When does the development of an entrepreneurial mindset really start? Usually at a very early age ... When it was Rebecca Udvanc when she was still in kindergarten, she used to bake cakes with her mother and sister and (successfully) sell them to her relatives. It was only years later that she found out that her mother had secretly slipped money into her relatives' pockets to buy these products and give the children a chance to feel what it was like to make, sell and earn. During the holidays, she and her sister set up their own stall in front of their father's shop, addressing each customer and selling home-made fimo necklaces.
Perhaps this is a way of nurturing the entrepreneurial spirit that Rebecca felt strongly about in grammar school. She combined this with for the love of beeswhich is in her genes - beekeeping has been in their family for four generations. Together with a classmate, they developed a lip balm made from honey and entered the Popri entrepreneurship competition. They won the national competition, the world competition Genius Olympiad and a plaque for an outstanding second place.
Clearly, there is an opportunity for something big ...
When two boutique shops expressed interest in selling her products, Rebecca said firmly: "This is it. I have to try it!" That team is key was also evident in her case, as the real growth came when she invited a classmate and an acquaintance to join her Majo Gazvoda. She met her as an opponent in the Popri competition, and today they are an unbeatable duo.
The beginnings were ... naive. "We didn't know what it meant to have a business. Maybe that was the advantage - because we didn't know, we just started. Naive, but we did." The beauty of ignorance is also the absence of doubts and misgivings. You just go, not knowing that it is difficult. You don't even know what you don't know.
The initial seven cosmetic products made from honey have been reduced to just three key products. At first, they designed the website themselves, did the graphic design themselves, developed the products themselves, sold them themselves, manufactured them themselves, packaged and shipped them themselves... After just one year in business, they realised that it wasn't going to work.
"Certainly one of the mistakes we made in our beginnings was that we tried to do everything ourselves. So you focus on a million things, and none of them are really great in the end." Well, it wasn't the best decision to spend almost all the initial capital on a nice logo and packaging design. "I mean, it was nice, but it wasn't smart at the time."
They made one key decision: 'Let's decide one thing - are we a production or are we a brand? What can we be better at?" Given that none of them had a chemistry degree, it was quickly clear - they know how to build a brand, they have good ideas. They would rather leave the manufacturing and production to the experts.
How do they come up with ideas for new products? "Ideas abound, just not enough time."
So, a little over a year ago, Rebeka came up with the idea of combining the benefits of protection creams and moisturisers in one product. That would have been fine if she hadn't added: "Make it solid." "That's not possible," was the first response of the pharmacist who helps her to put her ideas into real form. "We can make a liquid version and add oils. But you can't do it in solid form." But Rebecca persisted - what if we add this, what if you try this, what if we ... After a year of development and several refined versions, they have come up with an innovative product that is unprecedented on the market. See more about the product at this link >>
Bravo! They are Acrobats - testing and pushing the boundaries of what is possible. They believe it can be done. They persevere.
What are the biggest challenges? "Getting visibility. The cosmetics market is oversaturated, and people are at every turn bombed with a myriad of products on offer. How to get attention, how to get trust and how to have a long-term relationship with the customer? The importance of a good product is emphasised again and again. Of course it is important. But if people do not hear about it, nothing will happen. With limited finances, it is always a challenge at the beginning to ensure that the marketing is successful enough to sell the products. So far, we are using all the company's income for marketing and further development."
They are proud to have bought honey from local beekeepers from the very beginning and are generally very supportive of their work.
Rebecca, why entrepreneurship? "I read somewhere that people choose to or 9 to 5 job or building your own empire, and I decided to try this other one. Otherwise..." she continues with a humble smile, "Entrepreneurs tend to avoid this one. 9 to 5 jobsand we end up working from morning till night. But it means a lot to me to create something of my own."
What gives her motivation in the most difficult moments? "Satisfied customer feedback. When we solve a problem for a customer. Most of all, I like the feeling of creating something. The feeling that I am contributing something to people, to the world. It gives me a special satisfaction, without which I would find it hard to work. It drives me on. Where it will take me remains to be seen..."
Bravo, Rebeka and Maja, you have combined entrepreneurship and love for beekeeping to create a quality Slovenian brand! Beesmetic >>
