Fourth Business Stories conference held: What it looks like when a seemingly casual conversation gives rise to a great business idea

In the 1990s, there was a lot of smuggling in Serbia, but some big things like kitchens were not possible. In the meantime, a lot has happened in our country, but one thing that has not changed is that, when summer comes, the government is looking for good mosquito repellents. And, some time ago, there was a shortage of one of these products in pharmacies. In both cases, these were the topics of conversation between the spouses. One might wonder what common points, apart from the aforementioned conversations between the spouses, the purchase of kitchens in the 1990s and mosquito repellents have. But that connection exists - because in both cases, a business idea was born from conversations with the wives that would soon turn out to be good and wise and profitable in the long run, because in both of the aforementioned situations, underserved market niches that are potentially profitable were recognized.

These two successful business stories are just some of the many that could be heard at the two-day Business Stories conference, which was held on April 2 and 3 in Vrnjacka Banja at the Zepter Hotel, with more than 3,000 visitors, 20 speakers and eight professional workshops. Topics from a wide range of fields - from the application of artificial intelligence in industries, through communications, investing, the crypto revolution, tax breaks and stress management, to sales and marketing.

Among other things, it was possible to hear why, if you want to be good at something you do, attention and hyperfocus are very important, a kind of complete immersion in what you do, as well as dedication to it. At this year’s conference, visitors also learned that successful entrepreneurs do not always invent something completely new, but very often just recognize a business opportunity and get ideas based on what is “in front of their eyes” for many, but they do not see.

One of the pieces of advice that could be heard from successful business people at this year’s conference was that, when it comes to financing business ideas and business ventures, you should not borrow money from godfathers and friends, but primarily from banks. When it comes to friends, you can borrow money from them, but only as much as you are willing to not pay back, was another piece of financial advice.

And, when it comes to whether stronger or somewhat more moderate campaigns are good in marketing and advertising a brand, especially if it is new, it can be concluded that there is no single rule, but that it depends on the moment and the product itself. So, as for those kitchens from the beginning of the article, visitors to Business Stories learned that their sales quickly achieved success due to the eye-catching advertisements in the center of Belgrade at the time, which offered a big discount for first-time buyers, while on the other hand, a collagen launched a few years ago, but which was promoted and advertised in a completely different way - with a limited budget, but also with constant communication with potential users and promotion through influencers who had previously tried it, also achieved success in a short time.

At this year’s Business Stories, it was also possible to hear that in developing future business steps, not only the business strategy is important, but also the so-called gut feeling regarding those steps, as well as that it is sometimes harder to stay in business than to create a brand and launch it. Those who would like to venture into more serious business waters were advised that, no matter how much and what kind of schooling they have, continuous learning and improvement through work is necessary - no matter how much money they have earned up to that point and how much success they have achieved up to that point.

Those interested in more topics about employee-employer relationships and running companies in the age of artificial intelligence were able to discover how much employees trust their superiors, what their attitude is towards fairness in the company they work for, how much productivity depends on the approach and manner of cooperation between leaders and employees in the team, and what neuroscience has to say about all of this.

One of the most popular and informative lectures was the one held on the second day of the conference by Professor Miodrag Zec on why some nations are rich and others are poor. By skillfully drawing parallels in everyday functioning, priorities and ways of thinking in different countries, Professor Zec vividly illustrated why, if we limit ourselves to Europe alone, certain economies are at a higher level of development and others at a lower level. He also said that there are no profitable professions, there are only successful people.

This is just a small part of what could be heard, learned and discovered at this year’s Business Stories, where all lectures, discussions and workshops were well attended. Among the visitors, there were clearly many younger people. At this year’s Business Stories, participants came from Serbia, Slovenia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, North Macedonia, Croatia and Montenegro.

– As we expected, in a smaller town, the beautiful Vrnjacka Banja, people stayed in the same place and continued their conversations after the program. This year, the participants took away more concrete contacts, which was our special goal. We are proud that with the previous conferences we have raised the standard of such events in our country and in the region. Since the first conference in 2023, we have reinvested everything in subsequent editions and this was evident, at least according to the impressions of the visitors – said the founder Vladimir Stankovic.

During the two days of Business Stories, experts from various profiles shared their knowledge and experiences with the participants, including Mitko Muric (Nusr-Et), neuroscience and neuromarketing leadership expert Dr. Nikolaos Dimitriadis, Tanja Tatomirovic (HyperFacade), Misa Lukic (Brand Sapiens Dubai), Professor Dr. Miodrag Zec, Nedim Sabic (Bigburg GmbH), Ivan Gavanski (ACPI investment Managers LLP), Professor Dr. Davor J. Korcok (DOX Pharm), Branislav Stojakovic (Eurosalon Real Estate), Milica Kankaras (Bio Solutions, Crux Pure), Branko Kankaras (Bio Solutions, Crux Pure), Ivan Stankovic (Communis), Zeljko Jankovic (Real Media Factory), digital media leader Jasmina Koprivica, Uros Mikic (Flow Ninja), Ana Brzakovic (BizBalans), Luka Trikic (Connect The Dots), Dusan Roglic (Roglic Company), Nenad Gujanicic (Momentum Securities), Marko Matanovic (ECD.rs). The conference moderator was Nastasija Stosic.

At the end of the conference, as expected, there were positive impressions, new connections and exchanged knowledge, experiences and ideas.

The event was realized by the founder Vladimir Stankovic and Nemanja Dimic from the BIT Events agency.

This year’s Business Stories were complemented by performances by Natasa Bekvalac, ToMa and Beso de Loco.

Slobodan Stanković pr Konsultantske aktivnosti u vezi s poslovanjem i ostalim upravljanjem Biznis priče Smederevo

DOX PHARMA DOO BEOGRAD

Communis Beograd

Eurosalon Real Estate d.o.o. Beograd

ŽELJKO JANKOVIĆ PR REAL MEDIA FACTORY

FLOW NINJA DOO

Momentum Securities a.d. Novi Sad

HYPERFACADE DOO

Biznis priče

Business Stories

Business Stories conference

Nusr Et

Bigburg GmbH

ACPI investment Managers LLP

HyperFacade

Bio Solutions

Crux Pure

Connect The Dots

DOX Pharm

Communis

Brand Sapiens Dubai

BizBalans

Eurosalon Real Estate

Real Media Factory

Roglić Company

Flow Ninja

Momentum Securities

ECD rs

Vladimir Stanković

Miodrag Zec

Mitko Murić

Nikolaos Dimitriadis

Tanja Tatomirović

Miša Lukić

Nedim Šabić

Ivan Gavanski

Davor J Korčok

Branislav Stojaković

Nemanja Dimić

Milica Kankaraš

Branko Kankaraš

Ivan Stanković

Željko Janković

Jasmina Koprivica

Uroš Mikić

Ana Brzaković

Luka Trikić

Dušan Roglić

Nenad Gujaničić

Marko Matanović

Hotel Zepter Vrnjačka Banja