AP

RIL

20

15

WWW.ARA.ORG | 2322

RETAILERPROFILE

A FAMILY BUSINESS DRIVEN BY QUALITY BY DIANNA KAWELL

ARA 2014–2015LARGE BUSINESS RETAILER OF THE YEAR

Founded in Indianapolis 46 years ago, Bardach Awards, Inc., has grown from a neighborhood trophy shop supported by local foot traffic to an industry leader in corporate recognition with products reaching markets around the globe. President and CEO Diane Bardach-Beck attributes much of the company’s success to a commitment to quality that has driven the business since its earliest days. The latest proof of her company’s success was being honored as ARA’s 2014–2015 Large Business Retailer of the Year.

Bardach-Beck is the third generation of the Bardach family to serve as president and CEO. Her grandfather Charles founded the Broad Ripple Trophy Center in 1969, and her father, Thomas, took over the business in the 1970s. Bardach-Beck recalls fondly the shop’s original location next to a kosher restaurant; she learned the ins and outs of the awards business—and how to peel potatoes from the friendly kitchen staff. Bardach Awards has locations in north (shown) and

south Indianapolis, IN.

INDIANAPOLIS, IN

BARDACH AWARDS, INC.

Bardach Awards General Manager Steve Bardach, President and CEO Diane Bardach-Beck, and Ryan Bardach are siblings who operate the family business. Their “semiretired” father, former President and CEO Thomas Bardach.

WWW.ARA.ORG | 23

As with many family-owned businesses, if there was work to be done at the shop, the Bardach siblings would be there, setting up trophy plates or sweeping the floors. She recalls experimenting with an old model Hermes engraving machine as a child. “They would let me set up the letters and spacing,” Bardach-Beck said. “I remember doing that, and it was super fun, but they didn’t let me do real orders.”

It’s a point that hits home for her today—learning from a young age that delivering quality products has to be the Bardach trademark. “They wouldn’t let me engrave the real awards then because of the commitment to quality, because one little slip was not OK.”

Today, Bardach Awards has two locations, one on the north side of Indianapolis and one on the south side. Clients include multiple NCAA sports conferences seeking awards products for every sport, and corporations with an international scope. “We drop-ship for our corporate clients to Spain, Japan, China, and Australia, to name a few,” Bardach-Beck said. “Our products definitely have a global reach.”

FAMILY STRONG

Bardach-Beck grew up in the business, spending hours around the shop as a kid. She officially began working at Bardach Awards part-time in high school, and she started her full-time career there after graduating from Hanover College. Having done everything from engraving

to purchasing, she took over as president in 2001. With Bardach-Beck at the helm, the business has become a certified Women’s Business Enterprise.

Former President and CEO Thomas Bardach is “semi-retired”; he maintains an office on site and always enthusiastically fills in if Bardach-Beck needs to take time off. “My grandfather was better at retiring,” she laughs.

All joking aside, Thomas Bardach is an invaluable part of the operation, and the staff appreciates having him nearby. Bardach-Beck says her father was the force behind the company’s evolution in the 1980s. “My dad had the connections and vision to grow from a small trophy shop to the corporate-centered business it is today,” she said.

Bardach-Beck says her grandfather and father had very different management styles, but both worked well. “My dad is more contemplative and a planner,” she says. “My grandfather was just, ‘Let’s do it!’ He didn’t hesitate, for example, to buy a new piece of equipment. It was so interesting to see that dynamic pushing the company forward.”

Two of Bardach-Beck’s three brothers also work for Bardach Awards: General Manager Steve Bardach works in outside sales and Ryan Bardach takes the lead in operations. As with most family-owned businesses, each family member is involved with sales from time to time.

The showroom at Bardach Awards displays a variety of awards in a setting that further emphasizes their beauty and quality without clutter.

AP

RIL

20

15

WWW.ARA.ORG | 2524

RETAILERPROFILE

However, each of the three siblings focuses on a specific area of business to ensure a smooth operation.

Bardach-Beck’s 22-year-old daughter, Victoria, recently joined the mix, the fourth generation to serve the family business.

Despite having 35 employees, the closeness of family has been maintained. This was apparent when team members rallied around a fellow employee who was engaged

in a lengthy battle with cancer. A company-organized fundraiser to help with medical costs grew into a community-wide event with proceeds donated to the employee’s family. “He taught us how to suffer with grace and dignity, while demonstrating an amazing work ethic, and was an inspiration to all of us,” said Bardach-Beck of the man who passed away.

About half of the staff has 10 or more years of employment with Bardach Awards. The company rewarded one long-time Bardach employee with a bonus and a ruby-and-diamond necklace and earring set on her 40th anniversary with the company.

KEYS TO SUCCESS

Bardach-Beck says the company has changed with the times as new technology has become available. Early in her career there, she pushed to move the company from manual invoicing to a computerized system. While today it seems like a no-brainer, a distrust of computers in the 1980s created a real obstacle.

The move was the right one. Streamlining day-to-day business requirements, like data entry and inventory control, helped Bardach Awards grow. But the company isn’t putting all of its faith in gadgets and gizmos. Success at Bardach Awards is based largely on what the talented and creative staff brings to the table each day, Bardach-Beck said— “Quality for us is huge, but the creativity of our team really sets us apart.”

Bardach Awards Accounting Manager Thomas Cory and former President and CEO Thomas Bardach line up a massive order of assembled trophies in one of the shop’s production areas.

Diane Bardach-Beck displays her company’s Gold Obelisk award, bestowed upon Bardach Awards as ARA’s Large Retailer of the Year for 2014–15.

WWW.ARA.ORG | 25

Recently, a big niche product for the company has been custom cut-outs, an area where the team’s design abilities and creativity really shine. The acrylic cutouts incorporate colors and elements of brand identity, sometimes even a corporate client’s logo or a sports team’s mascot. Bardach Awards even created a hamburger flipper for a restaurant.

Each client has specific needs for their project, but Bardach-Beck believes some basic customer care principles set her company apart from the competition. Delivering a quality product is key, and price is important, she said. “Everyone wants the best product for their dollar,” she said. “They want to believe they are getting more than they are paying for.”

Also, listening to customers’ ideas is essential, even when you believe you have the perfect product in mind. “We want to meet the client’s vision and not push them toward what we think they need,” she said.

With 46 years in the awards industry, the Bardach team has established a reputation for superior client care while delivering high quality. But even after serving thousands of clients, they continue to build on that promise one client at a time, one product at a time.

Top: Diane Bardach-Beck works with Graphics Supervisor Brenda Bradley. Bottom: Bardach discusses a booster club’s perpetual plaque with a client in the company’s showroom.

Contact companies on the Advertiser Index page