This year has been quite challenging for both the entire construction sector and Bekament, requiring a strategic approach to business, along with the necessary agility to maintain market position and achieve growth. Looking at the sales results in 2023, I can essentially say I am satisfied because we managed to stay at the same level as last year, both financially and in terms of volume. The biggest impact came from EPS, due to the drop in market price caused by the raw material's lower cost, which, despite its volume growth, led to a slight financial decline that extended across the entire portfolio, resulting in turnover at last year's level. However, if we exclude this product from the analysis and look at the annual revenue in highly profitable categories, I can say that we recorded both financial and volume growth, successfully closing out this year. For the next year, we have set ambitious goals that we plan to achieve, which will in turn deliver promising results. Bekament's strategic direction is to step even more boldly into the EU markets and, in the near future, take a leadership position in Southeast Europe. We have projected double-digit turnover growth, which will be supported by the development of new product categories, the opening of new markets, and a shift toward new sales channels. Of course, these innovations are still a business secret, and we will be able to provide more details on these topics in the coming period. I would also like to add that the Bekament Loyalty program, launched in 2023, will continue to be one of the key tools contributing to the trust and satisfaction of our business partners and contractors in the coming year. Challenges drive changes that, if we turn them to our advantage, allow for the further growth and development of Bekament. Macroeconomic trends will undoubtedly be one of the influencing factors on overall business, but timely reactions and continuous investments in production capacities, product range, and people are prerequisites for adapting to changes and meeting the growing needs of the market, all aimed at achieving the targeted financial result. Source: Ton magazine

BEKAMENT, AS ONE OF THE BRONZE SPONSORS, ATTENDED THE 13TH BELHOSPICE CHARITY BALL THEMED "A STREETCAR NAMED HOPE," HELD ON SEPTEMBER 9TH AT THE WHITE PALACE IN BELGRADE. At this year's ball, with the support of sponsors and donors from the diplomatic corps, corporate sector, as well as representatives from culture, arts, and sports, a total of 153,000 EUR was raised. The funds will enable the BELhospice team to continue providing free services aimed at improving the quality of life for adults suffering from cancer and children diagnosed with terminal illnesses. Bekament The power is in our hands

You have been building your career in the construction sector for over a decade – from distribution manager to the position of Commercial Director, which you've held at Bekament for just under a year. How do you reflect on that period of professional development? – To be completely open and honest, I was quite fortunate over those past ten years. In the first few years (2011–2015), I was literally learning about the construction industry, and then, during the construction boom (2016–2021), I happened to be in the right place at the right time. SIKA Serbia marked my career from 2012 to 2021, and everything came together nicely with a one-year engagement at SIKA USA (2021–2022). Now, I am at Bekament, a strong domestic company with many quality people and an ambitious business strategy. It's an environment I enjoy working in. I believe I’m once again in the right place. How has the construction sector in our country changed during that period? – I think I've already answered that – there was something between stagnation and mild growth during the period from 2012 to 2015, and then a growth that no one expected or could have predicted (2016–2021). Manufacturers of construction materials, traders, contractors... everyone has grown their businesses three to four times in the past six or seven years. The construction sector has expanded and developed in all directions – from infrastructure to residential construction, all the way to private homes. New materials, exceptionally high-quality construction, and drastic improvements, both in functionality and aesthetics. You worked for a year in the United States. Can work experiences in America and Serbia even be compared? What would you highlight as something particularly valuable for you, and how much of the new experiences and knowledge were you able to apply in your work here? – America is truly something invaluable in my experience. At first, you do feel a bit intimidated. You’re left breathless by all those billions, astonished by the millions of square meters in large projects and the massive retail chains like HOME DEPOT (around 2,300 DIY stores). You find yourself in business plans worth hundreds of millions of dollars, while just yesterday, things were on a much smaller scale. However, business still has its universal rules; trade is simple if you approach it that way, and very quickly, you realize that whether you're in Serbia or America, you're still dealing with people, not billions of dollars. And that’s really the turning point – you turn to your own reasoning, experience, and knowledge, and jump into the game on "foreign turf." Americans are undoubtedly target-oriented, focused on achieving results, always measuring what has been done and how profitable it is. If you immerse yourself in that way of thinking and operating, you can’t help but succeed in that environment. I think I had that approach before, but working in America reinforced it and confirmed it to myself. Yes, the confidence I gained in the U.S. is certainly the most important thing I brought back, and it means a lot to me now in this new company. What, in your opinion, are the biggest challenges managers face, regardless of the sector they operate in? – I have only one answer – the biggest challenge is the employees. In my opinion, people management makes up 80% of management. I believe this is precisely where successful companies and good managers separate themselves from the less successful ones, modern from traditional, and innovative from those who stagnate, and so on. Every salesperson must find a way to sell more of the product range that brings them higher profits. So, not "sales for the sake of sales," but "sales for the sake of profit." This year, there has been a decline in real estate transactions, as well as a drop in the number of issued building permits. The construction sector's turnover parameters for the first six months also show a decline, so we are interested in your opinion on the current situation in the construction sector. – You’re right. We all notice the stagnation and decline. It’s clear that 2021 was the peak of that five-year cycle, and now, in 2023, market conditions are changing. My impression is that the decline will continue until the end of 2023, and 2024 will be a significant challenge for everyone. How do you assess the current situation in the paints and coatings market? – It follows the general trend of the construction industry. However, no matter the crisis or decline, manufacturers whose product portfolio is based on renovation and refurbishment materials (renovating and maintaining buildings) will feel the negative trends less than those who predominantly deal with materials for new construction (concrete, steel, cement, bricks...). How will the construction and paints and coatings sectors in Serbia and the region develop in the future? – That’s a tough question and a difficult answer. I believe the second half of 2023 and all of 2024 will be a period in which the market decline will continue. What motivates you professionally to pursue new development and advancement? – Let’s have a little laugh – you’ve got to make a living somehow. Every new company is a new treasure trove of knowledge, skills, and experiences. I still get excited when I learn something new and realize that I can continue raising my own professional bar. I’m not sure how the readers will interpret this, but only now have I really started enjoying the work I do, and I want even more. How do you assess the current situation in the paints and coatings market? – It follows the general trend of the construction industry. However, no matter the crisis or decline, manufacturers whose product portfolio is based on renovation and refurbishment materials (renovating and maintaining buildings) will feel the negative trends less than those who predominantly deal with materials for new construction (concrete, steel, cement, bricks...). What activities do you dedicate yourself to outside of work, and how do you like to spend your free time? – That’s the easiest one – I enjoy spending time with my family, with my children, my wife, and my two dogs, all of whom I love immensely. I also find time to watch sports, and lately, I've been playing padel with friends, going to restaurants, taking walks... and that's about it. 2002–2007: Executive Director of Commercial Affairs, Rubin AD, 2007–2008: Distribution Manager, Jezero d.o.o., 2010–2012: Distribution Manager, Toza Marković d.o.o., 2012–2021: Distribution Manager, Sika, 2021–2022: Sales Manager, Sika USA, 2022: Regional Sales Director, TKK, 2022: Commercial Director, Bekament.

