Mario Massarelli – Founder and president of Massarelli’s

Mario: “You can’t forget where you came from.”

1972. All in the Family was the top show on TV, and Nixon was elected for his second term. Some things stand the test of time.

That was also the year that Mario Massarelli officially opened Massarelli’s.  However, he accepted the challenge from his father, Harry long before at the young age of 8: make 50 decorative urns in 50 days from a single concrete mold. From that first mold – a small Grecian urn – Massarelli’s was born. Mario met his father’s challenge and just kept going. Today, Massarelli’s is a company unparalleled in its commitment to quality craftsmanship, durable products, and impeccable customer service.

Mario has been called the heart and soul of the company.  He’s really involved in every aspect of its “anatomy,” from designing the products to producing the designs, to assuring every order leaves complete and on time.  At one time, Mario wanted to be a carpenter. But he already had a head start in the business (his parents owned a southern New Jersey garden center), and a knack for creating products that combined visual appeal with practical durability. He decided to follow his artistic vision and, with the support of his family and trusted friends, grow Massarelli’s into an industry leader of decorative fountains and garden statuary.

“Looking back now, I still wouldn’t do anything else,” he says. “I can’t wait to get here first thing in the morning to open the door and get the day started.  Every day I get up wanting to do more, so I must have found something I love.” Mario gets the most satisfaction from seeing the process of his vision all the way through: from a sketch on a page to an attractive and functional piece of concrete that will last a lifetime, and well beyond.   “I’ve been doing this for so long that I believe I have an eye for things. But I’m actually learning every day. You never stop learning about the company and your customers’ needs.

Mario and wife Christine, the company’s Vice President, have created a family of their own - daughter Nola, 17, and son Mario, 15 – as well as a family atmosphere within the company that shows in the quality of the products and customer service.

“Everyone here is family,” Mario says, “From off designers to the guys who are opening those heavy molds every day.  Sometimes I don’t know how they do it, but they stay with it every day. Concrete work is heavy work, all day long, but they love what they do, too, and that shows in the quality of the work. Nothing leaves here sight unseen. It’s a good feeling to have people who care working for you.”

Mario still thinks back to the leap of faith his parents Harry and Lena took decades ago –  and how it grew into the sturdy company that bears his family name.

“That what keeps me going and makes me proud every day. My mom and dad weren’t rich people, but they gave me everything they could to make my start, sink or swim. The first time I went to the bank for a loan, (the bank people) laughed at me. Well, I thank God for the way it ended up. When someone believes in you and you believe in yourself, down the road things work out.”

So, what ever happened to that first Grecian urn he knocked out over 40 years ago in the garage of his parents?  Massarelli’s still produces it (No. 6160 in your catalog), and it’s still a strong component of the company roster.  “We don’t forget, it’s what got us where we are today,”  Mario says. “Some people make fun of it but it’s such a good seller, it’s a classic. It’s absolutely everywhere.” Just like Massarelli’s.

Christine Massarelli, Vice President

Christine Massarelli married into the family business in 1990 but quickly became a vital part of the company’s bloodstream. From growing and marketing the line of products, to managing the office staff and sales people, to streamlining the company operations, Christine has been crucial to the company’s growth and success.

She was a customer when she met Mario while buying a statue at Massarelli’s original factory in Egg Harbor, New Jersey. Little did she know at the time that she would become an essential business partner as well.  Soon after their marriage, Mario and Christine began hiring sales representatives to cover the company’s extended “backyard” up and down the East Coast. They also expanded the trade shows they exhibited in to spread the word about Massarelli’s product line.  “It was an exciting time.  We began to network with a lot of people in the industry which helped in the growth process.” Christine said. “Our first non-eastern seaboard show was down in Texas. We were just a fish out of water, and we only picked up one or two customers.  It took awhile, and then as we expanded our sales force, did more trade shows and concentrated on marketing the product through advertising and printed catalogs, we just started to make a mark.  We didn’t start out with a huge line up of products but we started in the right direction.  We were known for being able to deliver and produce and offered exceptional customer service. As we grew more into a company producing our own designs and growing the line, we found that the independent garden center business was what we liked to do and what we focused on.” “Mario and I are a good team, because he can continue to produce and design and focus on manufacturing, and I can keep focused on managerial and financial operations along with our “front of house” operations.  I never thought life would lead me down this avenue as a career.  It comes easy when you like what you sell and you believe in what you’re doing.”

Christine said she gets tremendous satisfaction when a customer appreciates the “personal touch”  that distinguishes Massarelli’s from its competitors. “Our customers are excited about doing business with us, because they know they’re not just a number.” Massarelli’s is a family-owned company that operates like a family – and that starts at the top. “Everyone in our office works very well together, everyone’s cross-trained, everyone knows a lot about the products and our customers and how to take care of a problem,” Christine says. “We’re very close-knit.  We work as a team.  Our teamwork makes us unique.”

Just A Few Of The Company Staff

Ralph Rescigno

Ralph, a 14-year employee and part of our Customer Service Team, is an important part of inside sales support and also coordinates and attends trade shows, setting and managing Massarelli’s booths and working with the independent sales representatives that carry the line.

“We thrive on the customer service, that’s our main priority. We put a lot of care into that. We care about our customers and we want to make sure they enjoy their products as much as we enjoy selling them to them. One thing that sets us apart is our delivery.  No one can touch our turnaround time.” 

“One word: quality. It’s excellent quality, excellent service, a great family business to work for. We take excellent care in our product and what we do, and we try to convey that to all of our customers whether it be on the telephone at the office or out on the road at a trade show.”

