Student by day, entrepreneur by night
Small entrepreneurs make it big at Bethel University with dreams of expanding beyond campus.
By Sofia Tereshchenko, writer
Anna Petrov spun around. It is a Thursday night at the Ukrainian Center on Main Street in Minneapolis. Petrov takes a night away from Bethel University to enjoy swing dancing from 10 p.m-2 a.m. There’s jazz music, no phones in sight, and a lively atmosphere. Her busy life on campus as a business major and psychology minor and managing her small business on top of all that.
Petrov’s bad experience in a nail salon, paying $60 for a 20-minute manicure, made her want to show people how good Russian manicures are. Petrov created the Instagram account @an.nails to promote her business and has five clients a week. Each appointment ranges from an hour and a half to two hours. This is located in her Lissner Hall suite.
“I wanted to show everyone the right way to do nails, and show them what good quality is.” –Anna Petrov, entrepreneur
Petrov does each nail with precision, each nail she does she starts with the clear gel base. Then she puts on the color of your choice, spreading it evenly around the nail so there are no bumps and imperfections. This is a long process that ensures the quality of her work and shows how well the products she brought from Russia work. Petrov charges $30 for a manicure and $5–10 extra for a design. Through the week she makes a solid base of $175 a week, without tips included in this.
“I wanted to show everyone the right way to do nails, and show them what good quality is,” Petrov said.
Petrov plans to go back to Russia this upcoming J-Term, and also plans to raise her qualifications for doing nails and get a certificate in Russia. She wants to open up a Russian studio in the Twin Cities that will include doing nails, hair, brows, and lashes, but all with Russian techniques.
During her sessions, Petrov makes sure clients are comfortable and offers her preferences, and makes sure to know the clients also. Petrov says that during the sessions clients will open up to her about their lives and school. Clients will sometimes be easy and know what they want, while others are said to be difficult and indecisive.
Petrov enjoys being in her room and lying down to take a quick nap in her room before her next class or even just watching a movie in her room. All her roommates live co-independently with each other, she says. Petrov will usually go sit in the living room, on the brown sofa while music plays from the TV. While her roommates hang out in their rooms working on their studies. Mackenzie, Abbie, Mari, Petrov’s roommates, always make sure to introduce themselves. Especially when clients are around.
“It is interesting to see all the familiar faces around campus coming to Anna in our suite. I think it’s cool what she’s doing.” Mackenzie Bryson said.
Petrov has grown up with an older sister, Veronica Petrov. Though she always wished for younger siblings to pick on, she can always joke around with her friends. Her closest relationships are with the guys back in Russia, near Moscow. She would often be out with them all day, sometimes rollerblading.
Petrov and her two closest friends, Egor and Mark, would often find themselves together at church, involved in a music group where Petrov played the drums, and often traveling together. Now that she has moved, Petrov does similar activities with the guys on her floor in Lissner Hall. Going out to eat, watching football, and participating in Bethel events.
“They are just like my brothers,” Petrov said.
Her mom, Marina Petrov, who stayed back in Russia while Petrov studies abroad in America, has pushed Anna to do well in school and has worried about how she will get by with a business on her hands. This motivated Petrov to go even further into investing in new gels, equipment and colors.
“Okay, I’ll show you, I’ll show you that I can do this.” –Anna Petrov, entrepreneur
Her mom’s made Petrov more motivated to show how much she can accomplish. Her mom has always said, “Anna you work too hard,” which pushed Petrov to show her mom she’s right. Petrov’s decision to study abroad in America at Bethel University was mostly for her parents, but also for her dreams to open a business. “Anna this is the place for you,” her parents said. She trusted them without even visiting the university herself.
“Okay, I’ll show you, I’ll show you that I can do this,” Petrov said.
In 2018, Petrov became a lifeguard: her first American job. At 16, the job made her fall in love with working. Her love for working turned into her choice of being a business major with an emphasis on innovation and entrepreneurship.
“I love working. I love business. I love how harmonically it works with me as a person. I am excited to pursue my passion.” –Anna Petrov, entrepreneur
Her manicures once lasted four hours, but are now down to an hour and a half. The efficiency of her manicures has made her happy, and she sees her progress in each set.
“I love working. I love business,” Petrov said. “I love how harmonically it works with me as a person. I am excited to pursue my passion.”
