And one might say—finally—because it was one of the most difficult periods we’ve all been through recently. These challenging times have presented us with new challenges that we’ve had to overcome. And for having made it through, we owe a debt of gratitude to you, our customers. Thank you for your loyalty to our brand, for the feedback you’ve provided, and for the suggestions we receive from you.
This time last year, we promised a number of new products for this year, and we’ve kept our promise with the special edition “Rybička” for Nespresso, two military knives— the Taurus and Storm— the UTON made from N690 steel, the takeover of the entire production of the Lubomír Maďarič knife series, and a number of minor improvements to knives in our existing lineup. Thanks in part to these efforts, our knife production has increased by another 10% compared to 2019. And this is no coincidence; on the contrary, it represents a steady trend. Since 2018, when the current owner took over Mikov, knife production has risen by more than 70%, with an ever-increasing share coming from knives that are more technically and artisanally demanding—and thus offer higher added value.
But since every coin has two sides, we, too, are among the companies that have been adversely affected by the current situation. The increase in knife sales has not been able to offset the decline the pandemic caused us in the areas of office equipment and industrial fasteners. The shift to remote work and the cancellation of trade shows and public events—all of this has taken its toll on us as well.
For us, the coronavirus crisis also marked a major step toward digitization and e-commerce, both in manufacturing and in retail. The share of revenue from our e-shop increased by more than 100% compared to 2019. Of course, this was only possible because we were administratively and logistically prepared for this growth. And we can promise you that we won’t rest on our laurels—we’ll continue working to make our services more convenient, faster, and easier to navigate for you.
And just as we have this year, we will certainly not forget in the future that we are not alone in this world; therefore, we will continue to support those in need—whether through the “War Veteran” project in support of the Military Solidarity Fund, sponsoring the “Rarity of the Year” hunting competition, or supporting the promising young shooter Adéla Bryndová. And, of course, our company, NAREX BYSTŘICE, is also doing its part by supporting the Asante Kenya Fund, which focuses on equipping a carpentry vocational school in Africa.