In the 1920s Soviet Russia instituted its New Economic Policy (NEP), permitting a certain degree of private enterprise. A new breed of Soviet citizen, the wily entrepreneur, emerged, wheedling the public to buy wares of often dubious quality. Many less sophisticated sellers also took to the streets in an attempt to peddle their goods, and for a while the cities were once again full of all manner of colorful hawkers.

One of the most popular products of this era was the bublik,