Damir Mijalković
Episode · #593
POSLOVNI DIR Damir Mijalković
Guest Damir MijalkovićHosted by Ojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
Damir Mijalković
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Building a business in a physical trade, especially one tied to nature and local conditions, means navigating a unique set of challenges. Damir Mijalković, owner of Antonio – hortikultura i krajobraz, has spent six years cultivating his firm in Split, focusing on both plant cultivation and landscape design. He talks about the satisfaction of working with green spaces, but also the harsh realities of a fragmented market, the struggle to find skilled labor, and the paradox of local production. This conversation offers a clear view into the quiet resilience required to grow a business that depends on both the land and the hands that work it.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The African lily (Agapanthus africanus) was first planted in larger quantities on Split's west coast, and now it has spread across Dalmatia. A single, visible project, even if seemingly small, can organically establish a business's reputation and subtly reshape the local aesthetic.
02
Mijalković left a larger system six years ago to start his own firm, guiding his growth by ensuring "ambitions must be in line with possibilities." For true sustainability and reduced stress, business expansion is best paced not by market demand alone, but by a deliberate alignment of growth with current capabilities.
03
He calls Croatia's plant production "babies," meaning young plants, while other countries grow specimens for 30 to 50 years. The absence of a long-term, mature product in a local market isn't just a production gap; it's a missed opportunity to capture value that requires patient, multi-decade investment.
04
Mijalković describes the horticulturist's role as highly varied — producing, planting, maintaining — demanding deep, long-term knowledge of plant species, microclimates, and soil. In expert trades, the true labor shortage isn't just about physical work or pay, but the extensive, integrated knowledge required for the job, making it difficult to train and retain skilled staff.
05
He points out that even landscape architects are scarce, leading to unqualified people making costly mistakes, like planting salt-intolerant species by the sea. The market's unmet need for highly specialized expertise can be filled by unqualified individuals, leading to costly errors that undermine both client trust and the profession's standing.
06
Mijalković maintains a "non-stop open call" for gardeners, prioritizing young, eager individuals willing to learn and commit long-term, rather than seeking pre-qualified candidates. When a specialized trade faces chronic talent scarcity, the most effective hiring strategy isn't to filter for existing skills, but to identify and cultivate a willingness to learn and a desire for stability.