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Dervishians bring Armenia to your fingertips
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-12-29-dervishians-bring-armenia-to-your-fingertips
by Tom Vartabedian
Published: Sunday December 29, 2013
Baykar Dervishian displays a number of items for sale as proprietor of
a business called The Armenian Vendor.
FRAMINGHAM, MASS. - What started out as an only trip to Armenia in
2005 has turned into a burgeoning enterprise for Ed Baykar Dervishian.
Together with his Armenia-born wife Narine, the two have nurtured a
business called "The Armenian Vendor" which travels the circuit at
bazaars and conventions peddling anything and everything under the
native sun.
It's America's answer to Vernissage --- the open-air market you'll
find inside Yerevan --- with merchandise that stretches the gamut from
CDs and DVDs to food, T-shirts, games and promotional items.
On a recent visit to Sts. Vartanantz Church, I stumbled across a
recording of Armen Tigranian's opera "David Beg" which I hadn't heard
since my childhood days and --- get this --- a scented candle with
red, blue and orange wax.
My shopping was far from complete, adding an Armenian flag to replace
one that's seen its better days, a T-shirt featuring a manual
typewriter (nostalgic) and lastly some gift cards from Zadig Orphanage
--- a place after my own heart.
I visited that orphanage during a trip to Armenia and was so enamored
by the children there and the artwork they portrayed that I wound up
sharing my experience with the Armenian press.
On any given day, you'll find the Dervishians tending to business with
three children in tow --- Anna, 7; Tanya, 5, and Natalya, 12 months.
No, they're not for sale though you might think they're part of the
inventory.
It all adds up to a dedicated, hard-working Armenian family, steeped
in the roots of their Armenian ancestry and taking every initiative to
promote it.
It's about a guy who graduated from Lehigh as an engineering major
with a minor in music who saw a need for Armenian commodities and
decided to address it.
Hence their motto: "We bring Armenia to your front door."
"Growing up in New Jersey, there were no local Armenian stories from
which to trade," Baykar recalled. "Moving to New England, I decided to
expand what was already inside the Watertown markets by creating a
website (Armenianvendor.com) where anyone anywhere around the world
could shop effortlessly and buy whatever they wanted. It's been eight
years and has matured immensely on its own."
Behind every successful man stands his woman and Baykar is no
exception. Without his wife, he admits, there's no way this venture
could prosper. Narine worked 15 years in finance and puts the
experience to work here, juggling her day job with three kids, this
business and housekeeping chores.
They've recruit the help of many friends in bringing the products back
from Haiastan and getting them sold at various events. Sponsors also
get a slice of the pie so everyone benefits.
"Many Armenian organizations were skeptical about how we would fit
into their venues," Baykar added. "But now, we're doing picnics and
bazaars all over New England and the Mid-Atlantic area. People tell us
they attend these events just to browse over our product line and see
what they can find."
Besides music and videos, Armenians are hot after tee shirts and
unusual items created by n artisans throughout the world. Though by no
means a Karsh, Dervishian's photos of Armenia are another good sell.
The stories behind the images are free and entertaining. Children's
toys, books and educational items are always up for grabs, especially
during Christmas.
"Our initial intent was to sell products only from Armenia," he said.
"But having them shipped was way too costly. Since Armenia is
landlocked, getting them out of the country became a challenge.
Connections with family and friends facilitated our market."
So he could better help his fellow Armenians, Baykar joined the
Knights of Vartan. He's also been a parish council member at the
Armenian Church of the Holy Translators in Framingham and helped start
the Armenian School there.
What might surprise you about Baykar is his musicianship. He studied
violin in his younger days and went places with his instrument. He was
in Regional and All-State Orchestras in New Jersey along with many pit
orchestras for plays and ensembles. Much of that has taken a back seat
due to time constraints.
People who know him recognize the stories he's waiting to tell, even
if it might interfere with business a tad. He's a genuine resource for
Armenian products, information and events.
There's the one about a bike-a-thon in New York City a few months ago.
A priest called to order 40 shirts from his inventory to outfit the
bikers - two days before the event!
"There was no way I could ship them on time," he said. "It was then
that I discovered the power of the Armenian Network."
Baykar hooked up with Talene Khachadurian, president, New York
Armenian Network, for help. They found a participating biker and got
together along a highway to transfer the shirts and get them into the
proper hands just in time.
The future is today, not tomorrow, for the Dervishians. Depending upon
time, energy and finances, Baykar would love to raise the business
from a local "mom and pop" operation to one with satellite divisions
selling live across America.
