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Generations of Bulgarians have proved their ingenuity and entrepreneurship away from home. Bulgarians are proud of their achievements. As worthy successors today, younger generations of Bulgarians are carriers of the active spirit of self-expression. They prove that Bulgarians are capable of quick adaptation to new environments and they work hard to defend their dreams.
Given the current economic crisis, everyone is forced to seek new ways of earning living. In order to fulfill a dream, ambition, courage and innovation are essential. Most importantly, you have to never stop dreaming and have the strength to carry on.
Many young Bulgarians live in Cleveland, Ohio, who seek to express their gifts. Even though everyone has different aspirations, talents, and difficulties; deep in our hearts, we always bring a piece of Bulgaria with us. Perhaps that is why the idea of maintaining your roots (ethnic/cultural identity) is fueled by the relationship with the homeland, even while trying to achieve your goals and dreams in a new country.
Gergana Valkova graduated with Bachelor's degree of International Economic Relations from the University of Economics - Varna in 2004. Her first visit to the USA was in the summer of 2002, during a student exchange program for four months in Destin, FL. During the summer of 2003, she came for another four months to Kitty Hawk, NC. She arrived in Cleveland for an internship program with a duration of one and a half years. She interned at the Holiday Inn, she worked in all departments, but mainly at the front desk. During that time she met her future husband, who still lives in the city with his family, and later on she married him. The internship program got its natural continuation, and Gergana, as a wife of Mikhail Megresh, remains in Cleveland.
As representatives of the younger generation, we possess the courage to try to create contemporary businesses to achieve our goals of showing something more attractive and connecting different people from all over the world. As one family can be created and built on the basis of mutual love between people from different nationalities, in the same way businesses also can bring together people from different places around the world. What better and more beautiful way of getting to know the other nations than through jewelry and accessories, delighting everyone! Since human beings were created, all aspire toward beauty, and elegant accessories are an addition to our appearance.
Gergana, can you please tell us something about your first years in Cleveland?
I arrived in Cleveland on the 31st of May 2005 for an internship program at Holiday Inn that lasted until December 2006, and I am still working there. I had met with Misha in February 2006 when I went to Bally's fitness center. We were introduced by our mutual friends. Misha proposed to me on June 9th, 2007 during my parents' visit to America. It happened in a Russian restaurant where our families met for the first time. We got married on the 7th of July 2007, before my parents went back to Bulgaria. The three 7's are for good luck.
How did you start and on what level are you today in your career and education?
I started as a trainee in Holiday Inn, and when my internship was over, they hired me on full-time job as a front desk clerk. I started to study for a Master's degree of Business Administration at Cleveland State University in the beginning of 2008, and I should graduate in 2010. After getting a degree from here, I am hoping to find better job with more perspectives for professional growth.
Do you think that in the United States you have more opportunities for growth and achievement of your goals and dreams
Yes, definitely I think that here I have much higher chances to succeed and to achieve my dreams. As an example, I can show the beginning of one of our ideas. At the end of 2008, my husband and I opened in one of the local malls a small jewelry store. My husband named it Gergana's Couture, which pleased me a lot. A few months later we opened a web site: www.gerganas-couture.com . We sell unique and contemporary jewelry imported from Bulgaria and Europe. Because our styles and designs are different, we decided that our jewelry would be interesting for American customers. All jewelry is handmade and some of them are single items.
Do you think entrepreneurship is more pronounced among the young, and is it true for the Bulgarians in USA?
Yes, I believe that entrepreneurship is more pronounced among young people because we have more energy, desire and aspiration to prove ourselves. Young people have boldness and this quality is definitely necessary for entrepreneurship. Bulgarians, as a group, are very stubborn. They struggle and are enterprising. They have proved these qualities not only here in the U.S. but worldwide.
Misha, could you tell us something about yourself?
I have lived in the United States for 10 years, arrived in Cleveland with my parents in 1999 from Ukraine. My sister lived here since 1997. I graduated from Polytechnic University in Donetsk in 1995 - a computer engineer. In the United States I received Sysco CCNA certification for network computer systems (computer network engineer). I work at a computer company in the sales department.
