Ivana Bagatin
Episode · #612
POSLOVNI ĐIR Ivana Bagatin
Guest Ivana BagatinHosted by Ojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
Ivana Bagatin
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Running a business in a city like Split, where tourism is both a blessing and a burden, means navigating a complex landscape of local policy, market demands, and the constant threat of imitation. Ivana Bagatin, owner of Il Mondo, has lived this reality for two decades, designing and producing handmade souvenirs that capture the essence of Dalmatia. Her experience reveals the unseen challenges for local artisans: the fight to protect original designs, the struggle against import costs, and the often-unsupportive urban environment. This conversation explores the sheer resilience required to keep a creative enterprise viable, offering a candid look at what it means to build a business on the ground, against the odds.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Ivana’s most popular product, a fishbone souvenir with 'Croatia,' emerged from applying her graphic design background to a tangible market need. The lesson is that a creative skill that might not be directly monetizable can find its commercial expression when applied to physical products designed for a specific audience.
02
Her current shop is named 'Dišpet,' a local term for stubborn defiance, which Ivana says encapsulates her approach to business. Entrepreneurship, she notes, often requires an internal resolve that actively refuses to be stopped by external obstacles and setbacks.
03
When Ivana started her business 20 years ago, she knew nothing about taxes or suppliers, but now finds the daily operation 'a little easier.' The long-term advantage in business isn't just knowing the rules, but building the relationships and experience that make the daily flow possible.
04
After her popular fishbone design was copied and 100,000 units sold by others, Ivana won a lawsuit but received minimal compensation, with some fakes still sold. Legal protection for intellectual property often becomes a costly, unrewarding fight for small businesses, making real-world enforcement difficult.
05
Despite having a shop in a prime location, Ivana states she'd 'swap for the Riva this second,' having lost her beloved open-air stall. The direct, dynamic interaction of an open market offers a different kind of customer engagement that even a good indoor location struggles to replicate for artisan products.
06
The city's decision to remove artisans from Diocletian's cellars left many families without income, a move Ivana calls a 'tragedy.' Prioritizing urban aesthetics without offering viable, unified alternatives for local producers risks destroying the very livelihoods that give a city its unique character.
07
While acknowledging the presence of 'kitsch' and plastic souvenirs, Ivana notes that 'the market shapes itself to buyers.' Her initial desire to sell only 100% Croatian-made items was impossible due to high costs and taxes, forcing compromises to remain competitive against imports.