brick-and-mortar shop in Prague called Larp Shop. It seemed like a great idea, but I thought a similar shop in Ostrava didn't make sense, though an e-shop could be interesting. I was building websites at the time, so I programmed it in a few days and we were ready to go. At first, I sold LARP gear, but other items soon started piling up. For a while, I ran it alone with occasional help from temps, but it gradually snowballed.

I didn't expect the company to reach the form it has today. I didn't plan it; I just did what I enjoyed. It started in my childhood bedroom under a desk while I was still studying, and when I finished school, I wondered what to do next. I had a goal: if the company earned 5,000 CZK a month, I would stick with it. Today's annual turnover is in completely different leagues.

I started at my parents' apartment, then in a small room behind the kitchen. Later, I rented a cellar, then a basement in a building, and finally, we moved to a warehouse on Proskovická Street in Ostrava. The last move to our current premises in Poruba happened two years ago.

The beginnings were fun. Everything was done by hand, but I tried to innovate from the start. For example, I had a self-programmed system for printing payment slips. The success rate was about 50%, but it still saved a ton of time. I also remember well that I lost money on the first package I sent. I was shipping the board game "Rodinný podnik" to a customer and set the postage price wrong. The post office price list was impossible to understand. A lot of other “funny” stories are tied to the post office.

An elderly lady worked at our local post office. For a long time, she couldn't understand what an e-shop was. She would always get annoyed, asking why I was bringing in 30 packages at once and who I was constantly sending things to. Usually, such a drop-off took an hour. The lady had to write all the addresses into a notebook by hand, getting redder in the face with every package. Then she had to type it all into the computer with two fingers, and when she was done, she would shout: “Oh no, now it’s all deleted!”

The post office manager tried to solve it by convincing the staff to process our packages during their lunch break. I was really popular there after that…

Hanka (Logistics, HR, Charity): I joined the company in 2013 as a temp before Christmas. Jirka (the Big Boss) and I were at a concert, my current job had just crashed, so we agreed I’d help out with shipping. I thought I’d hide out there at least for the winter, and I’m still here today. I stuck with shipping for a long time because I didn't want to work with computers, but when it looked like I might quit, the idea came to help various non-profits and interesting projects as a company, and I jumped right on it. Eventually, I ended up with this fluid position: managing good deeds, a bit of HR, a bit of a snack-bringer, and shipping hasn't quite gotten rid of me either… And I work with a computer now :)

The days when you could do everything punk-style are long gone. Even so, a bit of punk remains in the company, at least in the atmosphere. We are a big company now, but it’s still great here thanks to the people. When I started, it was so busy at Christmas that there had to be three of us! :) Today, there are about twenty people working in shipping alone before the holidays. And back then, we were writing addresses by hand; courier pickups were already working, but we still had to take some to the post office. But at least I could go to the bakery for snacks for everyone; today I’d need a cart for that.

And our furry team member, Aranka? I found her as a puppy when we were already at Proskovická. I asked if she could be at work with me until she learned to be home alone. And she’s been with us ever since!

Kudis (Customer Support): I joined the company when Jirka was still running it practically alone, with just a few temps. I handled everything regarding packages, shipping, and on top of that, I communicated with customers. Today, about three departments do that. But communicating with customers stayed with me.

In the beginning, it was amusing by today's standards. All the goods fit on three shelves. I remember we started selling mugs, and a new shelf with five mugs was added :). I didn't expect it to grow to today's dimensions. After moving to Proskovická, it went fast. New shelves were built wherever possible.

There were countless funny incidents with customers. We are lucky that the good experiences prevail. Even we in customer support get feedback from people who thank us and are happy, and thanks to that, I feel we are doing our job well. We have almost family-like relationships with many customers, where we chat like old friends while solving a situation.

Of course, not everything can always be solved to the customer's satisfaction. It’s unavoidable, although we always try to accommodate the customer. For example, a package can get damaged on its way from us to the customer, which we can't control.

