GINKO was founded as a family business in 1993. From the very beginning, it has specialised in the production of furniture, primarily tables, and chairs made of solid wood. Initially, the company produced traditional models for the domestic market until 2005 when a foreign buyer approached GINKO with special requirements that implied technological challenges. The company has since been export-oriented to the European markets. Chairs remain the primary product but as the end buyers changed so changed the design of GINKO’s models together with the product quality. GINKO’s main customers today are hotel and restaurant chains. Models are becoming ever more challenging for production by the year, and that was and still is the company’s primary goal: to reach customers who want technologically and qualitatively demanding products. The company is developing in that direction by acquiring the latest equipment and following global trends. Today, GINKO exports to the market in the UK, Denmark, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, and the Middle East.
Year of establishment:
1993
Location:
Pozega
Founder and owner:
Svetolik Markovic
Business information
| 2021 | 2015 | 2010 | 2005 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full-time employees | 62 | 49 | 45 | 26 |
| Turnover (EUR) | 2.9 m | 1 m | 838,500 | 506,700 |
| Export (EUR) | 1.3 m | 716,230 | 186,700 | 4,000 |
PRODUCTS/SERVICES
COMPANY DEVELOPMENT AND ENTREPRENEURIAL STORY
The founder of the company is at present its owner Svetolik Markovic. From the outset, GINKO produced chairs and tables from solid wood because the market needed this type of product at the time. The company’s concept has been to work for demanding customers so the production was focused on complex and innovative products from day one. Continuous investment in people, new technology, and innovation has led GINKO to foreign customers. Together they have scrupulously studied global markets and constantly adjusted GINKO’s entire production process. GINKO has always reached new customers through personal recommendations and acquaintances. Over the last five years, a lot has been done to promote the company, so new customers are approaching GINKO because it is already a well-known brand. The major company’s challenge was the constant adjustment of the production process. GINKO had to move from a traditional to a modern product, and that implied big investments in new staff and modern technology. With the growth of new markets, the number of employees also increased. The company has been financed from its own sources from the beginning.
CONTRIBUTION TO SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS
GINKO employs 3 engineers in the production process who constantly bring innovation to the work. GINKO also strives to employ young and promising staff. The average gross salary in April 2022 was 73,400.00 dinars (just over 600 eur) compared to 64,500.00 dinars (about 540 eur) in April 2021. The average gross salary for April 2020 was 59,000.0 dinars (just under 500 eur). The average age of GINKO’s staff in 2021 was 40. GINKO employs at present 18 women and 44 men on a continuous basis. It cooperates with the Technical School from Uzice (western Serbia) in the area of dual education. Engineers, as well as workers operating complex machines, undergo constant training. GINKO is negotiating the construction of a solar power plant and has managed to reduce waste to a minimum through eco-friendly technological processes.
