How can a business stay relevant for three decades? Pro Mehanika has the answer
More than thirty years ago, as Latvia was taking its first steps toward independence, a company was born that today stands among the largest in its field in the Baltics. Pro Mehanika began in a small guard booth, after acquiring an unexpected stock of bearings from Belarus. Over the decades, it has grown into a network of 20 stores across Latvia, a branch in Estonia, and the largest warehouse in the Baltic region.
What helped transform a tiny guard booth operation into an industry leader? What were the biggest turning points in Pro Mehanika’s journey over three decades? And how has the company managed to maintain its growth, overcome global crises, and adapt to rapidly changing technologies and customer needs?
From a small guard booth to a nationwide retail network
Today, Pro Mehanika is the official representative of many global manufacturers, offering industrial clients a wide range of products – from bearings and seals to conveyor belts, chains, fasteners, and tools. The company operates the largest warehouse of its kind in the Baltics, with stores in every major Latvian city – 20 locations in total – plus three more in Estonia.
Yet its story began with… a small guard booth.
“In the early 1990s, after the collapse of the Soviet Union, the first private businesses started to appear. By coincidence, the company’s former owner had the chance to buy the first batch of bearings in Belarus, later adding stock from liquidated factories and starting cooperation with manufacturers. The company began trading from a tiny guard booth, which became our very first shop,” recalls Sanita Freidenfelde, Pro Mehanika’s Head of Sales.
The company’s history has seen several turning points. One of the most significant came in 2009, when new owners and management took over. They brought a clear vision: expand both the product range and the store network across Latvia.
“Since then, our annual turnover has grown from 2 to 13 million. Another milestone was digital transformation. In 2017, we introduced a new accounting system, tailored to our needs, which allowed us to automate many processes and increase efficiency across the company. Of course, there were challenges – from the global financial crisis to the COVID years, which forced us to find ways to sustain sales and adapt to growing customer demand,” says Freidenfelde.
The key to success: speed and customer proximity
Pro Mehanika’s success has been driven by several core principles: a wide product range in stock, being close to customers, and quick support in solving problems that help them avoid costly downtime.
“As long as manufacturing and processing companies, agricultural machinery, or vehicles exist – we will have something to offer. We’ve always focused on long-term relationships: having a store in nearly every city, keeping a wide selection in stock across different price ranges, and helping clients avoid expensive downtime with fast delivery,” stresses the Head of Sales.
In the technical equipment sector, delivery speed is critical. Clients often reach out when equipment has already failed and parts are needed urgently to avoid downtime. Reliable logistics partners who ensure on-time deliveries are therefore vital in this business.
“At first, we handled deliveries ourselves, but it quickly became clear we couldn’t be everywhere at once. As we grew, we needed a partner who could supply our stores and deliver to clients. That’s why we chose Venipak. Key reasons included their fleet size and capacity – reducing the risk that pallets would be left behind – and the large number of routes and terminals, which ensured our products reached clients on time. We especially value next-day delivery to clients,” emphasizes Freidenfelde.
She adds that the company highly values Venipak’s tailored solutions – from pallet transport options to early-morning deliveries.
“Because our goods are often large or heavy, we received a tailored solution for pallet and half-pallet transport. Pickup times from our warehouse were also adjusted to our needs. In many cities where we operate stores, there are Venipak terminals, which means we can receive goods early in the morning. We also rely on Venipak for supplying our branches in Estonia. And we appreciate being able to contact couriers directly – it’s rarely needed, but when it is, it makes a big difference,” she says.
Looking ahead: broader assortment, closer to customers
Freidenfelde notes that one of today’s challenges is that some stores have outgrown their premises, requiring redesign or reconstruction. Another key goal is opening branches in every Latvian city and ensuring an even broader product range.
“This year, we became representatives for several leading global manufacturers, allowing us to offer even more solutions to our clients. In the near future, we plan to introduce new product groups and open stores in cities where we are not yet present. Our goal is simple: to make sure customers can find everything they need for industry and mechanics – quickly, conveniently, and reliably,” concludes Freidenfelde.
