Ivan Trbusic

Background

About Ivan Trbusic

OctoForge wasn’t born out of a business plan, it was forged out of passion, precision, and years spent learning what real craftsmanship means. Before OctoForge, I worked and still working in the automotive world, my journey started at Avis & Budget, where I managed people, cars, and expectations, often all at once. I started as driver then a Car Rental Assistant, learned the ropes from the ground up, and earned my promotion to Shift Manager and Office Manager through dedication, consistency, and customer trust. Those years taught me how much the details matter, how every good experience, just like every well-made part, depends on care and accountability. But my story with craftsmanship started long before that. I began as a shomaker, worked as s bootmaker spending long days shaping leather, hammering heels, and perfecting each stitch by hand. Making up to eighteen pairs of boots a day, I learned the value of rhythm, precision, and focus. In that workshop, I discovered something that never left me, the quiet satisfaction of creating something lasting with your own hands. During my studies, I was awarded a scholarship from the City of Zagreb, the Ministry of Education, and the Society of Craftsmen of Zagreb. I proudly represented my school at state-level craftsmanship competitions, earning recognition for my handmade work. Those experiences solidified what would later become the foundation of OctoForge: respect for skill, tradition, and authenticity. OctoForge is the natural result of that journey, a place where craftsmanship meets technology, where precision engineering honors the soul of classic automobiles. It’s built on one belief: that innovation should serve heritage, not replace it. Here, we don’t just help restore cars. We revive stories. We preserve history. We keep the spirit of the classics alive, one part, one detail, one heartbeat at a time.