·
All episodes
Tea Bogdan i Mario Goreta
Episode · #627

POSLOVNI ĐIR Tea Bogdan i Mario Goreta

Guest Tea Bogdan i Mario GoretaHosted by Ojdana KoharevićMay 3, 2026
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation

Tea Bogdan and Mario Goreta, a mother-son duo, didn't set out to build a cosmetics business. Their journey began casually, making natural soaps for guests in their family apartment in Split's Varoš neighborhood. What started as a hobby, driven by neighborhood interest, soon turned into the formidable challenge of establishing Spartium, a company now producing distinct lines for both men and women. They describe a path marked by significant bureaucratic hurdles and the need to build a production facility from scratch, all while navigating a regulated industry. This conversation unpacks the realities of turning a personal passion into a certified product, revealing the unexpected satisfactions and persistent difficulties that come with creating something tangible from the ground up.

Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
The initial idea for Spartium wasn't a business plan but a simple act: making natural soaps for guests at their family apartment. That informal offering, driven by curiosity and then neighborly requests, proved the concept before any formal company was even imagined.
02
Getting the first soaps to market took seven to eight months of navigating documentation and certification, a process they describe as 'a very lengthy process.' The real initial investment for a physical product isn't just ingredients or equipment; it's the time spent securing regulatory approval before a single item can be sold.
03
Despite constant difficulties, Mario Goreta states they 'never thought of giving up' because the work is 'our life, our passion.' Sustained enjoyment and deep personal connection to the craft are often more powerful drivers through persistent challenges than any initial business strategy.
04
Establishing their production facility required three separate warehouses and strict separation to prevent cross-contamination. Meeting these regulatory demands meant defining the physical space and operational flow long before any product could be made, making compliance a foundational design constraint.
05
When faced with the complex web of permits and processes, Tea and Mario found crucial guidance not from a formal mentor, but from a colleague at a Zagreb-based company, Aromatični kutak. Often, the most practical help in navigating unfamiliar regulations comes from peers who have already walked a similar path.
06
Their first product line, 'Mirisi Mediterana,' consisted of twelve cold-processed soaps, each infused with scents of Dalmatia like immortelle, lavender, and rosemary. Building a brand by packaging the essence of a specific region, drawing directly from local nature and emotion, creates an immediate and recognizable identity.
07
Mario's decision to launch men's cosmetics under the 'Meštar' brand stemmed from noticing 'there was very little of it on the Croatian market.' Rather than entering a saturated segment, finding and filling a clear gap, even within a mature industry, can be a more effective market entry.
08
The 'Meštar' packaging features old postcards depicting urban Dalmatia from the early 20th century, a design choice made with their designer, Nora Mojaš. Packaging can serve as a powerful storytelling device, connecting a product to a rich cultural history and regional identity, rather than just containing it.
09
Their brand slogan, 'Ljudi, priroda i emocija' (People, nature, and emotion), reflects a deliberate choice to build a connection deeper than product benefits. Grounding a business in the human element, the natural environment, and the feeling evoked by a place can create a more resonant and enduring brand narrative.
Explore further
ScenariosBusiness challengesCardsEducational cardsTimelineTopic evolution