Jagros, d.o.o.

Dreams came true with the first store

Before 1989, when Slovenian citizens were not allowed to open their own companies, Franc Jager worked for Hmezad as an organizer of co-op storesand dreamed of opening his own. In 1989, as soon as it was possible, he registered a company, bought land in Rogaška Slatina and built his first store. The family already had a farm, but Franc firmly believed in his decision.

The beginning of his entrepreneurial career was modest and frugal. Franc gradually expanded his activities, always taking care to ensure costs did not exceed revenue. He always remembered the words of his friends who advised him never take a loan for more than half of the investment, as that is sure to lead to failure sooner or later. The family sticks to this rule to this very day.

Franc believes the most important thing for an entrepreneur is to use their common sense and to be modest. He selected locations for new stores based on market analysis and his own intuition. When both elements created a success story, it brought him immense satisfaction.

Gradually taking over the company

More than 20 years ago, Franc gave his sons the first minority shares in the family company, prior to which he was the only owner of the store chain. At that moment they all agreed to go forward with the company and divided the responsibilities. “Both father and mother worked in the stores and perhaps having experience passed down by both gave us our advantage,” says the eldest son Aleš Jager, Director, responsible for Appliances, Logistics and Investment. “Mother Marija was our mentor and our glue, our magnet, when things went ‘awry’,” agree all three sons.

Two years ago, Franc retired and handed the company reins to his sons, while Marija remained as an Authorized Representative. The results of the last two years have confirmed that he made the right decision.

The sons continue in their father’s shoes

The sons started helping on the farm very early on, while the most important thing for Franc was that they got an education and learned to work. Even though a decade separates the eldest Aleš and the youngest Miha, all three work excellently together and they point out that their differences are also their advantage.

The eldest son Aleš completed agricultural school but found no jobs available, so he took the opportunity to start working for his parents, who had just opened their first store. He remembers that while many people were opening stores at that time, the Jagers also stocked construction and agriculture goods, which was their added value.

Boštjan, the middle son, has always had an entrepreneurial spirit and has been part of the family company ever since he was small. He reveals that he learned to count with money at the store. “Father and mother were always very trusting and Aleš and I soon started working independently. Each of us developed further in our strongest fields,” says Boštjan.“There was no ‘if you want to’ in our family, you simply had to do things,” remembers the youngest brother Miha. The topic of his graduate thesis at Gea College was transfer of ownership in a family enterprise. He is now Director, responsible for IT, Computer Science and Security.  His older brothers were his mentors and sometimes even surrogate parents. “I really appreciate them and I often ask myself how they would react in a given situation,” says Miha about his brothers. “Our youngest brother is the bridge between us and the third generation, who are also starting to work in the company,” adds Aleš.

Their greatest challenges today are expanding their activities, investing smartly, and maintaining progress. They constantly monitor the market in search of new opportunities and carefully consider every investment, still sharing their father’s conservative approach to managing the company.  “We only take out loans that we can pay back and we try to approach business with common sense,” explains Aleš. “The company is always at the top of the priority list and we come second,” says Boštjan and adds that they invest all profit back into the company.

Advantages of a family-owned company

What are the key advantages of a family enterprise? All three brothers agree on the ability to reach agreements quickly, plus mutual trust. They collaborate very democratically and trust each other to do their work well. “We were given and took on responsibility for our work at an early age and when we became owners, this did not change,” says Miha. He adds that in his view, the main advantage of a family-owned company is greater personal connection and greater involvement in the company.

“Another major advantage is greater drive and 100% responsiveness,” adds Boštjan. “When other employees see how hard the family members work, they are motivated to follow their example,” adds father Franc. Of course, as in every family, the Jagers sometimes face disagreements and differences of opinion, but this only strengthens them and prepares them for future changes.

They are planning to remain a family enterprise in the future. “The company is now managed by us, three brothers, and each of us is responsible for different areas. My wife manages the HR team and my brother’s daughter Urša already works in retail controlling. My son Nik and daughter Dona also help occasionally and we are one of the few Slovenian family companies with the third generation already actively involved. We have good business results, we are developing and growing and are always looking for new opportunities,” says Boštjan. He adds: “We are not forcing anyone, but the doors are open to everyone.”

Family values are integrated into the business culture

The most effective way to motivate co-workers is a positive approach which sets an example. “Our company values are hard work, solidarity, compassion, team spirit, respect for business agreements and care for employees,” says Aleš. He adds: “During the COVID-19 pandemic, Boštjan really had a lot of work. He monitored official statements and news every evening and then notified all 40 stores of any new developments, because we were worried about the entire team.”

They put their employees first, which is why they have created a kind, safe and stable worenvironment for them. The brothers are often present in the stores and are always available to co-workers for daily open communication. “We don’t see our employees just as numbers. We treat everyone equally and they appreciate that,” says Boštjan. He adds that their employee turnover rate is low, thanks to good relationships and the support they offer. The Jagers believe it is important that employees like their work and approach customers positively, and that is why they are all encouraged towards personal and professional growth. “We like to employ people who grow with us and are committed to the company; we really operate like a big family,” adds Aleš.

Their vision is for high-quality choice

All their business decisions are carefully planned and this will not change in the future. “We are financially stable and not in debt. Our strength is built on the experience of two generations, deeply rooted in the will to succeed and a clear vision of the future.” They want to be the best store chain in the Štajerska region and the whole of Slovenia and will continue to strengthentheir business advantages. “We want to stay recognizable for our low prices, excellent service, high-quality products, friendly staff and satisfied customers,” points out Aleš. They stand out from other stores because they provide a well-rounded range of high-quality products even in smaller towns and villages.

They also have several investments planned: construction of a new logistics warehouse in Hoče, regional expansion and a larger workforce. “We will continue to be a well-organized company, based on our core values of responsibility to our employees and to the natural and social environments we live in,” concludes Aleš.