However, I most fondly remember one lady who came with her son to try on a chainmail shirt. When the boy had the shirt on, the lady pulled a baton out of her purse and started hitting him left and right to test if it really worked.

Radek (Head of Logistics): I’ve been with the company for about ten years; I started in the basement. There were four of us back then. We didn't really worry about who did what. Everyone did a bit of everything. I definitely didn't expect to be here this long or for the shop to grow to such a size. Eventually, I became the manager :). A lot has changed since the beginning. But what still survives is the atmosphere and the company's philosophy. Processes have changed the most. What could be done with four people can't be done with forty. But the atmosphere, the expectations from work, and especially the trust have remained.

It used to be funny. There were situations where 40 orders arrived, and we celebrated a record. Today, that many arrive in an hour.

Of course, such work brings some stress today. Fortunately, I’ve learned not to take it so hard, to trust myself and those around me that we’ll manage. I’m also older now and know that even if something doesn't work out, the world won't end. It’s a lot at Christmas, but otherwise, I’m happy with this job and I enjoy it. However, sometimes pallets or rolls of bubble wrap fly off the ramp to the sound of swearing. Christmas is simply demanding…

Adéla (Seamstress): I’ve been with the company for about six years, since Proskovice. Fantasyobchod had an external seamstress, but the time came when we needed to start making products on-site. We started with one cloak, some blouses, and trousers. The first few months were hell because I had to prepare all the patterns. It expanded quickly, and today we sew dozens of different products. LARP gear still dominates, so there are more things for men.

We also make a lot of custom items. In season, we make up to two custom pieces a week. Cloaks, their adjustments, or decorations prevail. These aren't eccentric things, although today I dare say we could handle practically anything. Unfortunately, we often don't get feedback, which we regret. On the other hand, the same people often order again, so we believe they like our work.

I still enjoy the work. We no longer just make LARP gear; we also create our own fashion where I can realize my ideas. I can do it how I want, and no one talks me into it much :). Although I don't understand who keeps buying our stuff. The whole of Ostrava must be walking around in cloaks by now!

Sepa (Purchaser with one foot in accounting): I came to the shop almost at its very beginning. Jirka wanted someone permanent besides students. I was just moving back to Ostrava, so I came to help him. One person handled practically the entire agenda regarding goods. From printing documents, packing, shipping, and complaints to processing payments. That went on for about two years.

I went on maternity leave, and when I returned, there was a separate person for all the things I used to do. I was surprised at how the company had grown during that time and managed to move. It was actually a shock. I wondered how I could have done it all alone when it takes so many people now. Of course, orders increased significantly. It was no longer the case that there were 30 orders on Monday, seven on Friday, and we sat in front of the garage on a fur because there was nothing to do. Those were the days! Only my father “cried” about where I ended up after years of demanding studies. So much money spent, and I locked myself in a garage and was satisfied :).

I always liked the local personal approach. The customer always has the final say, and I think it paid off. The time when we knew most customers by name and their addresses by heart is gone (partly because we had to write them down repeatedly by hand on documents and carrier sheets). But even so, it pleases us when some familiar name appears again even after all these years. Although I still wonder where people put all those things!

I wouldn't have expected us to get where we are today. But I wouldn't go back. The beginnings were tough. It was madness. It was often too much for so few people. It changed us too. Once, a quiet boy from the tea house joined us. He was silent, looked at the ground, and only occasionally brought some tea. And today, he is an expert in “whipping” people into shape and an expert in saying NO! :)

Final word

If you’ve read this far and our memories have sparked curiosity and a desire to get to know us better, believe that more interviews will be added to our blog. This time, however, with individual members of our team. About their hobbies, which are often reflected in our product range, and which might be your hobbies too. In the meantime, you can check out our About Us page, where you will learn our whole story, get a peek behind the scenes, and maybe even find out who we support and who we help.