Post by Vizier of Oz on Mar 29, 2010 9:53:07 GMT -5
Waving the flag
Despina Pavlaki
Issue No. 13383
Ioanna Kousi: promoting pride for 37 years IT WAS 1897 when Elias Kokkonis started his umbrella business in Smyrna. The flags came a lot later, when news of the imminent Greek occupation was leaked on 1 May 1919.
“The time has come - Greece has been called upon by the Allies of World War I to occupy Smyrna,” then Greek prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos said in his official address.
Elias Kokkonis immediately got to work, sewing flags in secret for fear of arousing the Turkish authorities. The Ottoman ruling class already referred to the town as Infidel Smyrna (gavur Izmir) due to its strong Greek presence, so preparations were very hush-hush.
The occupation by 20,000 Greek soldiers began on May 15. They seized control of the surrounding areas under cover of the Greek, French and British navies.
Short-lived
Kokkonis’ business was booming, but not for long. By 1922 the Turkish forces had regained control of the city and the family was forcibly evacuated to Greece with only the clothes on their backs.
Once in Athens, he would soon enough reopen the shop, with the company known today as Elias Kokkonis Ltd.
“They had to start all over again - they didn’t manage to salvage a thing,” said current owner Eleni Kokkoni, Elias’ granddaughter. “All they took was what they could carry by hand. Grandfather took out some loans and rebuilt the company from scratch. His six children all went into the business but they’ve all passed away now, so it’s down to me.”
Today, the shop in central Athens trades in flags, flagpoles, banners, trophies, medals and umbrellas of all descriptions. In flags alone, some 200 nations are represented.
“Our factory is in Metamorfosi and we have a second outlet in Halandri,” says shop employee Ioanna Kousi, who has been with the company for 37 years. “We work with the public sector, ministries, churches, military units, schools, associations, companies and walk-in customers, of course.”
Downsizing
Recently abandoning their larger four-storey location across the street, they can now be found at 8 Stoa Arsakiou, somewhat sadder for giving up grandfather Elias’ original shop, but a lot more convenient for all intents and purposes.
“A large part of our business is conducted by email, so people no longer have a reason to drop in,” Kokkoni says. “We were holding on to it for sentimental reasons - we’d been there since 1927 and it was very hard to let go, but people move on.”
True enough. The historical Kokkonis location was a lot more than a mere commercial destination while the founder was still alive. Attracting displaced intellectuals, politicians and friends, it became a real cultural hub, jokingly referred to as the “Smyrna consulate”.
Though the flag trade wasn’t the sort of profession a girl would necessarily choose for herself, Eleni Kokkoni was born into it. Going into the family business was always a given.
‘Special place’
“It’s not just a job for me,” she said. “There are some commercial aspects to it - for example advertising flags and banners - that don’t mean all that much to me, but the Greek flag holds a special place in my heart. My dad and I never missed a parade, it made us feel so proud!”
Despite their established niche, Elias Kokonis Ltd has taken a financial blow, same as has just about every commercial enterprise, as a great part of their revenue relied on promotional material (advertising flags and banners). And that’s not even taking into account the illegal street vendors cashing in on the national holiday with Greek flags made in China.
“I have a 19-year-old daughter who’s been showing a lot of interest in taking over, so, hopefully, the business will be passed on to the fourth generation,” Kokkoni says. “Provided it survives the credit crunch, of course.”
www.athensnews.gr/articles/13383/28/03/2010/26614
Despina Pavlaki
Issue No. 13383
Ioanna Kousi: promoting pride for 37 years IT WAS 1897 when Elias Kokkonis started his umbrella business in Smyrna. The flags came a lot later, when news of the imminent Greek occupation was leaked on 1 May 1919.
“The time has come - Greece has been called upon by the Allies of World War I to occupy Smyrna,” then Greek prime minister Eleftherios Venizelos said in his official address.
Elias Kokkonis immediately got to work, sewing flags in secret for fear of arousing the Turkish authorities. The Ottoman ruling class already referred to the town as Infidel Smyrna (gavur Izmir) due to its strong Greek presence, so preparations were very hush-hush.
The occupation by 20,000 Greek soldiers began on May 15. They seized control of the surrounding areas under cover of the Greek, French and British navies.
Short-lived
Kokkonis’ business was booming, but not for long. By 1922 the Turkish forces had regained control of the city and the family was forcibly evacuated to Greece with only the clothes on their backs.
Once in Athens, he would soon enough reopen the shop, with the company known today as Elias Kokkonis Ltd.
“They had to start all over again - they didn’t manage to salvage a thing,” said current owner Eleni Kokkoni, Elias’ granddaughter. “All they took was what they could carry by hand. Grandfather took out some loans and rebuilt the company from scratch. His six children all went into the business but they’ve all passed away now, so it’s down to me.”
Today, the shop in central Athens trades in flags, flagpoles, banners, trophies, medals and umbrellas of all descriptions. In flags alone, some 200 nations are represented.
“Our factory is in Metamorfosi and we have a second outlet in Halandri,” says shop employee Ioanna Kousi, who has been with the company for 37 years. “We work with the public sector, ministries, churches, military units, schools, associations, companies and walk-in customers, of course.”
Downsizing
Recently abandoning their larger four-storey location across the street, they can now be found at 8 Stoa Arsakiou, somewhat sadder for giving up grandfather Elias’ original shop, but a lot more convenient for all intents and purposes.
“A large part of our business is conducted by email, so people no longer have a reason to drop in,” Kokkoni says. “We were holding on to it for sentimental reasons - we’d been there since 1927 and it was very hard to let go, but people move on.”
True enough. The historical Kokkonis location was a lot more than a mere commercial destination while the founder was still alive. Attracting displaced intellectuals, politicians and friends, it became a real cultural hub, jokingly referred to as the “Smyrna consulate”.
Though the flag trade wasn’t the sort of profession a girl would necessarily choose for herself, Eleni Kokkoni was born into it. Going into the family business was always a given.
‘Special place’
“It’s not just a job for me,” she said. “There are some commercial aspects to it - for example advertising flags and banners - that don’t mean all that much to me, but the Greek flag holds a special place in my heart. My dad and I never missed a parade, it made us feel so proud!”
Despite their established niche, Elias Kokonis Ltd has taken a financial blow, same as has just about every commercial enterprise, as a great part of their revenue relied on promotional material (advertising flags and banners). And that’s not even taking into account the illegal street vendors cashing in on the national holiday with Greek flags made in China.
“I have a 19-year-old daughter who’s been showing a lot of interest in taking over, so, hopefully, the business will be passed on to the fourth generation,” Kokkoni says. “Provided it survives the credit crunch, of course.”
www.athensnews.gr/articles/13383/28/03/2010/26614