Tina Glavanovitz founded Impi Bag while studying and won our Enterprise challenge in 2020 for the innovative idea. Her business creates practical bags that hold all the essentials for busy modern customers on the go. We reached out to her to catch up on her business since leaving university.
Introduce yourself and your business.
“IMPIBAG simply keeps you organized!”
In the heart of Vienna, amidst its famed artistic finesse and historic craftsmanship, a new chapter in practical luxury has begun with the creation of Impibag. Born from a moment of everyday frustration, I turned the all-too-familiar hunt for lost keys within the depths of a handbag into a vision of elegance and organization. Impibag is not just a handbag; it’s a combination of practicality and style. Each Impibag is meticulously designed to house your essentials – phones, keys, cards, and money – in dedicated pockets, ensuring they're protected and accessible. Say goodbye to the frantic search at the bottom of your bag, and hello to a new era of convenience.
Tell us about your experience entering the Enterprise Challenge.
I joined with the simple goal to learn, and the outcome exceeded my expectations. My mentor, seasoned with real-world business experience, guided me to the next level of growth. Workshops became the arenas where I connected with fellow enthusiasts, polished my skills, sought out new concepts, and formed meaningful friendships. It was an ideal learning journey. Presentations became my practice ground for pitching to investors, igniting my critical thinking. Now, I'm energised to keep expanding my horizons and eager to support others in reaching their aspirations.
What was your experience of starting a business while studying, and what do you think are the benefits?
Building a brand while studying was a real roller coaster—challenging, but thrilling. Balancing coursework with entrepreneurship taught me time management and prioritization like nothing else. One of the biggest benefits was being able to immediately apply what I learned in class to the business in real-time, which enriched my understanding of both academics and practical business operations. Plus, the university environment provided a great support system of mentors and peers, ideal for bouncing off ideas and getting honest feedback.
What’s the biggest lesson you learned from starting a business?
Listen to your gut, but don’t shy away from fear. I haven’t met anyone who succeeded right off the bat; success is usually full of ups and downs. Identify what truly motivates you and remember it while working towards your goals. Keep in mind, your source of motivation might differ from what drives others. For instance, I've always focused on perfecting our designs, enhancing our marketing, and improving how we track progress. I take great joy in sharing my experiences and encouraging others to achieve their goals as well. And it's precisely these sources of inspiration that sustained me, particularly through the tough times.
What advice would you give to students entering the Enterprise Challenge this year?
Firstly, figure out why you want to participate and cling to that reason. It's likely you'll have other commitments, which is completely normal. What helped me the most in the challenge was staying focused on my goals and motivations. My keenness to learn was the key to not just getting through the challenge, but actually enjoying it. Secondly, prioritise. Your strategy doesn't need to be flawless, nor does your idea need to be fully thought through. What's important is that whatever you work on or present is logical, that you have a fair understanding of what you're doing, and that you see incremental improvement at each step.
What have you been working on after the Enterprise Challenge?
I continued on much the same path as I did during the challenge, albeit with a bit more money after winning first prize. Humour aside, I've been honing my craft and expanding our catalogue with new collections and designs. Navigating the pandemic was a challenge in its own right. We had to pivot our sales strategy from a balanced mix of 50% online and 50% in-person to fully online in just a few days, which was tough. Amidst the turmoil, I decided to leverage TikTok to share our story and, fortunately, our content went viral. This move was one of several small yet impactful steps we took during difficult times, which collectively contributed to an increase in both revenue and reach.
