"I know, I know, who thinks of going into business to make window blinds and shutters, you ask. Especially at a time when the economy is quite depressed and no building whatsoever is going on,” muses Slobodan Golubovic. "But my wife kept saying: You’re good with your hands and if there’s a market for one manufacturer, there is definitely enough room for two.” <br/>Thirteen years later, Slobodan proudly points to the sign his son Saša is mounting above the big sliding doors of the new workshop. "Alupromet” it reads. "Although we have been able to create a number of jobs, we are still very much a family operation. My wife and son join me every day in our small factory. It’s tough enough to keep up with the demand,” he beams.<br/>Alter Modus has been part of this success story from the outset. Back in 2002, Slobodan presented his idea, laid out his assets, which included a small workshop with the prerequisite tools, a house that was still under construction, a willing and able family to provide the necessary help in fulfilling orders, and a few customers who were looking forward to new window shutters. That and an initial loan of EUR 1,200 at the time was all it took to get the business off the ground.<br/>So far 17 loan cycles have helped to maintain Alupromet on a stable growth trajectory. "One of my proudest moments was when the managing director of Alter Modus contacted me to install blinds and shutters at their office. ‘That way the business stays in the family,’ he said.”