Despite missteps, engraving business

When Ann Giovannitti is asked why she, her family members and friends bought a Gibbstown engraving business in 2008, she is quizzical.“I really have no idea,” laughs the president of Above All Engraving. “We were looking for an investment at the time, so we purchased the building and the business from the previous owner.“Of course, right after we bought it, there was the recession,” the special education teacher adds. “And this — awards, plaques, trophies — is the fluff that people cut out of their budgets first.

“Business could be better,” she says, managing a smile.Laughter and smiles are abundant at Above All as Giovannitti, her sister, mother and a childhood friend run the business.Clients include local schools and sports teams, fire and police departments, chambers of commerce and — just recently — Atlantic City’s Fashion Week.“We can engrave pretty much anything, from acrylics, glass, leather and even wood,” says Julie Harris, Ann’s younger sister. Harris is a radiology manager and CAT scan technician at a Pennsylvania medical center.

Giovannitti calls Harris “the computer whiz.”“It’s all computer-generated,” Harris explains. “We have software programs that we use to manipulate all the information, and then we send the job over to the engraving machine, which is just like a printer.“We have a diamond-cutter machine and a laser engraver. The laser is a lot more detailed, and we’ll use that to do artwork and logos.”While Harris handles the etching, the others take on different tasks. Giovannitti manages the business side — paperwork, billing and banking. Mom Rosalind DeCinque assembles the plaques and trophies, carefully measuring, spacing, taping and gluing.

She’s also head of the prayer department.“Some days it’s a challenge,” DeCinque admits, standing over a newly finished plaque. “It can be very meticulous work. And slow.“But my awards are made with love.”As for the prayers? “I just want the business to do well. How many rosaries have I said? Too numerous to count.”Lifelong family friend Maryann Wright manages the store during the day. She handles the orders that come in and the shipments that go out.

“I’ll also take care of the research when certain awards or plaques are requested. If we need to order materials or product, I’ll do that and then hand them to Julie for the engraving. And I’ll help Roz put things together.”Ann’s husband, Vince, is the guidance chairman at Paulsboro High School. He marvels at how the women have banded together to run the business.

“They just took the bull by the horns, and it’s unbelievable what they do. My wife and Julie have said that we are just not going to let this fail.“There might be some creditors chasing us,” he laughs, “but Ann always figures out a way to pay the bills.”Shirley Bierbrunner of the Woodbury Chamber of Commerce has been working with Above All Engraving “forever.”“The chamber has been using them for years, even before (Ann, et al) took over,” Bierbrunner explains.

“And they’ve been great. If we forget to place our order and then need it in a hurry, they always get it done.’’Jim Pandolfo, treasurer of the Paulsboro Community All Sports Banquet, concurs. The yearly banquet honors senior athletes, who are presented with awards crafted at Above All.“We hold our event on the Thursday before Memorial Day, and the spring sports season is still going on,” he notes. “So, sometimes we’ll drag our feet in getting the list of winners to them.

“But they always work with us and they always come through.”That persistence and determination has paid off despite missteps along the way, says Vince Giovannitti.“We made so many mistakes. From not negotiating with the seller, to buying the building and the business as opposed to just buying the business.“We made every mistake we could,” he adds.

“But I’m happy for my wife. She loves the business end of this, and we just hope and pray the store becomes more viable.”Asked how she manages to juggle the demands of being a special-ed teacher, business owner and mother of two, Ann shrugs and — you guessed it — smiles.“I don’t know. We just find the time. I’m flexible because I’m home by about 3:15 (in the afternoon). So is Vince. So if I need to come here, he’s at home.“We have Maryann here during the day and Julie can take calls at her work, so it’s been OK,” she adds. “We really do all work well together and my sister and I get along great.“I’m the oldest, which is, I guess, how I ended up being the president. I really don’t even know how that happened.

Read the full story at www.careel-laser-engraving-machine.com web! Four product lines to meet your Laser engraving, Laser cutting, Laser marking, welding and carving application. If need any help, please contact our Sales Team or Technical Team, they can support you well.