The next time you may cross paths with this vendor, drop by and say
"Hye." It just might make your introduction that much more special.
http://www.reporter.am/go/article/2013-12-29-dervishians-bring-armenia-to-your-fingertips
by Tom Vartabedian
Published: Sunday December 29, 2013
Baykar Dervishian displays a number of items for sale as proprietor of
a business called The Armenian Vendor.
FRAMINGHAM, MASS. - What started out as an only trip to Armenia in
2005 has turned into a burgeoning enterprise for Ed Baykar Dervishian.
Together with his Armenia-born wife Narine, the two have nurtured a
business called "The Armenian Vendor" which travels the circuit at
bazaars and conventions peddling anything and everything under the
native sun.
It's America's answer to Vernissage --- the open-air market you'll
find inside Yerevan --- with merchandise that stretches the gamut from
CDs and DVDs to food, T-shirts, games and promotional items.
On a recent visit to Sts. Vartanantz Church, I stumbled across a
recording of Armen Tigranian's opera "David Beg" which I hadn't heard
since my childhood days and --- get this --- a scented candle with
red, blue and orange wax.
My shopping was far from complete, adding an Armenian flag to replace
one that's seen its better days, a T-shirt featuring a manual
typewriter (nostalgic) and lastly some gift cards from Zadig Orphanage
--- a place after my own heart.
I visited that orphanage during a trip to Armenia and was so enamored
by the children there and the artwork they portrayed that I wound up
sharing my experience with the Armenian press.
On any given day, you'll find the Dervishians tending to business with
three children in tow --- Anna, 7; Tanya, 5, and Natalya, 12 months.
No, they're not for sale though you might think they're part of the
inventory.
It all adds up to a dedicated, hard-working Armenian family, steeped
in the roots of their Armenian ancestry and taking every initiative to
promote it.
It's about a guy who graduated from Lehigh as an engineering major
with a minor in music who saw a need for Armenian commodities and
decided to address it.
Hence their motto: "We bring Armenia to your front door."
"Growing up in New Jersey, there were no local Armenian stories from
which to trade," Baykar recalled. "Moving to New England, I decided to
expand what was already inside the Watertown markets by creating a
website (Armenianvendor.com) where anyone anywhere around the world
could shop effortlessly and buy whatever they wanted. It's been eight
years and has matured immensely on its own."
Behind every successful man stands his woman and Baykar is no
exception. Without his wife, he admits, there's no way this venture
could prosper. Narine worked 15 years in finance and puts the
experience to work here, juggling her day job with three kids, this
business and housekeeping chores.
They've recruit the help of many friends in bringing the products back
from Haiastan and getting them sold at various events. Sponsors also
get a slice of the pie so everyone benefits.
"Many Armenian organizations were skeptical about how we would fit
into their venues," Baykar added. "But now, we're doing picnics and
bazaars all over New England and the Mid-Atlantic area. People tell us
they attend these events just to browse over our product line and see
what they can find."
Besides music and videos, Armenians are hot after tee shirts and
unusual items created by n artisans throughout the world. Though by no
means a Karsh, Dervishian's photos of Armenia are another good sell.
The stories behind the images are free and entertaining. Children's
toys, books and educational items are always up for grabs, especially
during Christmas.
"Our initial intent was to sell products only from Armenia," he said.
"But having them shipped was way too costly. Since Armenia is
landlocked, getting them out of the country became a challenge.
Connections with family and friends facilitated our market."
So he could better help his fellow Armenians, Baykar joined the
Knights of Vartan. He's also been a parish council member at the
Armenian Church of the Holy Translators in Framingham and helped start
the Armenian School there.
What might surprise you about Baykar is his musicianship. He studied
violin in his younger days and went places with his instrument. He was
in Regional and All-State Orchestras in New Jersey along with many pit
orchestras for plays and ensembles. Much of that has taken a back seat
due to time constraints.
People who know him recognize the stories he's waiting to tell, even
if it might interfere with business a tad. He's a genuine resource for
Armenian products, information and events.
There's the one about a bike-a-thon in New York City a few months ago.
A priest called to order 40 shirts from his inventory to outfit the
bikers - two days before the event!
"There was no way I could ship them on time," he said. "It was then
that I discovered the power of the Armenian Network."
Baykar hooked up with Talene Khachadurian, president, New York
Armenian Network, for help. They found a participating biker and got
together along a highway to transfer the shirts and get them into the
proper hands just in time.
The future is today, not tomorrow, for the Dervishians. Depending upon
time, energy and finances, Baykar would love to raise the business
from a local "mom and pop" operation to one with satellite divisions
selling live across America.
The next time you may cross paths with this vendor, drop by and say
"Hye." It just might make your introduction that much more special.