LEWISTON (NEWS CENTER)-- Walking into Dianna Pozdniakov's shop on Lisbon Street in Lewiston feels like walking into a high end boutique- and that's no coincidence.
The architect turned luxury handbag designer left her life in Manhattan, New York to come to Lewiston with her husband three and a half years ago to pursue her dream- one that was modeled after the power piece she always felt she was missing as a working woman on the go.
While working in NYC, Pozdniakov says she was so frustrated with the amount of bags she had to carry every day and referred to it as "the infamous three bag schlep."
"I had my husband's masculine lap top bag, my tote bag with my lunch. And my small leather bag for my wallet, my keys, and my phone," Pozdniakov said. "I just did not feel pulled together."
Pozdniakov officially launched her line this year and chose a name that would always remind her of the people who moved from the Ukraine to America, all to empower her.
"The name of the company has a very special place in my heart. Sofia Fima are my parents. Sofia is my mom and Fima is my dad."
The bags are Italian leather, American-made lining, and all assembled in the USA in a variety of sizes and colors with removable storage inserts.
When she realized how much time and effort her start up would take, that's when she decided on Maine with its extra space and calmer lifestyle- plus Lewiston was a homecoming for her husband, Kevin.
"There may be a question of why this product in Lewiston, and I say well why not? People really want to see good things happen here, and growth and businesses succeed," Pozdniakov said.
But as much as she believes in the city she now calls home, she sees the unfulfilled potential.
"There are blocks where there are buildings sitting empty."
She'd like to see others get help from the city or state with incentives like temporarily free or reduced rent of retail space so that small business owners have the time to build up the financial stability needed to grow roots and help the community thrive.
"Maybe it would drive people to take that jump, to take that leap of faith and not think 'I could never start a business,' or 'I could never do this because the capital, you know, the finances are holding me back.'"
For someone like Dianna Pozdniakov, being held back from your biggest dream is not a long term investment.