When I started writing this article, I stared at a blank screen for about half an hour. Complete blockage. It was very difficult for me to write a few sentences about Gušt, what it is and what it represents for me. So how should I introduce myself, what should I say so that this article would be interesting, readable and better present Gušt beauty boutique.
I closed the laptop and let it go slowly. Every hour a sentence came to my head and to my fingers, at this pace I could write for a week….
Then I stopped and started from the beginning, remembering those old notebooks that we used to fill in as kids, each page, one question. Each sentence, one answer.
Hello, I’m Nina. I’m proud 42 years old, wife, mother of two children, friend, aunt, sister. Almost two years ago, I decided to embark on the adventure of a lifetime under the name Gušt beauty boutique. I left a safe, stable, bulletproof job in a family business and decided to start conquering the world alone. I have to admit one thing, I don’t consider myself as an entrepreneur, I am an entrepreneur in training. Every day I learn, make mistakes, jump for joy and bang my head against the wall. And again from the beginning, but I don’t complain, I don’t whine. I value that adrenaline, freedom, that creativity that I have the opportunity to develop every day more than any security in life. Here I am writing an article for a wonderful portal, who would have thought?! Wonderful!
But in order to not make it a too long story, let’s go on Wednesday! What is Gušt beauty boutique? Gušt is a store with Croatian cosmetics manufacturers and Croatian products, fashion and product design. Gust is simply something that came from my gusto. I have always loved everything related to beauty, fashion, design and art. I’m a big creative person, I graduated in art history, so I guess this sensibility for aesthetics and creativity has always been in me. For a long time, I worked in a very uncreative job completely outside of my original profession, and in my free time I absorbed as many creative topics, people, creative brands and their products as possible. I always followed what was new on the market, a new brand, a new product, especially from Croatian manufacturer. My family is itself in the segment of Croatian producers, so that understanding and appreciation of the term lets buy domestic, local, Croatian is deeply woven into me.
Honestly, more severe losses in life made me sit down to think about which direction you are going Nina? Is that your way? I knew it wasn’t, but we always have excuses, we always convince ourselves that what we have is good because it is good, for sure, but the road to hell is paved with good intentions and good opportunities. I decided to move on and create Gušt. The idea of Gušta somehow came spontaneously from the mouth of one of my friends, who, knowing that many of my friends and part of my family turn to me for advice on what’s new, what to give someone for their birthday, etc. So why don’t you make a business out of it? And the light turned on. And worse.
It took about 10 months for Gušt to open its doors, and the whole way there were butterflies in the stomach, both in good and bad moments. I knew very quickly which direction I wanted to go because it was the direction I myself followed as a buyer. Every brand in my store was met by me as a customer and a long-term customer. Aprive, Ard, Sulis, Matinata, Hvaroma, uchka, Cosmel, Lykke, Anka Jewelry, List living, etc. are just some of the brands that are part of the Gušt family. And the family is expanding because when we have so many wonderful creators and producers how can we stop. Through research, I discovered that there are not many places where these products that I love can be physically tried, seen, felt. Online shopping is fast, simple but completely inexperienced and impoverishes all our senses. The cream has its own texture, the necklace does not suit every skin color, the main companion of the scented candle is the smell, the body butter slides slowly down the skin. The image on the web does not fully convey that. Many have asked me why a physical store, while everything is digital today. That’s exactly why, unfortunately that’s why. A physical store is more than a concrete cube with shelves and decor, it is a place where people communicate, socialize, connect. I’m a big extrovert and I can’t do without people, contact, conversation, laughter, etc. That’s where the other side of Gušta came from, which is a place for creative workshops. Not only do I support Croatian creatives of all kinds, but in Gušte I gather creatives of all kinds through numerous creative workshops. Making scented candles from soy wax, face fitness, making natural cosmetics, advent wreaths. Psychological workshops where you can get to know yourself or your people better, etc. All this and more is offered by Gušt, because it is simply gušt, my gušt.
Gušt beauty boutique opened its doors 3 months ago in Vrbane, in the western part of Zagreb. The location outside the center was consciously chosen because I felt that the city center is no longer the center of life in Zagreb. Decentralization is happening and more and more new shops, restaurants, artisan bakeries, etc. are opening in other parts of the city, especially in the western part of Zagreb, which is a very lively and active part. At the same time, it is a part of the city that I know very well because I live there myself.
Therefore, if you want to get to know Croatian beauty brands, to find a beautiful piece of jewelry for your gušt, a scented candle for your workspace, if you want to socialize and relax at one of our workshops or you are looking for a space to hold your workshops, stop by Gušt beauty boutique, Horvaćanska 160, Vrbani.
As I am alone in this business story and the “katica za sve” (a cat for everyone) store is open twice Mon-Fri 09-12h, 16-20h, Sat 08-13h, but I am always available for any questions, ideas related to products and workshops on our Instagram or Facebook profile or good old email or phone.
Until then, greetings and welcome… to a small place for a big feast.
INSTAGRAM: @gust_beautyboutique
FACEBOOK: Gušt-Beauty Boutique
Photos by @imagestudio.wedding
