POSLOVNI ĐIR Blaženka Benkus

Guest Blaženka BenkusHosted by Vojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026

Blaženka Benkus

About this episode

What you'll hear in this conversation

Blaženka Benkus arrived in Dalmatia with "a little silk and a one-way ticket," driven by a childhood dream of living in Split. What began as a personal quest for a quiet life in a small coastal town quickly became the foundation of a 20-year artisan career, blending art and commerce in a way she describes as natural. She never saw herself as a traditional businesswoman, yet her hand-painted silk scarves and unique art objects found a perfect market as Split embraced cruise tourism. This conversation explores the delicate balance of sustaining a creative enterprise fueled by passion, not profit, in a city increasingly defined by its seasonal rhythms. Benkus shares how deep personal inspirations—from a chance encounter in Sri Lanka to her enduring "love letters to Split"—shape her work. It’s a candid look at the resilience required to thrive as a local artisan, living "day by day" through quiet winters, and the unwavering belief that authentic creation will always find its audience. You'll walk away considering how much of business success in a creative field is simply showing up, being yourself, and allowing the market to find you.

Insights from the conversation

What to take from this episode

Blaženka Benkus arrived in Dalmatia in 2009 with "a little silk and a one-way ticket," knowing there was no other option but to stay and build a life there. True entrepreneurial commitment often means burning the boats—entering a new venture with no fallback plan, forcing all energy into making it work.

Despite being an artisan for twenty years, Benkus never viewed herself as a "businesswoman" in the traditional sense; her approach to combining art and commerce always felt natural. When a commercial product emerges organically from a deep personal passion, the business side can feel less like a calculated strategy and more like an extension of the creative self.

The motif of undefined faces, now her most popular design, originated from a deeply moving encounter with a deaf-mute father and son in a small Sri Lankan atelier in 2015. The most resonant and lasting product inspirations often come from unexpected, deeply human experiences, rather than market research or trend analysis.

Benkus states she has never started a project with the primary goal of making money, instead focusing on giving her best and staying true to her craft. For certain creative businesses, financial success is a consequence of intrinsic motivation and dedication to quality, not the initial driving force.

Her silk scarves became a perfect product for Split's growing cruise tourism because they were unique, easy to carry, and combined art, fashion, and souvenir value. The ideal product for a new market often emerges by identifying a unique intersection of local culture, practical utility, and aesthetic appeal, rather than trying to fit existing categories.

Benkus writes "love letters to Split" and sees a daily "fireworks display" above the city, finding constant artistic inspiration in her adopted home. A deep, personal connection to a place can become an inexhaustible wellspring of creative output, making the environment itself a constant muse.

During the winter months, Benkus and the few remaining artisans in Split's city center literally live "day by day," waiting for spring and the first tourists. Operating a local, craft-based business in a seasonal tourist economy demands extraordinary resilience, requiring a willingness to endure lean periods with no guaranteed income.

Benkus observes that Split's city center has become dominated by fast food and small restaurants, leaving little diversity or year-round life for residents. A truly vibrant city center requires a diverse ecosystem of local shops and artisans to maintain year-round appeal, not just businesses catering to peak tourist demand.

Her "Silk and Stone" project combines silk scarves with precious stones like emeralds, rubies, and sapphires in a luxurious gift box. By pairing seemingly disparate luxury items, a brand can carve out a distinct niche for high-end gifting that goes beyond conventional product categories.

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