When Ivet Ivanova’s husband was transferred to Greenville from Bulgaria with his job 14 years ago, Ivanova hoped to find an outlet in her new home in which to continue her passion for European-style contemporary home design. Growing up immersed in the contemporary style of her native Europe and drawing on her 20+ years expertise in interior conceptualization and design, Ivanova looked to no avail for an Upstate furniture outlet that supplied such pieces. Forced to make the drive to Atlanta, Ivanova saw an opening in the Greenville market and so began her dream to bring a bit of European flair to the Upstate via a full-service furniture and design outlet. She would eventually realize her dream in February 2004 with the opening of her furniture and design emporium, BOGARI European Contemporary Furniture.
“Eight years ago when we contemplated opening BOGARI, we first did some careful homework and a comprehensive market analysis to get a big picture of what would be our store’s potential success,” says Ivanova. “Taking into account the continued revitalization going on in downtown, along with a strong international business presence in the Upstate and a marked absence of Euro-style contemporary furniture outlets in Greenville, we felt our store would fill a unique niche in the community.”
In the 6,500-square-foot showroom, BOGARI boasts a comprehensive selection of both residential and commercial furniture and décor options, including seating, dining, sleeping, office, entertainment and office pieces, along with a selection of lighting and accessories. More than 40 different furniture vendors are represented in the store from more than seven European countries: Italy, Germany, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, England and Poland. Ivanova has subsequently brought in quality pieces from a few renowned Canadian and American-based vendors as well. BOGARI clients also receive personal design assistance from a specialized design team, trained and ready to work closely in conjunction with local builders and developers and homeowners’ personal styles to truly promote an urban lifestyle in Greenville.
Says Ivanova, “At BOGARI, we offer a full array of products and services and are available to assist homeowners at all stages, from initial home construction to renovations to simply helping them select the best piece of furniture to complete their home décor.”
Ivanova started the store with a host of European-made furniture options, many from vendors she’d previously worked with in her interior design practice in Bulgaria. Her initial challenge in breaking through into the Greenville market was the area’s more conservative roots in traditional style furnishings and a reluctance to branch out to a more urban look. The international community base within Greenville and the Upstate did ease the process, as it comprised the majority of BOGARI’s clientele in the beginning.
Leticia and Mike Kurtz, from Mexico and Germany respectively, first visited BOGARI after traversing Greenville in search of furniture with a definite European flair. “We immediately fell in love with the selection and quality of the furniture and accessories, as well as the outstanding customer service,” says Mrs. Kurtz. “With such a growing international community here in the Upstate, there is a tremendous desire for such Euro-inspired looks. From design assistance to even a simple mirror or décor item, I’ve recommended BOGARI to many of my international friends and they’ve had great experiences as well!” In fact, the Kurtzs even enlisted Ivanova’s design expertise in completing their European-style dream home in Greenville.
“Though the international citizens here represent a strong part of our client base, we must also bring in those native to the area to ensure our success,” says Ivanova. “Over the last few years, more locals are taking to this design concept than ever before, thanks in part to more exposure and a keener awareness of contemporary design through various media outlets. Attitudes are changing.”
Ivanova says that from HGTV-type programming to reality shows and even the evening newscasts have inspired homeowners to be more open to contemporary motifs.
Changing lifestyles, the versatility of European contemporary pieces and excellence in craftsmanship offer prospective clients the value and convenience paramount today. “The clean, uncluttered, minimalistic lines of the contemporary style coincides nicely with the day’s sleek new high-tech electronics and a changing lifestyle that emphasizes a more hectic, yet streamlined pace,” says Ivanova. Also, with the recent trend toward downsizing and making the most of smaller, more urban spaces, the versatility of the contemporary pieces offer both the look and the functionality required to maximize square-footage. Ivanova says that many of her showroom pieces are multi-functional and are practical choices for efficiency in downtown condos and other small areas. Specifically, she speaks of a Danish-made sleeper sofa equipped with mattress-grade springs that offers the utmost in comfort; an Italian dining table with built-in leaves that can double the surface size with a few simple movements; and a coffee table that can be lifted to seven different levels, creating a dining table for a small area or for extra seating when needed.
But, according to Ivanova, one of the most important selling features is the European tradition of quality in craftsmanship, materials and design – a tradition that still holds strong today and has expanded to include the green market as well.
“All European countries put great emphasis on the green product, and they have always adhered to strict, environmentally-responsible production standards while maintaining the highest quality in their products by using water-based polishes and glues, recycled materials and no harsh pollutants,” says Ivanova. “While some states here in the U.S. are beginning to regulate formaldehyde emissions from furniture with compliance standards for retailers, we carry our product lines with confidence. The materials used in the furniture we offer in the store are compliant, and we continue in our efforts to pay strong attention to environmentally-friendly production practices.”
Though the economic downturn did slow business beginning in 2007, BOGARI held on during difficult times and even realized a 20 percent increase in sales in 2010. “I am honored by the fact that BOGARI survived the economic downturn, especially when so many other furniture stores, some in business longer than us, were forced to close their doors. During that time, we made smart business moves and revisited our business plan to eliminate any overhead, but I credit our tenacity to our selection of quality products and services, our loyal clientele, and our ever-expanding local and regional presence,” says Ivanova.
She also cites BOGARI’s strong regional pull as a motivation in considering possible future expansion of the showroom.
“People feel more comfortable with their purchase decision if they’ve had the opportunity to sit, touch and feel the actual piece before committing to add it to their home. We understand that and are looking toward a potential future expansion in showroom square-footage to bring even more pieces in for display. Additionally, we’ve witnessed more and more people traveling to the store from surrounding counties and even other regional cities such as Asheville and Charlotte. Of course we’ll do our homework before reaching a final decision, but the opportunity to expand into a new market and extend our showroom capabilities has definite appeal.”