Is it wonderful being married to a Bulgarian? What is different in Gergana that attracted you?
Yes, definitely, our family life with Gergana is very light and pleasant. She is a gorgeous wife. We get along very well. We love and hold one another. She takes very good care of me and together we are very happy. Gergana attracted me with her kindness.
Misha, you visited Bulgaria for first time in the summer of 2008. Did it meet with your expectations? What most impressed you?
The trip and our stay in Bulgaria have been an amazing experience for me. I liked Bulgaria very much and it definitely surpassed my expectations. Gergana with her parents showed me around their native region - Gabrovo, Dryanovo, Veliko Turnovo. We went on holiday at the seaside, visited Varna, Golden Sands, Albena, Burgas and Sunny Beach. What most impressed me was the incredibly beautiful scenery, and I was fascinated by the Bulgarian cuisine and the brandy "Sliven's Pearl". I met and became friend with a very hardworking and wonderful people.
When did the idea to try your own business begin? Did your trip to Bulgaria influence your decision to start the business?
Our idea for own business was born while we were in Bulgaria in August 2008. We liked very much the Bulgarian jewelry that is different and has a unique design. It comes in a wide variety of colors and styles. It influenced our decision to try it as a family business in the U.S. We decided to present our jewelry to customers because of its interesting, unusual and elegant design. We were hoping that the people here will be interested in these exquisite jewels that are different from those offered on the local market.
Typically, each beginning has been accompanied by difficulties, but with much enthusiasm. With what will you remember your beginning?
As of the beginning, we decided to open a small retail location in a local shopping mall to see whether there would be interest from American customers in Bulgarian jewelry and accessories. On October 1st, 2008, we opened the store and named it Gergana's Couture. In the beginning it was very difficult because nobody knew us and we had days with not even one sale. Over time, however, people learned about our jewelry and liked it. Especially around the Christmas holidays, we were selling a lot and many customers were buying gifts for relatives and friends, and were recommending us to their friends. Because of the economic crisis people are not buying so much and that is why we decided to create a website and to sell our wonderful jewelry online. That was more comfortable for both of us as we are both working. We closed the store at the end of 2008 and in early March 2009 we opened our website: www.gerganas-couture.com, where everyone is welcome to visit and shop comfortably.
Nowadays online shopping has been widely advocated. What can consumers find on your web site? How does your jewelry stand out from other products on the market?
Nowadays, indeed, many people prefer to shop online to save time. That's why we decided to try this type of business and created our website. There we offer much modern Bulgarian and European jewelry with unique designs at affordable prices in a pleasant and relaxing atmosphere. On Gergana's Couture web site, we give a guarantee of high quality for our jewelry. We strive to meet the needs and wishes of all customers who have different tastes. Our collection of jewelry is very chic. We offer a wide variety of jewelry and accessories for women, men and children. Our collection includes products made from beads, shells, wood, precious metals, glass beads, natural stones, leather and ceramics. We have many discounts and sales, and currently we offer free shipping in the U.S. on all purchases over $20.
What would you say to the readers of the newspaper Bulgaria Now for entrepreneurship today?
We would like to tell the readers of the newspaper Bulgaria Now to follow their dreams and desires and to be more enterprising in their quest for expression. The economic situation is not very good, but we believe that everything will improve and get back to normal over time. Every beginning is difficult, but with perseverance, faith and hard work, anyone can achieve the most cherished dreams.
When work and ambition are combined with a little luck and much perseverance, all ideas can find fulfillment. You have created the basis for your small business in a connection with distant Bulgaria. What would you like for your business to be able to succeed and to continue to further develop your design?
We wish ourselves luck and success in the family business, but also more visitors and buyers of our beautiful Bulgarian unique jewelry. We hope that the readers will gladly consider the proposed collection on our web site: www.gerganas-couture.com and will make choices for themselves or relatives. To all readers of the newspaper Bulgaria Now we want to wish much health, good luck and may all of their dreams come true! Every person can achieve whatever he or she wishes! | 
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