A MAN FROM SRBAC TURNED WOOD INTO A BRAND

At a time when traditional crafts are increasingly overshadowed by mass production, the story of Siniša Tomić shows how dedication, craftsmanship, and modern technology can come together to create an authentic family brand.

PHOTO: Glas Srpske

For the past eight years, Tomić has been running his workshop “Wood Work By Sina,” where he creates unique handmade wooden products ranging from dining and coffee tables to children’s toys, playgrounds, decorative items, and personalized serving boards.

His entrepreneurial journey, however, was not carefully planned, but born out of necessity.

“I have been working at Drvoprodeks for 12 years, constantly surrounded by wood. At one point, our family income was simply not enough, and the apartment loan repayment was taking almost half of what we earned. I had to find an additional source of income. When I heard that a colleague was selling old machines, the idea of starting my own brand was born,” Tomić recalled.

Today, his workshop is dominated by solid natural wood, primarily oak and walnut, but also cherry, poplar, and ash. This dedication to natural materials gives his products durability and a distinctive character. One of his most sought-after products are personalized serving boards, with nearly 50 different models currently available.

According to Tomić, creating a single serving board takes between two and a half and three hours, from cutting and gluing to sanding, engraving, and oil finishing.

“People increasingly appreciate handmade products and personalization. The CNC laser helps me a lot with engraving, and I can even transfer a family photograph onto wood as a lasting memory,” he explained.

Still, not every creative idea proves commercially profitable. Tomić mentioned wooden toy loaders and dump trucks, as well as kitchens made entirely of solid wood, as examples of projects that require enormous amounts of time and effort.

“For these toys, the machine works for 12 hours, and then I spend another four hours assembling everything by hand. The time investment is huge, while the profit is small, so it simply does not pay off. Solid wood kitchens require more advanced tools and precision. That would mean entering serious mass production, and I want to have more time for my family,” he said

Besides woodworking, Tomić and his family are also developing another project called “Kokin Grad,” a small free-range egg farm.

“It was not some big business idea. It happened spontaneously. I’m a foodie, I love eating, and if I do not eat five or six eggs in the morning, it feels like I have not even started the day. I would recommend everyone to consume more homemade eggs because they are healthier. When you crack a homemade egg into a pan, the yolk has a rich orange color, unlike industrial eggs, which are much paler,” Tomić noted.

Particular attention has been drawn to the rare Indonesian chicken breed ayam cemani, which he recently introduced to the farm. These chickens are completely black, including their meat.

“People are not used to black chickens, but their meat is richer in protein. At the moment, we have one rooster and four hens, and we plan to expand the flock through incubation. Interestingly, they still have strong bird instincts and can easily fly over a two-and-a-half-meter fence,” he explained.

Balancing daily responsibilities is not easy, but family support plays a crucial role in everything he does.

“It is difficult to manage everything alone, but I have support. My wife Andrea enjoys painting playgrounds, my father helps with the chickens, the children collect eggs, and everyone is involved. Cooking is my second passion, so when my wife and I are at home, I usually prepare meals, although my mother often cooks as well. That love was born in childhood — my mother taught me in the kitchen, while my father constantly encouraged me to work and learn other skills. Since I am an only child, they wanted to teach me everything,” Tomić said with a smile.