Metal Marketplace International® (MMI) has championed celebrating life with gold, silver and platinum jewelry during the more than 44 years it has served the fine jewelry industry.
In fact, the Philadelphia-based precious metals jewelry manufacturer actually codified the idea to commemorate people’s moments in life with fine jewelry early on in its development, registering Celebrate with Gold® 31 years ago. Celebrate with Silver® and Celebrate with Platinum® followed.
In 2022, the company has much to celebrate as it welcomes Gina Bogda as Director of Business Development. Her first order of business since joining the team in January has been to lead the development of MMI’s new website, slated to launch late summer.
The new website, Bogda shares, will provide easier navigation, faster load times, a fully searchable database with better filters, clearer calls to action, smoother checkout process, customer price quotes for stock and custom-made styles, real-time inventory, and an overall improved online shopping experience.
“Our objective remains steadfast, delivering quality products, competitive pricing and personalized attention,” Bogda says. “Building a new e-commerce website is an incredible opportunity to better serve our customers digitally.”
No stranger to Metal Marketplace International®, Bogda worked for MMI more than 20 years ago. In fact, she is the eldest daughter of Tony Acquaviva, company President and Founder, who’s elated she’s on board. A seasoned sales and marketing professional with a degree in business management and marketing from Cornell University, Bogda worked for over a decade in fashion jewelry direct sales, where she led a multi-million dollar team as a founding leader in the field before moving to the corporate office in sales and training.
Her strengths in project management, team mentorship, communication, and marketing also led Bogda to consult for five years, helping female entrepreneurs to systemize, market, and operate their small businesses.
Bogda is passionate about creating and implementing strategic communication tools, effective systems and purposeful resources to maximize engagement and achieve results. “My Dad has spent the last 44+ years building MMI into a solid, trustworthy, and sustainable brand,” she says. “I’m excited to partner with him and MMI’s team, blending and honoring the company’s successful traditions, while integrating new systems to continue MMI’s growth, success and legacy.”
Deep, Diverse Stock
Metal Marketplace International® is one of the largest gold and silver jewelry wholesalers in the United States, serving jewelry wholesalers, independent jewelers, chain stores, department stores, and electronic retailers nationwide.
MMI maintains deep product inventory of core essential jewelry for immediate delivery. It has a vast selection of chains in a variety of precious metals, widths, and lengths. Its stock catalog of gold, silver, platinum, and branded Greg Anthony Bali® includes over 1,000 SKUs in chain and jewelry with well over $5 million of stock ready for immediate delivery.
Among MMI’s top sellers in 10K & 14K chain is true Miami Cuban (solid and semi-solid), diamond-cut rope, and adjustable chains (22, 26 and 30 inch), shares Acquaviva. The 26-inch adjustable chains are wildly popular as customers can pull the chain over their head without unclasping the necklace. They are available in wheat, cable, box, and rope in yellow, white and rose.
He notes that the paper clip link chain is very popular, and MMI can customize the paper clip to customer needs in karat, weight and color. MMI’s all-time bestseller in the fancy category sold over $6 million in one year, a faceted diamond-cut rolo chain in yellow or white gold.
MMI’s Custom-Made Links special order catalog features 3,000 styles and 33,000 selections in 12 different metals and colors, including 10K, 14K, 18K, and 22K (white, yellow, rose, two-tone and tri-color) gold, silver, platinum, and palladium with NO INVENTORY REQUIRED.
Many jewelers stock a wide selection of diamonds because when they sell a diamond, it’s a big-ticket sale that generates a nice margin, says Acquaviva. “It’s not good business for a jeweler, who knows he can sell diamonds, to lower their diamond stock to take the chance on stocking a wide assortment of heavier gold chains. MMI has solved that problem by offering Custom-Made in the USA.”
MMI is well known for its extensive selection of hoop earrings as well, including polished, and diamond-cut textured, spiraled and twisted. The earrings have a new, stronger alloy that makes them more durable, enabling MMI to extend its lifetime warranty to hoop earrings, says Acquaviva, noting ball studs, Italian earrings, and other unique styles also are in stock for immediate delivery.
Added Value & Outstanding Experienced Sales Staff
Providing exceptional service and making customers happy is a top priority for MMI, whose Sales Executive Staff has over 100 years of experience in selling jewelry to the trade – Joe Evich, Barry Hochman and Alex Grosman are experts in developing a program for your business.
“MMI offers the opportunity to sell a basic gold program and custom-made items,” Evich underscores. This program is a great compliment to selling high margin diamonds. Joe says, “Most of MMI’s gold products come with a lifetime warranty against damage, which is one of the value-added benefits it provides.”
Hochman cites the company’s slogan – Price Match Guaranteed – that means it will meet or beat any price. “MMI sells many retailers and wholesalers and we must be price-conscious at all times. This is what drives our success.”
Grosman says, “The Company strives to ship most products in one day, with items from its Custom-Made Link catalog delivered in four to six weeks. He mentions MMI’s Triple Play program where customers order $2,000 in January, pay in May; order $2,000 in May, pay in August, order $2,000 in August, and pay in December, He says, “Who in the industry gives 120 days credit 3 times a year. It’s unheard of.”
For the past five years, Acquaviva’s family pet, Berger Bee Einstein, has inspired MMI’s customers and their customers to smile in his role as company mascot. The lovable black toy poodle has graced the cover of MMI’s catalogs since 2017.
“Everyday, in thousands of jewelry stores, the Berger Bee Einstein catalog is put on the counter by the independent jeweler,” tells Acquaviva. “A customer comes in, picks it up, and always smiles when they see the dog on the cover. How can you not smile? Now the jeweler has a happy customer ready to buy!”
He reminds jewelers that many customers are unsure how to compare karat gold, and if they’re getting a fair price. “While Berger Bee Einstein doesn’t solve those problems all the time, he puts customers in a good mood. After the jeweler cites that 98 percent of the gold products in the catalog come with a lifetime warranty, then the customers really smile.”
Acquaviva cites a provocative ad he ran – MMI was Up 70% in Sales Last Year, Were You? – to engage retailers to assess the products they are buying. Contact Joe Evich (jevich@metalmarketplace.com), Barry Hochman (barry@metalmarketplace.com) or Alex Grosman (alex@metalmarketplace.com) to develop a program for your company or call 800-523-9191 to get MMI’s catalogs (available as digital copies, PDF versions or physical books mailed to your store).
Metal Marketplace International® for 44 years has great cause for celebration and gratitude for the industry and its customers. Berger Bee Einstein says, “We are happy you buy your gold and silver from Metal Marketplace International®.”
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