Lisa Puentes

Lisa is a Customer Service Supervisor, and has been with Massarelli’s about six years. Lisa and her crew handle the customer service calls that come in, as well as orders, and work extensively with both customers and the sales force. 

“Just to be able to help somebody solve their problem … Sometimes it’s frustrating for the store if they’ve got an issue with one of their customers. It’s nice to be able to help them help with their customers. We want to do whatever we can to make our dealers’ jobs as easy as possible.” I talk to the salesmen and customers alike all day long.. You need to keep them up to date.  Product knowledge and knowing what we can offer as a company is extremely important. If you ever have a question just ask and we’ll see what we can do.”

Family. It’s the background of the owners themselves and because of their family background. I think that carries over, and that’s why you get that feeling in the office itself. Mario’s right there most of the time, you can go to him. That was one thing that was really impressive to me: he built the company up himself, and he’s the first one out here and most of the time the last to leave, six days a week.” 

Janice Starn

Janice has worked for us as an Accounts Receivable Representative since Sept. ’08. She handles invoicing, accounts receivable, and customer service calls. 

“We really stand behind our product, and all the people who work here take great pride in what they do. The main goal is customer satisfaction, and it’s very important.”

“If there’s a problem, it’s a given that it’s going to be corrected, the customer is going to be happy, and we will hear from them again. That’s the whole goal: we want to hear from them again.”

“The quality of the product is there. The guys outside, the way they take care to pack the product, and shipping, the way they’re received. For as many orders as go out of here, it’s phenomenal. Everybody takes the care, throughout the whole place.”  

Micki Gaskill

Micki has been with Massarelli’s for seven years. She handles customer service, new customer set up, works with production and coordinates all orders received to be sure they are processed correctly.  “Micki has an encyclopedic knowledge of the company in a very short time,” Christine Massarelli said. “If there’s a question we have about a product or where something is archived or whatever happened to that form, she’ll come up with it, however obscure. She’s going to tell you exactly what’s going on in the office.”

“It’s nice because it’s a small office, and it’s not like working in a big company where you have the “them” and the “us.” We’re all one little happy family, and we all help each other out.”

“The products are really nice - we make a lot of great stuff here. It’s easy to tell the people on the phone, you know, because there’s a lot of hard work going on out there, a lot of handcrafted work going on. It’s really a good product, and we’re really good with customer service. We don’t want any unhappy campers.”

Gina Robeson

Gina is the General Manager, and has served the company well as Christine’s “right hand”  for 19 years.

“I grew with the company all the way up from a two-person office. I definitely take pride in the growth of the company, and I look forward to coming to work every day. It’s in my blood, I guess you could say.”

“I enjoy working with our customers. I still love keying in their orders and seeing it move through production, getting it out for delivery. And I do all aspects of the job, so I get to see it from the time we key it in to the time we’re actually pulling the physical product and shipping it off, and it’s nice to see how quick something moves, or how quick we get something done if somebody needs it. It’s pretty satisfying when a customer calls you up and thanks you for getting the order out.”

“We take a lot of pride in everything we do. Everything goes out of here 100 percent. We don’t do back orders at all. Everything that leaves here has to be 100 percent, and that’s what we strive for.”

“It’s a family-owned business that strives to have its own uniqueness in its products. Mario tries to get pieces that he creates himself right out of the clay that nobody else has. It’s the uniqueness in having a variety of products.”

Cheryl Tamagni

Cheryl is an Administrative Manager who has worked for Massarelli’s for nine years. She works behind-the-scenes, handling the payables for the company and the payroll, and assists Mario and Christine with all of the seemingly little (but actually big) things, such as compliance with OSHA, Human Resources and financial management of the company. Cheryl also manages the database of the intellectual property of the company.  Even though she is  “behind the scenes” support, you can still count on her assistance as she manages our telephone system and frequently speaks to customers.

“Customer service is a big priority. Even if somebody calls and I can’t immediately get them to someone in Customer Service , I’ll see what I can do. Whatever we can do to make them happy.”

“In working with the filing of the intellectual property, I see the start to finish of the products we are producing too,- the detail, the uniqueness. It’s amazing.”

“Family atmosphere. You feel like you’re part of the family. They treat the customers that way and the employees that way, and they put that kind of care into their products.”

Bill Adams

Bill is an indispensable “do-everything” guy for the company, and has filling that

role for over 20 years. He is the Supervisor of the entire factory.  He does just about everything and anything the company needs him to do, and is involved in all aspects of the company’s operation.

“We try to satisfy everybody, and answer any question a customer has about the products. I’ve always said, ‘The only stupid question is the one that’s not asked.’”

“It’s pride in what you do, and you have to believe in the quality of the product. When you get up at 4 a.m. to come to work every day, it’s got to be fun. That’s what it’s all about, and that’s what keeps me going.”

John Massarelli

Mario’s older brother, John, is a Sales Manager and Technical Customer Service Representative. As the company grew, John left his drafting career behind to join the family.  He handles all of the technical writings and preparation kits for the fountains and other products.  He also coordinates and manages the company trade shows.

“I have a design background. It is easy when I’m talking to a customer on the phone, I can figure out what they have, ask the right questions, and get the right answers for them. I know the products from sand and stone, and I know the products and selling materials from front to back.”

“We’re the best and we never stop trying to be the best. It’s so easy to do business with us. It’s just normal for us.”

“We’re still treating the company like we’re building it. We care about all the customers.  Big or small, their what makes us successful.  I don’t care how big or small a customer you are, we want you happy.”