Dreams, audacity, transformation, chocolate, smiles, inspiration. These are the words that describe Darina Zlatarska, a young lady “close to 35” as she herself puts it. A few years ago she had the courage to drop a successful career that was sure to take her up to the highest professional level to follow her dream and start a business of her own from scratch. So, her life was cleaved into two halves – before and after the transformation. Before: development in the sphere of corporate training at several major international companies, reaching the position of director. After: a turnabout in her life, replacing a life of luxury for… messages in chocolate. You are probably wondering by now what these messages in chocolate are? They are what Darina’s business is all about. When words prove futile, you can turn to delicious chocolates to say “I love you”, “Will you marry me?”, with a photograph or any other original idea you may have. Because of her unorthodox career change, Darina recently won a contest organized by a recruitment agency for “The most interesting professions in Bulgaria”. But what triggered this transformation?

“Perhaps I should go back in time a little. Five-six years ago my husband and I had to leave for an Arab country,” Darina says. “And all of a sudden, from a woman living in the vortex of my profession, I found I had no commitments and all the time in the word. That was the turning point when I had to make a decision what to do with my life professionally. For years I had wanted to set up a business of my own, but had always waited for the right moment. And in fact, as we were living in Syria and were there when the war broke out, I realized life was too short and you never know what might happen tomorrow, that if you want something badly enough you have to do it now because there may not be a tomorrow. When we came back to Bulgaria I set about making my ideas and dreams come true.”

That was how Darina set up her own small chocolate candy company that conveyed messages suited to any occasion:

“Chocolates with a message are suitable for any professional or personal occasions,” the young lady explains. “But customers usually order them for big events like weddings or birthdays. Some order chocolates to surprise their loved ones. We make what we call chocolate puzzles – each of the candies has a letter or a word on them and the person they are sent to has to decipher the message.”

Darina adds that people send all sorts of unconventional messages in chocolate, including poems or pranks that can only be understood by the person they are intended for. As it turns out, 90 percent of Darina’s customers are ladies. She has an explanation for this: women are more innovative and are more inclined to shop online. “Women love surfing the net, looking for interesting or original things. Whereas with men things are simpler. It is only when they see something specific or when they know exactly what they are looking for that they buy it,” Darina says. “What I want is to use chocolate to bring a smile to people’s faces and it works. Everybody is made happy by the small gestures they exchange.” Because chocolates and love are both sweet and give pleasure. The very first thing that springs to mind when one meets Darina Zlatarska is the association with Juliette Binoche from the film Chocolate, based on Joanne Harris’ novel. But does Darina see any similarity between herself and the character from the movie?

“I’d say no. I myself am more pragmatic, with my feet firmly planted on the ground. In future I would like to see myself as someone with a successful business of my own.”

Darina Zlatarska’s dream is one day, when she is sure her business is going well, to be an inspiration to people to change their way of life, to have the courage to follow their dreams. She says when you launch a small business, emotional support from family and friends is very important. She herself finds all the support she needs from her family. And if the secret of what makes chocolate so enticing lies in the way it is made and offered, what is the secret of a successful business?

“My own recipe of success is to be different, to offer something that is unique, beautiful and refined. But also – to work hard and never give up your dreams, to never lose focus. Because what matters are not short-term results, but your vision over the years,” says Darina Zlatarska.

English version: Milena Daynova