The popular macarons in different colours have won over young entrepreneur Marija Jelačić from Ivanić-Grad, who opened a small pastry shop in Zagreb last year.
Twenty-two-year-old Marija Jelačić opened a shop in Vukovar Street (Vukovarska Ulica) in Zagreb for the production and sale of crunchy French macarons. This was a result, she said, of her earlier experience and work in several pastry shops in Zagreb where she recognized the potential of this business, after which she decided to try her luck in the world of entrepreneurship, reports Poslovni.hr on January 28, 2018.
“I prepare fresh macaroni daily, and I can make about 600 of them in one day at this initial stage. We also offer specialty macaroni that can have added names and messages, thanks to a special printer, so in the end, you get pretty nice looking cookies to which corporate logos can be added. This was especially popular during the Christmas and New Year’s period when many companies had their holiday parties. I believe that everyone who works for someone and is skilled with their hands sooner or later begins to think about starting their own business,” Jelačić said.
Her working day starts early in the morning and ends at 7 p.m., but she says that, at the moment, she does not intend to employ additional workers, although an extra pair of hands would sometimes be useful. She plans to create a stable and propulsive business that will stand firmly on its feet, and then think about expansion to a larger shop and finding new employees.
Colourful macarons are another proof how much creative and exciting the confectionery business can be. The tasty sweet became popular several years ago and, due to its aesthetic beauty, it has often been featured on the magazine covers since. Another proof of its popularity is the fact that a luxurious and limited series of macarons with the signature of Marina Abramović, created in collaboration with the famous French pastry shop Ladurée, has recently become available at Harrods in London, at the cost of 100 pounds per box. Marija’s macarons are not that expensive, but the euphoria with the French pastry is not subsiding, so her expectations about business results are quite positive.
She says that she is satisfied with the process of opening the shop and that she has not had any significant administrative difficulties. She secured the initial investment from her resources and with the family help but has not used any of the self-employment incentives which are offered by the state, although that remains a possibility for the future.
“I plan to make an additional investment in the equipment. Everything in the shop, from the showcases and the devices I need to make macarons, I bought in neighbouring countries. For now, I have everything I need but, in line with market demand, it seems to me that I will need double of everything soon,” said Jelačić.
Translated from Poslovni.hr
