Malva & Salminj Jewelry in Bar - a story about a jewelry workshop in Montenegro opened by Russian-speaking relocants

In Montenegro, as in many other countries, there are more and more Russian-speaking entrepreneurs who have decided to open their own business abroad. These people bring with them their talents and skills, introducing into a new location not only professionalism and traditions but also bold ideas that are sometimes lacking in such a small country.

Our portal meets such people, conducts personal conversations to reveal the stories of their relocation, to learn about the difficulties they faced, and where they draw inspiration for their work. 

In this article, we will tell you about two talented jewelers whose creations today adorn not only the residents of Bar and Montenegro but also attract the attention of admirers of beauty from different parts of the world.

Contents

Malva & Salminj Jewelry

Origins

Workshop

Bureaucracy and legal aspects

Two masters under one roof

Language barrier

Plans, prospects

Conclusion: Where beauty is born

Malva & Salminj Jewelry

The jewelry workshop Malva & Salminj is cozily located not far from the very center of Bar. Here, two masters create – Evgeniy Salmin and Nadiia Akulenko, with whom we will get acquainted and have a conversation today. 

The atmosphere of the workshop is quite remarkable and deserves special attention: the working spirit coexists with the bright creative energy of the owners. Machines, technical devices, soldering tools, microscopes, and metal scraps are harmoniously combined with display stands and catalogs showcasing finished jewelry: rings, earrings, bracelets, chains.

From time to time, clients also stop by – some just to admire, some to order something unique, and others to repair a beloved item. As for us, comfortably settled on the couch with a cup of coffee, we began our conversation to the sounds of rock music quietly coming from the speakers.

Origins

Although Evgeniy and Nadiia now work together, they came into the profession and to Montenegro in completely different ways. Evgeniy arrived from Russia, with an art school background and many years of professional experience. Moreover, he was introduced to jewelry by his father, making this a story of a true dynasty and the preservation of tradition.

Nadiia is originally from Ukraine, and her husband is from Saint Petersburg. Unfortunately, the tragic events of 2022 turned their lives upside down: they simply had nowhere to live together. They had to look for some “neutral” territory, which eventually turned out to be Montenegro.

Our protagonists met online: Evgeniy was looking for students to share his skills with, and Nadiia wanted to improve hers, as she was relatively new to the profession. Their cooperation eventually led to the opening of a joint business. But let’s hear their words.

Evgeniy: When all these events began, I packed a bag with tools and left for Kazakhstan. There I got a job in a workshop, worked for a month, and then went to Montenegro.  

The first goal was simply to leave the country. Well, like most people. And then I had to figure things out step by step. 

I also considered Serbia. But then I thought: “Okay, when else will I get to live by the sea?”

I came here with the same bag of tools – absolute necessity! And the first bench I put together right at home. Just something to get started. In fact, it’s still standing. An artifact! And from there, little by little…

Nadiia: Yes… It turned out that a person is capable of changing a lot.

Moving to another country and starting a new business from scratch? It’s not as scary as it seems. Desire is the key. And learning a new profession at 38 is also not difficult. The main thing is determination. 

Workshop

In any business, experience and desire alone are not enough – to succeed, you need to solve many practical issues. Where to get materials? How to find suitable premises? But our heroes quickly found the most important thing – a reliable partner in each other, with whom they could not only share their daily work but also move toward a common goal.

So how did this very workshop, where we are now, come to life? And how did you handle the technical difficulties?

Nadiia: As for the equipment – this is mostly Evgeniy’s merit. He brought most of it with him from the start. The base for getting started was already assembled. But materials and consumables cannot be bought in Montenegro at all. There are no stores, nothing! And in Belgrade, the prices are cosmic. So, after long searches and trying different options, we now bring all consumables from Kyiv. Luckily, metal ingots are available here. And sometimes locals bring scrap they collect on the beach.

Evgeniy: Finding a space was also interesting. I had my first student here. A young guy. We worked at home. But that was terrible, of course! An apartment is not meant for such work: dust, noise, little space. Then I had another student. Wonderful (smiles – editor’s note). I realized that I urgently needed a proper space.

Eventually, we were offered to move into this space and pay part of the rent. By the way, it was originally intended to be a coworking space! Interesting neighborhood under one roof, right?)
Imagine: people quietly working on their computers, and I’m all covered in shavings, the smell of gasoline, the compressor running. Later, Nadiia joined in, we set up two benches. Clients started coming in… In short, the landlord eventually came to us and said, guys, that’s it. Impossible to stay with you. So, we agreed that the place would remain entirely ours. All official certification documents and other papers were made for this very premises.

Are the landlords locals? How is the communication with them?

Evgeniy: Yes, Montenegrins. So far, no problems at all: if something needs fixing or other everyday issues, everything is resolved quickly. And we fulfill our obligations strictly – pay everything on time, etc. 

