For a family-owned business like Artina Promotional Products, it’s all about relationships. And the opportunity to make new connections at networking events is a big reason why Artina has been a member of Experience Columbus for 42 years.
Art Bouzounis, vice president & marketing at Artina, sees networking opportunities among the most valuable benefits offered by Experience Columbus.
“Events such as the monthly Evening Exchange help me connect with the visitor industry,” he says. “I can get to know the business owners, meeting and event planners, trade show coordinators and other professionals who use the types of products we sell.”
Bouzounis attends seven to eight of the monthly Evening Exchanges each year and never misses the Experience Columbus Annual Event.
“I get a lot of enjoyment out of it,” he says. ” I like that Evening Exchange is held in different locations around Central Ohio, so you get to see new places.”
Bouzounis also encourages Artina employees to attend Experience Columbus networking functions.
“They are very busy, but in our business it is extremely beneficial to meet people face-to-face, catch up with old friends and meet new members,” he says. “Of course, the ultimate goal is to get new clients. And when we meet people and have a good time with them, it often turns into business.
“Once we establish relationships with our customers they become our friends, too. The rapport we establish creates loyalty, on both sides. When you’re doing business with a friend, you don’t want to let them down.”
Artina was founded in 1967 by Bouzounis’s father, Chris. He joined Experience Columbus in 1970, when he was looking for ways to connect with trade shows and events. The company is now headed by Bouzounis and his sister, Matina, the company president.
While many may regard promotional products as simply items with logos, Bouzounis sees Artina as a marketing agent, helping people brand and promote their businesses or services. From large corporations to small retailers, and no matter what size the budget, every employee at Artina strives to offer creative ideas and business solutions.
“We pride ourselves on finding the right product for the right customer at the right time,” he says.
And evidently they have been successful at that. Artina was voted best promotional products company by readers of Columbus CEO magazine in 2011.
“We have been developing relationships with our customers for 45 years,” Bouzounis says. “Experience Columbus helped us do that in the past, and our membership continues to benefit our business in many ways. I’m a big believer in what Experience Columbus does.”
For more information about how membership in Experience Columbus can benefit your business, contact Melissa DeGraw Metz at 614-222-6126 or [email protected].
To learn more about Artina Promotional Products, visit Artina.com.
