The Entrepreneurship Breakfast took place on the ZOOM online platform; this was the fourth in a series of six free Entrepreneurship Breakfasts organized as part of the LAS operations for cities and villages. This time, we were “hosted” in Medvode.
The project partners—the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Slovenia (GZS), the Central Slovenia Regional Chamber, the AIA Association—Mengeš Youth Center, and Cene Štupar – CILJ—hosted Nejc Smolet, mayor of the Municipality of Medvode. He emphasized the importance of developing entrepreneurship in the municipality and the wider region, noting that a key task of the municipality is to support the economy on its path to growth. To that end, they encourage investment in the economy every year—including in social entrepreneurship—and organize a traditional annual meeting with entrepreneurs. He also noted that Medvode has become a desirable municipality for new residents. However, they have set a goal to prioritize quality over quantity; therefore, by 2030, they aim to become the most livable municipality—or the “green gateway” to the capital—combining both urban and rural vibes.
In addition to the mayor, we hosted Mr. Jure Jezeršek, business director of Jezeršek Catering, Mr. Jaka Vukovič, Director of the Forward Agency, Mr. Črt Podlogar, Head of E-commerce Marketing at Sensilab, and Ms. Aleksandra Janežič, Head of Marketing and PR at Cene Štupar – CILJ and Director of Sales and Marketing at KORAK – Centers for Human Resources Development.
The guests shared their experiences in the areas of their entrepreneurial journeys, marketing, communication, and sales.
Mr. Črt Podlogar pointed out that entrepreneurs should keep an eye on two trends in the future. First, we need to make it clear that we shouldn’t expect sales growth trends driven by the pandemic to rise as sharply as they did last year, since he anticipates that, once restrictions are lifted, people will happily return to “offline” life and, at the same time, to traditional shopping. Entrepreneurs should keep this in mind so they can be properly prepared. His second piece of advice relates to building their own customer base. While just a few years ago we were saying that email marketing was dead, Črt Podlogar advocates for communication via email marketing, with an emphasis on quality content, since platforms are becoming very demanding, algorithms are constantly changing, and as long as we have a loyal audience, this is the most optimal channel for communication.
Mr. Jaka Vukovič emphasized that in marketing—and in business in general—it is crucial to manage expectations, both our own and those of our target audiences. When we set goals, we should also assess the expectations on the other side. At the same time, it is essential to review and adjust those goals. adjust our course accordingly.
Ms. Aleksandra Janežič emphasized that building trust with our customers and business partners is crucial . We need to show customers who is behind the brand, and it’s also important to consider where our customers are located before we establish a presence on social media. We shouldn’t be afraid to test different platforms, as this is essential to determine whether we’re actually on the right platform—one where our target customers are present and where our interactions are successful.
Mr. Jure Jezeršek, however, emphasized that we are fortunate, despite the pandemic, that people quickly forget the bad things, and he believes that the situation will return to a “new” normal, where we’ll happily socialize again in the future once things settle down. It is crucial that entrepreneurs understand their core business—their so-called “core business” —and navigate the world with open eyes, keeping up with innovations and best practices in other industries and considering how to implement these innovations across all areas of their business.
Overall, they agreed that successful marketing requires being agile, understanding one’s potential market and target audiences, as well as properly testing platforms and, consequently, building a presence in the digital environment.
Join us for the last two free breakfasts:
· Financial Tips for Everyone – March 17, 2021
· Business Environment Leverage for Your Success – March 24, 2021
In addition, you can express your interest in advance in the free Entrepreneurship Academy and Entrepreneurship Incubator, where, together with experienced entrepreneurs and mentors who face entrepreneurial challenges on a daily basis, you will be able to enhance your entrepreneurial knowledge and business operations.
Advance registration is required for breakfasts: http://bit.ly/3rFKCdo
More about the project: https://www.cene-stupar.si/sl/projekti/za-vas-podjetniki
The investment is co-financed by the Republic of Slovenia and the European Union through the European Regional Development Fund. The project is being implemented within the framework of the Local Action Group “Za mesto in vas.” For more information, visit the Structural Funds website: www.eu-skladi.si and the LAS Za mesto in vas website: www.las-mestoinvas.si
Prepared by: Sanda Jerman, Cene Štupar – CILJ
