Zvonimir Franić
Episode · #370
MISLIŠTE Zvonimir Franić
Guest Zvonimir FranićHosted by Sandro KraljevićMay 3, 2026
Zvonimir Franić
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Zvonimir Franić started his salon a decade ago in the midst of an economic crisis, a decision he describes as both youthful recklessness and calculated courage. He returned from training at Tony & Guy in London with a clear vision, not just of what he wanted to build, but crucially, of what he *refused* to be. This contrarian approach to setting a new standard in Croatian hairdressing eventually led him to launch his own hair extension brand during the COVID lockdown, becoming the first hairdresser in the country to do so. His story offers a sharp perspective on how to build a premium service business by focusing on what's missing in the market, rather than just what's popular.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
COVID lockdown gave Zvonimir Franić the time to finally launch his own hair extension brand, Hair by Franić, after years of wanting to but being too busy. Sometimes, the disruption that halts daily operations is precisely what frees up the mental space and time needed to build something new.
02
After training at Tony & Guy in London, Zvonimir Franić returned to Croatia knowing exactly what he *didn't* want in a salon, and that clarity became the foundation for his "higher standard." Defining a new market standard often begins not with a grand vision of what to build, but with a precise rejection of what already exists and falls short.
03
Zvonimir Franić opened his first salon a decade ago during an economic crisis, describing it as "the craziest time" and a "leap of faith" driven by youthful daring. Calculated risk-taking in an uncertain market can sometimes create an advantage, as the absence of established players makes it easier to set new benchmarks.
04
His "higher standard" meant refusing the common complaint from clients like his mother, who felt "everyone comes out looking the same" from a salon, by focusing on individual "hairdresser stylists." The real value in a service business isn't just technical skill, but the ability to see each client as unique and tailor the experience specifically to them, not the trend.
05
From the age of four, Zvonimir Franić wanted to be a hairdresser, but by high school, he was already thinking, "How will I make a living as a painter in Croatia?" The seeds of entrepreneurship are often planted early, not as a direct career path, but as a practical calculation of how to sustain a creative passion.
06
The six-hour, two-day process to create a massive, attention-grabbing hairstyle for Albina, Croatia's Eurovision representative, was a deliberate attempt to create a "hit" look that would be widely discussed. In creative fields, true impact comes not just from execution, but from a strategic understanding of how to craft something so distinctive it becomes a talking point, like a hit song.
07
When deciding what product to launch for his brand, Zvonimir Franić intentionally chose hair extensions because they "don't have an expiry date." For a first product launch, especially in a new venture, minimizing inventory risk by selecting items with no shelf life can provide valuable flexibility and reduce pressure.