Welcome to the first in a week long series where we introduce you to local businesses and business owners. The holidays are a great time to think globally and act locally with your purchasing power. Today we meet Kevin Ferguson of Infinity Jewelers and Infinity Gifts & Beyond, located in the Mayfair section of Northeast Philadelphia.
HOW LONG HAS INFINITY JEWELERS BEEN IN BUSINESS?
"16 years."
DID YOU START THE BUSINESS ON YOUR OWN?
"Yes we did. We were in business down in Frankford for 10 years before this, so 27 years total. Me and the rest of the staff. Then we all merged together and we came here."
THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR IS YOURS AS WELL?
"Yes, that's our gift store. We do all our novelty gifts there." (Infinity Gifts & Beyond)
HAS THAT BEEN THERE FOR 16 YEARS AS WELL?
"No, that's been there nine years."
"16 years."
DID YOU START THE BUSINESS ON YOUR OWN?
"Yes we did. We were in business down in Frankford for 10 years before this, so 27 years total. Me and the rest of the staff. Then we all merged together and we came here."
THE BUILDING NEXT DOOR IS YOURS AS WELL?
"Yes, that's our gift store. We do all our novelty gifts there." (Infinity Gifts & Beyond)
HAS THAT BEEN THERE FOR 16 YEARS AS WELL?
"No, that's been there nine years."
HOW DID YOU GET INTO THE JEWELRY BUSINESS?
"I started at age 15. I was a counter boy. So it worked out well. We slowly progressed and progressed. We worked for a company that knew a lot of the tradesman, people on the back end of it. That's where we learned everything that we had to learn and we eventually moved here in 1998. And the rest has been history. We like the neighborhood. People are very good to us here. It's a small store, nothing big. Everybody feels like family in here. We try to remember everyone's names. That's really important."
DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY OBSTACLES?
"The beginning was a little tough. Starting a business and leaving a job is always tough. You take a cut in salary and getting loans is very hard too. Small business loans especially. It was a little but of a struggle, but we did it."
IS THIS A TOUGH BUSINESS TO GET INTO?
"It's a heavy startup. That's why everybody is like second, third and fourth generation. I'm first generation, that's very hard in this business. You have to come up with a lot of money. You have to be lucky in a lot of ways too. Customer service definitely is number one for this business. You gotta stand behind everything. We try to warranty everything we do for people. Which is very important. You don't wanna come back to a jeweler when something is broken, next thing you know they say they're going to charge you to fix it."
WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS IN YOUR INDUSTRY OR EVEN IN THIS AREA?
"We make everything ourselves, in house, so I can save you a lot of money. We also have a whole CADCAM division (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing). It's where you can bring a picture in of anything and we can make it. We have a 3 dimensional wax printer. We do everything here, top to bottom. C&C mill, castings, all of our metals are done here, our settings, we have a platinum smith too. Everything is done here on the premises. So, it's a short turn-around. We have three jewelers on the premises and three setters."
"I started at age 15. I was a counter boy. So it worked out well. We slowly progressed and progressed. We worked for a company that knew a lot of the tradesman, people on the back end of it. That's where we learned everything that we had to learn and we eventually moved here in 1998. And the rest has been history. We like the neighborhood. People are very good to us here. It's a small store, nothing big. Everybody feels like family in here. We try to remember everyone's names. That's really important."
DID YOU ENCOUNTER ANY OBSTACLES?
"The beginning was a little tough. Starting a business and leaving a job is always tough. You take a cut in salary and getting loans is very hard too. Small business loans especially. It was a little but of a struggle, but we did it."
IS THIS A TOUGH BUSINESS TO GET INTO?
"It's a heavy startup. That's why everybody is like second, third and fourth generation. I'm first generation, that's very hard in this business. You have to come up with a lot of money. You have to be lucky in a lot of ways too. Customer service definitely is number one for this business. You gotta stand behind everything. We try to warranty everything we do for people. Which is very important. You don't wanna come back to a jeweler when something is broken, next thing you know they say they're going to charge you to fix it."
WHAT DO YOU THINK SETS YOU APART FROM OTHERS IN YOUR INDUSTRY OR EVEN IN THIS AREA?
"We make everything ourselves, in house, so I can save you a lot of money. We also have a whole CADCAM division (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing). It's where you can bring a picture in of anything and we can make it. We have a 3 dimensional wax printer. We do everything here, top to bottom. C&C mill, castings, all of our metals are done here, our settings, we have a platinum smith too. Everything is done here on the premises. So, it's a short turn-around. We have three jewelers on the premises and three setters."
ROSEANNE ALESSIO: (Manager)
"We also do the police and fireman's 20 year ring. Artisans, AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians), LAOH (Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians). We're affiliated with a lot of different organizations. We also do a lot with the teamsters and high schools too."
KEVIN:
"Roseanne was one of the first people to leave with me when I opened the store."
ROSEANNE:
"We talked about it for one year."
KEVIN:
"It's tough moving on since we were at the other place for a long time."
*We at One, Unified can't say enough about how friendly, professional, and courteous Kevin and the entire staff at Infinity were. We were extremely impressed with their dedication to their business, their professional knowledge, their product and to customer satisfaction above all else. They made us feel very at home in their store. They had exquisite pieces of jewelry and beautiful items to fit all budgets. And best of all, anyone mentioning "One Unified" will receive 10% off their in-store purchase (excluding engagement rings) at both Infinity Jewelers and Infinity Gifts and Beyond locations.*
"We also do the police and fireman's 20 year ring. Artisans, AOH (Ancient Order of Hibernians), LAOH (Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians). We're affiliated with a lot of different organizations. We also do a lot with the teamsters and high schools too."
KEVIN:
"Roseanne was one of the first people to leave with me when I opened the store."
ROSEANNE:
"We talked about it for one year."
KEVIN:
"It's tough moving on since we were at the other place for a long time."
*We at One, Unified can't say enough about how friendly, professional, and courteous Kevin and the entire staff at Infinity were. We were extremely impressed with their dedication to their business, their professional knowledge, their product and to customer satisfaction above all else. They made us feel very at home in their store. They had exquisite pieces of jewelry and beautiful items to fit all budgets. And best of all, anyone mentioning "One Unified" will receive 10% off their in-store purchase (excluding engagement rings) at both Infinity Jewelers and Infinity Gifts and Beyond locations.*
| Infinity Jewelers and Infinity Gifts & Beyond are located at: 3526 & 3528 Cottman Ave. Philadelphia, Pa 215-708-1700 Find them on the web at: www.infinityjewlers.com And check them out on Facebook |  |
