Željko Gobac
Episode · #447
POSLOVNI FM PREDSTAVLJA Željko Gobac
Guest Željko GobacHosted by Boris ŽivkovićMay 3, 2026
Željko Gobac
About this episode
What you'll hear in this conversation
Croatia has long been an outlier among European nations, conspicuously lacking a fundamental service common across the continent: self-storage. While the concept of renting off-site space for personal belongings or business archives is well-established globally, it remained largely unavailable in Croatia—until now. Željko Gobac, project manager for City Depot, discusses the launch of the country's first dedicated self-storage facility in Zagreb. He explains how this new venture addresses a palpable demand, detailing the practicalities of a service that many have only seen on television, and the unique challenges and opportunities of being a first-mover in a familiar but previously absent market.
Insights from the conversation
What to take from this episode
01
A customer drove from Split to Zagreb just to use City Depot's new service, leaving items and immediately returning home. When a new service addresses a fundamental, unmet need, early demand can come from unexpectedly far afield, signaling a deep market gap that transcends immediate geography.
02
Željko Gobac notes that the popular 'Storage Wars' TV show inadvertently helped create awareness for self-storage in Croatia. Popular culture can prime a market for a business model, building public recognition and a sense of need even before a local provider exists.
03
City Depot explicitly prohibits storing perishable or illegal items, and forbids any business activities within the units. When introducing a new service, defining what it *isn't*—through clear, concise prohibitions—can be as effective as describing what it is, managing expectations and ensuring proper use.
04
If a client stops paying, City Depot's process isn't like the auctions seen on 'Storage Wars'—items are stored elsewhere, and legal procedures follow. Directly addressing popular media portrayals helps manage customer expectations and clarifies local legal realities, setting realistic parameters for a new service.
05
Every storage unit includes insurance coverage up to 15,000 HRK for theft, fire, or flood as part of the rental price. For a nascent service, bundling essential protections into the base price builds immediate trust and removes a common customer concern without adding a separate decision point.
06
While the minimum rental is one month, the maximum is unlimited, offering a permanence that traditional garages or sheds often lack. Offering long-term stability and security for stored items differentiates a professional service from informal alternatives, appealing to both transient and enduring needs.
07
City Depot offers just two standard unit sizes: 7.2 and 14.4 square meters. Limiting options, especially for a new service, simplifies customer choice and streamlines initial operations, allowing the business to focus on service delivery rather than complex inventory management.
08
The service appeals to both private users, who store furniture or seasonal items, and businesses, who use units for archives or excess inventory. A single core service can find a wide market by addressing a universal problem—lack of space—across distinct customer segments with different specific needs.
09
City Depot doesn't offer transport services directly but recommends partners, and plans to sell packing supplies like boxes and tape, and rent shelves. A new business can meet broader customer needs by strategically partnering for core ancillary services while integrating complementary product sales, maintaining focus on its primary offering.