Ivana Mager

Šopkarna is the first mobile flower shop in Slovenia, bringing the freshness, color and genuine warmth of flowers to the Mežica Valley and the surrounding area. Its specialty is a yellow retro truck with the license plate PO – CVETJE, which brings the flower shop closer to people – at the right time, in the right place.

Founder Ivana Mager connects her love of flowers with creativity, nature, locality and a sense of people. Šopkarna offers cut flowers, bouquets and arrangements made from fresh and dried flowers, gift arranging, personalized greeting cards and cups, wedding and funeral floristry, seasonal decorations, custom-made potted plants, selected local products and delivery.

The goal of Šopkarna is to bring flowers closer to people, to delight them with natural beauty, and to create products with heart, warmth, and a personal touch. Ivana remains true to the idea that fresh flowers are not eternal - but the moments we create with them last and make our day better.

The idea for Šopkarna came to Ivana while still in floristry school. She wanted to create something different and someday set out on her own path. She carefully guarded the idea over the years, gaining knowledge, experience, and self-confidence. When she felt she was ready, she took a step forward.

The beginning was a combination of desire, courage and opportunity. The PONI project played an important role, giving her the springboard, support and, above all, the courage to open a business. One of the biggest initial challenges was obtaining permits for sales outside stores and the initial investment in a mobile flower shop.

The first confirmation came after the first month of operation, when she celebrated her opening and two important florist holidays. What means the most to her is satisfied customers who came back and told her that they liked her bouquets and that they last a long time.

Ivana says she is still learning how to set boundaries. Because she wants to please everyone, she often says “yes” even when it takes up too much of her productive time. She is learning that it is important to remain cordial, but at the same time set clear boundaries, even in business.

Šopkarna is currently in the initial phase of a slow, deliberate upgrade. Ivana is building trust, recognition, and a community of customers. In the next 12 months, she wants to put the company on a more stable footing, strengthen marketing, and further connect people who value flowers, locality, and a personal approach.

He advises anyone starting an entrepreneurial journey to start with courage and heart. It is important to believe in your idea, stand behind your dreams, while at the same time remaining open to people's reactions and listening carefully to what the market is telling you. Only in this way can you adapt your idea on the fly, grow with your customers, and gradually build a story out of it that has the right place among people.

A final thought: "He who wants to see must see with his heart." At Šopkarna, this means more than just selling flowers. It means creating moments that delight, comfort, beautify a space, or say what is sometimes difficult to express in words.