THIS YEAR AGAIN, BIZLIFE AND DELTA MOTORS CONTINUE TO ORGANIZE THE RECOGNIZABLE EVENT AT NAVAK, WHERE REPRESENTATIVES OF THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY MAKE QUICK AND SMART DECISIONS ON THE TRACK, DRIVING NEW MODELS OF BMW AND MINI.

The second round of the 2023 season in the car driving competition has been held. The best from the business world demonstrated that good managers and good drivers have a lot in common and handled BMW sports and business machines exceptionally well.

When you have a reliable vehicle, you’ll achieve the necessary speed

Dajana Beočanin Đorđević, Project Sales Director at Bekament

What do a good driver and a good manager have in common?

Drawing a parallel between a good driver and a good manager, I can say that there are three key connection points. The first and most important is the steering skill, as this ability to control and steer fundamentally represents a coordinated activity that enables one to follow the desired route. Next in the list of shared traits are certainly the skills of adapting to different situations and recognizing potential risks, because in driving, as well as in management, there is a constant presence of various challenges in the immediate or broader environment, which require timely and rational responses to achieve positive results. Finally, I would certainly mention passion – the passion for driving, the passion for the job. It drives us, it dispels our fears, it motivates us to drive longer and longer stretches more confidently, to reach higher goals, and thus become more mature, experienced, and wiser – both as managers and as drivers.

Drivers often have to change tactics during a race. Have you ever been in such a situation?

Viewing business in the context of a racing track primarily points to the ability of the person "behind the wheel," who needs to possess leadership skills and make tactical decisions to achieve strategic goals. By monitoring the competition and knowing the characteristics and performance of their "vehicle," the driver must recognize the situation in a fraction of a second and react in a way that steers their drive toward a win for their team.

When this entire story is placed within the framework of project sales, quick response to market demands is crucial for securing deals, but for the success of any project, the key factors are a well-established strategy and timely tactical decisions that will elevate the partnership to a higher level and ensure long-term collaboration, because, after all, good business is the key to long-term success.

In your opinion, what qualities make a champion?

Faith in oneself, sharpness, and respect for the competition.

In your career (and in private life), is speed or reliability more important to you?

One is closely correlated with the other for achieving a successful result, because when you have a reliable vehicle, you will also achieve the necessary speed.

Bekament

The power is in our hands

THE COMPANY BEKAMENT IS THE RECIPIENT OF THE "ŠIROKO SRCE" (BIG HEART) AWARD, WHICH IT WON AS THE MOST HUMANITARIAN ORGANIZATION WITH THE HIGHEST NUMBER OF BLOOD DONORS IN 2022. The award was presented by the Red Cross of Serbia on the occasion of World Blood Donor Day. On behalf of Bekament, the award was received by colleagues Ivan Radukanović, Human Resources Director, and Vesna Gušić, Operations Expert. In addition to the awarded companies, two of our colleagues, Miloš Mitrović and Zoran Mijatović, were also recognized as blood donors who have donated blood more than 50 times. Bekament The power is in our hands