1865 – 1877

In 1865 in the city of Vyborg, in the family of Zvonarev, a commoner, a son was born named Stepan.

His father worked at a local merchant’s warehouse. When Stepan was eight, his parents sent him to the parochial school at the Vyborg cathedral. The hard-working, diligent and intelligent boy drew the attention of the church warden Damian Markelovich Markelov.

In the latter half of the 19th century, Vyborg, a seaport, a commercial hub and a major city in the Grand Duchy of Finland, served as a link between Scandinavia and Russia. Markelov had a successful business in Vyborg. Incidentally, Stepan’s father was in his employ.

Stepan’s education ended in 1877, when his father decided that the boy needed to work and help the family. He got Markelov to agree to give his son a job.

1877 – 1903

Not just luck

Stepan did quite well: he was quick and smart and did not shy away from work. Markelov kept a close eye on him and, seeing his agile mind and honesty, trusted him and promoted him in his career. By the age of twenty two, Zvonarev had risen to the position of a senior clerk.

One day Stepan suggested that Markelov should expand his business and start selling hardware goods. The cautious Markelov did not agree right away but gave the suggestion a thought. Eventually, he entrusted his apprentice with the new business and even gave him the money to start it.

Besides, he offered an option of a buyout if things went well.

Thus, in 1988 Zvonarev became an autonomous entrepreneur under the patronage of Markelov. Things went well right from the start. It was not only Stepan’s entrepreneurial acumen that helped him to succeed but also his engineering abilities. Under different circumstances he might have turned into a very good engineer. He had a natural understanding of tools and the way they were supposed to work. He modified mechanisms, improved designs, made additions, which distinguished his goods from the rest.

1903 – 1940

Forward and upward

In 1903, after having dealt in hardware goods and garden tools for 15 years, Zvonarev buys out his business and becomes an independent merchant. By this time he trades with virtually entire Scandinavia and northwestern Russia.

In 1912 his benefactor, Damian Markelov, dies. At that time Stepan is already standing firmly on his feet and continues to develop his own business. His spades and pruning shears are well known in many regions.

Following the October Revolution, Finland separates from Russia, and Zvonarev decides to stay in Finland. He loses all his business and capital in Russia. Basically, he has to start from scratch. Still, thanks to the remaining commercial connections and capital in European banks, his company gets quickly back on its feet and eventually becomes one of the most well-known in Finland.

In 1940, following the Soviet-Finnish war, Vyborg becomes again part of Russia (the Soviet Union). Long before that, having learnt from bitter experience, Zvonarev has set up his offices and production away from the border inside Finland and continues to develop production and trade.

1940 – present time

New era. Fresh start

Several generations of the company owners have followed one after another but all of them have cherished the values bequeathed by Stepan Zvonarev, his work ethics and workmanship.

In 2018 the company is planning to celebrate its 130th birthday.

The expansion of the production and the development of the company brought about the brand FINLAND. In 2012 the company entered the Russian market and immediately obtained a respectable position in the garden tools segment.

The bulk of the inventory includes tools needed for work in the garden: spades, pitchforks, rakes, pruners, shears, etc…

For the winter season the company offers snow shovels and scrapers. Recently, an assortment of sprayers of 1 to 11 liter capacity has been added to the stock.
FINLAND is a very dynamic brand that easily adapts to the needs of its consumers: old models get regularly replaced with modern products using new technologies and materials.

Tools are made using light and durable composite materials, heavy duty plastics, steel with characteristics required for certain work conditions, and aluminum alloys. Engineering solutions allow to produce light and handy tools that do not put too much strain on the user.
Currently, the production sites are located in Europe, Taiwan, China and India. Manufacturing is subject to specifically developed criteria that are strictly observed. Quality assurance allows for a warranty on products from 2 to 20 years.

The final touch is the FINLAND attractive design, a nice complement to the product.

FINLAND tools make garden work a real pleasure.