Bureaucracy and legal aspects

When it comes to organizing your own business, especially in another country, there’s no avoiding bureaucracy. But sometimes behind the complicated terms and paperwork, there are not only difficulties but also unexpectedly pleasant moments. Nadiia shared her impressions of this stage.

Nadiia: Our registration is standard – “D.O.O.” We got our license at the local metrology office. “Metrology” sounds intimidating, but in fact, we were pleasantly surprised by the reasonable and kind women working there: they didn’t make things harder, only helped, guided, and supported us.

Before us, 49 companies with a jewelry license were registered in Montenegro. We were the 50th – they even congratulated us!

And inspections?

You won’t believe it! We haven’t had a single inspection yet! Oh, I might jinx it… 

Then it turned out we had to get various permits from the municipality, fiscalize the company, and deal with other details. We spent about half a year running around with papers, and then everything calmed down. You just have to go through this once.

Two masters under one roof

So now that you’ve set up all processes and are fully operational. Tell us about your workflow. Do you work together or is each of you an independent unit? Who are your clients? 

Evgeniy: We are two different masters working under one roof, each with our own direction, our own style. Of course, this didn’t happen overnight – it was a certain journey. First came training, then we started making something together. But every true artist wants to express themselves individually. So yes, sometimes we help each other technically, but more often it’s individual work, and sometimes even healthy competition arises, allowing us to show our best. 

Nadiia: Yes, each of us has our own collections, and our styles are completely different. Evgeniy is more of a versatile, impeccable classic. Incredibly impeccable. His works usually attract older, more established people. Though sometimes a rebel awakens in him, capable of creating something wild and non-standard.

My style is more of a craft. Such jewelry mostly appeals to the younger generation.

Evgeniy: Yes, Nadiia has a more “rebellious” handwriting. With my classical training, for a long time, I couldn’t overcome internal barriers to, for example, make a crooked ring or use a rough texture. Though now I sometimes enjoy combining something delicate, like topaz, with uneven textures, darkening, and similar techniques.

Do Montenegrins come to you? What is the market like?

Evgeniy: Most often, our clients are Russian-speaking relocants. It’s hard for locals to immediately embrace new trends and trust new people. But the picture is slowly changing. More and more often, locals come in, showing interest. 

Nadiia: When we create collections, we put them up for open sale. This usually happens through the internet. We have a website, Instagram, Facebook. And thanks to globalization, our works have already been purchased in Western Europe and overseas. We are not limited to Montenegro. 

Evgeniy: I also want to add that the specifics of work are very different from what it was like in Russia. Completely different demand. In Russia, gold chains were extremely popular, but here this type of jewelry is not much in demand. Or take silver, for example. It used to be seen as a kind of second-grade material. But now it’s a wonderful material that clients love if you present it beautifully and come up with something creative. 

I have a feeling that if we had transferred our collection to my previous workshop, it’s very doubtful it would have been popular.

Nadiia: As for Montenegrins specifically… At first, they didn’t quite understand what we were doing here and why we were here at all. But now we already have Montenegrin customers. They find with us what they can’t find in stores – original designs. That’s exactly what they love.

Language barrier

And communication with locals? Are there any difficulties? Do you know the language?

Nadiia: I didn’t specifically study the language. Montenegrin is similar to Ukrainian. So, I feel quite comfortable with my level of knowledge. We manage to explain ourselves and understand each other. 

Evgeniy: My wife and I attended language courses for a while, to have some base. But the best way is simply to speak. In general, there are no major problems. If something is too complex, there’s always a translator app.

Plans, prospects

Evgeniy: Thanks to the internet, you can strive for a point where it doesn’t really matter where you are physically. This is probably the direction we should take – scaling.

Nadiia: From global goals – to get a license in the European Union. Then we could attend professional European exhibitions, expanding sales worldwide. In the foreseeable future, I will be moving from Montenegro to one of the EU countries. 

Evgeniy: So, dear readers, don’t forget to support us with your subscriptions on social media! Also, thanks to Nepokretnost.me portal for the opportunity to talk. And we, in turn, will continue doing our best to create interesting and bright jewelry – feel free to drop by if you’re in Bar!

Evgeniy’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/salmin.jewelry

Nadiia’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/lasgaros.workshop
Official website of Nadiia’s jewelry collections: https://lasgaros.com/

Conclusion: Where beauty is born

The story of Jewelry Workshop Malva & Salminj - is an example of how difficulties can become a growth point, and love for one’s craft unites people regardless of their origin. Evgeniy and Nadiia found their place in Montenegro, and their workshop in Bar has become a small island of creativity and inspiration.

If you are also planning to start your own business, find a cozy corner to live in, or simply learn more about Montenegro, the Nepokretnost.me portal will be your reliable guide. Here you will find not only useful information but also inspiring stories of people who managed to start from scratch.