The trip took me to Donji Vakuf, where I was lucky enough to meet a young woman, mother, entrepreneur Hamida Begović. Inspired by her youth, but also by the vision of her business, I share with you an honest story of love, ideas, dreams, dedication and hope …
After graduating from college, she is at a turning point in her life and bravely tailors her life story. She took an uncertain path that led her to a micro-business with an exotic name: “Bonsai Natural“. In fact, I have to be honest – Hamida would have had a hard time deciding on that step if it weren’t for her husband Mirza, who always has some “crazy” ideas and is ready for adventures. And we deal with doubts more easily and travel through adventures when there are (at least) two of us.
They started from scratch – with the collection of recipes and information about raw materials, production method, packaging, the procedure for registering trades and similar. Then they bought one machine, then another, and here it is, more than a year has passed since they have been producing peanut butter and expanded their offer with cashews, hazelnuts, almonds, pumpkin…
They say that fortune favors the bold. On the one hand, they develop a business, raise it to its feet, and on the other hand, a baby comes to their home, the two of them become parents in a year of uncertainty and new beginnings. Moreover, Hamida is a real heroine in my eyes.
It is said that every beginning is difficult. What did yours look like? Did you have beginner’s problems?
Before starting the business, I was engaged in the production of butter. I had no problems with the production and quality of the product. My only problem was with the registration of trade due to the new coronavirus pandemic. As for our beginning a year ago, there was a lot of experimentation regarding the processing of raw materials, making logos, choosing packaging and labels, reading the law on food production, production space, declaring products, etc.
At what point did you decide to start your own business and did you have the support of friends and family?
I decided to start a business after hearing about the Mozaik Foundation, how it helps young entrepreneurs in their businesses, because I could hardly set aside the money to start all this on my own. I presented my idea, and I registered my microbusiness for voting. The encouragement helped me a lot, especially at the beginning, which requires a lot of effort and investment. With this incentive, I equipped the room for the production of butter, bought machines for processing raw materials and raw materials for production. So, the incentive of the Mozaik Foundation covered all my costs for starting my business.
I thought why not try to place my products on the market, after the positive comments of previous customers? Of course, my husband has been with me from the beginning, with whom I arranged and realized the whole story. Without his support and commitment, I would hardly dare to do all this.
As you mentioned to me, the visible development of your idea began with “one question in lonac”?
After I registered on lonac.pro, I saw that many people ask for their opinion on their idea, starting a business, etc. So, I did the same. I asked what people think about my idea and how useful it is to realize it. I received very useful feedback, support from individuals, as well as some who somehow looked at my business impossible, observing the hard side of all the conditions for food production. Positive comments gave me the support and encouragement I needed!
You are on a stable path now, but were there any doubts? Were there moments when you regretted the decision to have your own business and is fear an integral part of entrepreneurship?
At the very beginning, there were no doubts. I set off resolutely. However, when I saw what my production domain required, I wanted to give up. Paperwork, space, various requirements both for the manufacturer and for the product itself. I always fear that maybe my business will fail, that my product will not meet my market expectations, but somehow, I overcome it and move on.
What is the biggest problem you face?
Currently, the biggest problem is placing my products on market shelves or in health food stores. Most markets are already supplied with similar products, but of course the products cannot be the same, neither in taste nor quality. I hope that I will be able to cooperate with a larger number of points of sale and thus reach a larger number of consumers. I am sure that they will like our butter.
What makes Bonsai Natural products so special?
“Bonsai” peanut butter differs from the classic butter in the markets, because we do not use any additional oils or additives, and the butter is creamy. Over time, we started making butter with sugar and without sugar, as well as mixed butter – peanuts and hazelnuts, cashews and hazelnuts, etc. The emphasis of our production and promotion is on a healthy diet and avoiding fast food by using peanut butter, not only as a spread, but also as a tasty and healthy addition to various smoothies and vegetarian dishes.
How hard is it to be a woman, a mother, an entrepreneur?
Far harder than a male entrepreneur. While a man has one obligation, that is, he focuses on one thing, and in this case, it is his job, a woman on the other hand has many more obligations. In our environment, a woman should be a mother, a housewife and an entrepreneur, but anything is possible with the help and support of a husband.
Do you have any advice for young people, primarily women who are hesitant to apply for microbusiness funds?
All those who have an idea how to improve their economic situation, and how to make our country better, should not hesitate. Register your business, believe in your idea and look ahead. All this will be much easier with the support of your family and the consultation with experienced people.
Do you think you are successful? What is your secret to success? In which direction will Bonsai go in the next period, where do you see it in a year, three or five?
I’m still at the beginning, so I can’t say anything for sure. I also consider it a success that I dared to start my own business and offer people healthy products. And when a business develops and expands, that’s the other side of success. I think the secret to success is perseverance and optimism. Persisting on your idea, even if it was not popular and accepted this year, may be ideal next year. Looking to the future, I see my products on the shelves of dm, then many healthy food stores. In a year or two, if we succeed, I would expand the store and production and employ a couple of young people and we would like to export products outside the borders of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
It is too early to say that this is a huge business, but Hamida and Mirza are a happy, brave and well-coordinated team! Despite doubts and insecurities, these two young people are ready for challenges. It’s not that they’re not afraid, it’s not that they don’t doubt, but they overcome fear. Hamida is only 23 years old, she has been an entrepreneur for one year, a mother for 7 months and I believe she knows that she will succeed because, as the Cheshire cat said, “You will surely arrive, only if you go”. Or, as Hamida would say: “It is our job to work.”
If you are interested in buying these finest nuts and seeds spreads visit the Bonsai Natural Facebook page or Instagram page and support this young and brave entrepreneur! Information about which stores sell Hamida’s products in Sarajevo, Mostar, Tuzla and Bugojno is available above.
