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Katarina Bešlić i Lorena Tadić
Episode · #659

POSLOVNI ĐIR Katarina Bešlić i Lorena Tadić

Guest Katarina Bešlić i Lorena TadićHosted by Ojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

The story of business in Croatia's Banija region is often told through the lens of rebuilding after profound challenges, from war to a devastating earthquake. Yet, for Katarina Bešlić and Lorena Tadić, the narrative extends beyond mere survival. They are entrepreneurs rooted in Petrinja, each cultivating a distinct segment of the horticultural world – Bešlić with her unique cactus production, and Tadić with her family's flower business. Their conversation reveals the gritty reality of operating a niche agricultural enterprise in a demanding economic landscape, where every external shock tests not just infrastructure, but personal resolve. This discussion offers a rare glimpse into the unexpected tenacity required to sustain a multi-generational business, adapt to market pressures, and even envision new growth when the odds seem stacked against you.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
Katarina Bešlić, having navigated war, earthquakes, and personal tragedies, describes her approach as rising 'like a phoenix from the ashes,' never giving up. True resilience in business isn't just about surviving external shocks; it's about an ingrained personal refusal to accept defeat, translating into a relentless drive forward.
02
Katarina details how the high cost of specialized inputs — from plastic pots to specific soils and plant treatments — renders her uncompetitive against imported flowers sold cheaply in large retail chains. For niche agricultural producers, the real competition isn't local rivals, but the global supply chain that subsidizes low-cost imports, forcing local businesses to find non-price-based value.
03
For Petrinja's flower producers, the 'Praznik cvijeća' in Split, where the city provides free selling space, is described as their 'first financial injection for the season.' A single, well-placed, and consistently supported local market event can be more vital to a seasonal business's survival than broad national subsidies.
04
Lorena Tadić, trained as an architectural technician, took over her grandmother's and mother's flower business because she 'didn't want it all to stop.' She emphasizes the invaluable 'experience' passed down. Family businesses often continue not because of formal training, but because the next generation feels a personal imperative to preserve a legacy, learning the trade through hands-on mentorship.
05
Katarina lists the mandatory 'plant passport' from the Ministry of Agriculture and the agricultural pesticide test, both requiring paid exams and regular renewal, as prerequisites for selling her products. The hidden cost for small agricultural producers isn't just taxes or utilities, but a layered bureaucracy of certifications and renewals that consume both capital and time.
06
Despite being the only large-scale cactus producer in Croatia, Katarina finds existing government grant applications consistently fail her due to unmet criteria, highlighting a disconnect between policy and practical needs. Public support programs, even when well-intentioned, often fail to reach the most unique or niche businesses because their criteria are too generic to fit non-standard operations.
07
Katarina envisions her Petrinja garden center becoming a 'tourist destination' for school excursions and visitors to see massive cacti, offering educational tours and local treats. When direct product sales are constrained by competition, the next move isn't always finding new channels; it can be building an experience around the product that turns the production site itself into an attraction.
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