“BNI is a structured environment for the quality developping of businesses”.

The Baltic Times (TBT): What is BNI? Principles? Philosophy?
Nerijus Lungys, BNI Area Director : The philosophy of BNI (Business Network International) is built upon the idea of “Givers Gain”. BNI offers members the opportunity to share ideas, contacts, networks and most importantly, business referrals. Being a member of BNI is like having sales people working for you every day who market your product or service.
BNI was created 30 years ago and now operates in more than 50 countries. The Eastern Europe chapters are coordinated by experienced Swedish entrepreneur Gunnar Selheden (he owns the franchise for Scandinavia, Poland and Baltics), Baltic chapters are animated by Nerijus Lungys. BNI Lithuania was opened in February of 2014.

What is the added value to its services and members?
BNI provides a positive, supportive, and structured environment for the development and exchange of quality business referrals. It does so by helping to build personal relationships with dozens of other qualified business professionals, who are like strategic partners to each other.
BNI is a place where to share ideas. Successful businesses depend on word-of-mouth, the best advertising there is, and BNI helps to utilize it.
Since referral is always a matter of the reputation of the one, BNI Code of Ethics implies quality recommendation, and, mutual services and cooperation of members.

What is unique about BNI in the Baltics and Eastern Europe?
The unique system of BNI that was developed 30 years ago comprises world’s best networking practices, meaning specific rules and agenda to follow so that everyone gets a chance to speak, pass the business cards, learn something new each time and work together to achieve better results. Sometimes our Baltic mentality does not allow us to be brave enough to talk to strangers, therefore we are not always very good at effective networks. BNI offers a platform where even the shiest guest will be able to network and grow their business.

What do members and others say about BNI Baltics?
After having participated in BNI meetings guests not belonging to the organisation often conclude that they have observed a unique meeting filled with positivity and cooperation. One more sign that BNI is changing the way the world, and in the Baltics, does business in Baltics. Artiom Maslov CEO of UAB “NBCS”, which provides IT infrastructure solutions and has gained 115 000 euros in five months of BNI membership, says that BNI allowed him to socialize with a group of 40 business professionals who’s services, values and advices took his business to the next level.

What are the upcoming projects for the year 2015?
We have scheduled the first informative meeting for March 17th. The next one will be on March 31st. After Easter, the core group of first chapter will start working and they will be meeting every Tuesday from 7 am to 9 am.

BNI Tel +370.620.49.707 - facebook.com/BNIOfficialpage