Michael C. Fina
Encyclopedia
Michael C. Fina is a private family owned and operated New York City
-based fine goods retailer and worldwide employee recognition company located at 545 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan
. The company store sells engagement rings, wedding bands, jewelry, fine tableware
, vintage silver, bath and home fragrances.
The Michael C. Fina employee recognition division has offices in the US
, Canada
and the United Kingdom
and services more than 800 companies in more than 100 countries, supporting more than five million employees each year.
and sterling silver
hollowware.
During the 1950s the company expanded into the retail market. Outgrowing the original fourth floor location at 580 Fifth Avenue, the company moved down two floors in the same building to the second floor location that would become the company’s home for the next several decades. After the move, the company's slogan became “Upstairs at Michael C. Fina.”
This phrase was commonly seen in publications such as The New York Times
, Modern Bride and Architectural Digest
. Michael C. Fina also partnered with numerous television game shows that gave away prizes in the early television era, including Beat the Clock
, Wheel of Fortune
, Jeopardy, Let’s Make a Deal and Treasure Hunt
. A partnership with The Price Is Right
has lasted since the show began in 1956.
Michael C. Fina was one of the first companies in New York City to enter the bridal registry business. At its peak the company registered over 10,000 brides per year. In 1998 the store moved to its current location at 545 Fifth Avenue. Today the company features a wide range of jewelry from such brands as Tacori and Hearts On Fire. In 2008, Tacori
launched their 18k925 Collection with The Hills
star Whitney Port
at the store.
Michael C. Fina also continues to sell home goods, maintaining a selection of well known brands such as Christofle
, Baccarat
, Royal Copenhagen
, Raynaud, Waterford
, Bernardaud
, Georg Jensen
, Hermes, Steuben
, Daum and Lalique.
During the late 80’s Michael C. Fina created the Magic Box to solve the problem of presenting lifestyle gifts such as televisions and barbecues in the workplace. The box, which contained a framed certificate, congratulatory letter, gift catalog, order form, and optional trinket such as a pen or watch, gave employees the traditional experience of being presented with a gift at work, but allowed them to choose a gift that fit their lifestyle.
Today, this segment of the Michael C. Fina business services more than 800 companies in more than 100 countries, supporting more than five million employees globally each year. Michael C. Fina built a 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²) World Headquarters and Distribution Center at 33-01 Hunters Point Avenue in Long Island City. This building houses all departments, systems and inventory for the company. Over 92% of the recognition services products ship out of this center with all gift wrapping and servicing done in-house.
While employee service awards and the Magic Box are still the cornerstone of Michael C. Fina’s employee recognition business, the focus of the industry is shifting towards multi-initiative performance management
, and the company is offering new products and services to accommodate its customers’ changing needs such as GiftNET, an online gift catalog. In 2005, Michael C. Fina introduced its One Source | Total Recognition methodology which, "delivers cost-effective, state-of-the-art recognition solutions to multinational corporations, with a strict focus on world-class customer service."
In 2009 Ashley Fina was named president of Michael C. Fina, and in 2010 the company became certified as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Women Presidents' Educational Organization, a regional certifying partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
The company was the first employee recognition provider to receive ISO
and SAS70 certifications for adherence to strict guidelines that ensure consistency in the products and services offered, as well as for internal controls for information and data security.
Michael C. Fina created the china aboard the USS New York
, the ship crafted from steel salvaged from the World Trade Center
.
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
-based fine goods retailer and worldwide employee recognition company located at 545 Fifth Avenue in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
. The company store sells engagement rings, wedding bands, jewelry, fine tableware
Tableware
Tableware is the dishes or dishware , dinnerware , or china used for setting a table, serving food, and for dining. Tableware can be meant to include flatware and glassware...
, vintage silver, bath and home fragrances.
The Michael C. Fina employee recognition division has offices in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
and services more than 800 companies in more than 100 countries, supporting more than five million employees each year.
History
Founded by Michael Fina and Rose Rosenblatt in 1935, Michael C. Fina opened on the fourth floor of 580 Fifth Avenue at 47th Street in Manhattan. In early years the company was a wholesaler specializing in fine silver platePlating
Plating is a surface covering in which a metal is deposited on a conductive surface. Plating has been done for hundreds of years, but it is also critical for modern technology...
and sterling silver
Sterling silver
Sterling silver is an alloy of silver containing 92.5% by mass of silver and 7.5% by mass of other metals, usually copper. The sterling silver standard has a minimum millesimal fineness of 925....
hollowware.
During the 1950s the company expanded into the retail market. Outgrowing the original fourth floor location at 580 Fifth Avenue, the company moved down two floors in the same building to the second floor location that would become the company’s home for the next several decades. After the move, the company's slogan became “Upstairs at Michael C. Fina.”
This phrase was commonly seen in publications such as The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, Modern Bride and Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest
Architectural Digest is an American monthly magazine. Its principal subject is interior design, not — as the name of the magazine might suggest — architecture more generally. The magazine is published by Condé Nast Publications and was founded in 1920, by the Knapp family, who sold it in 1993...
. Michael C. Fina also partnered with numerous television game shows that gave away prizes in the early television era, including Beat the Clock
Beat the Clock
Beat the Clock is a Goodson-Todman game show which has aired on American television in several versions since 1950.The original show, hosted by Bud Collyer, ran on CBS from 1950–1958 and ABC from 1958–1961. The show was revived in syndication as The New Beat the Clock from 1969–1974, with Jack Narz...
, Wheel of Fortune
Wheel of Fortune (U.S. game show)
Wheel of Fortune is an American television game show created by Merv Griffin, which premiered in 1975. Contestants compete to solve word puzzles, similar to those used in Hangman, to win cash and prizes determined by spinning a large wheel. The title refers to the show's giant carnival wheel that...
, Jeopardy, Let’s Make a Deal and Treasure Hunt
Treasure hunt
A treasure hunt is one of many different types of games which can have one or more players who try to find hidden articles, locations or places by using a series of clues. This is a fictional activity; treasure hunting can also be a real life activity. Treasure hunt games may be an indoor or...
. A partnership with The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right
The Price Is Right is a television game show franchise originally produced by Mark Goodson and Bill Todman, and created by Bob Stewart, and is currently produced and owned by FremantleMedia. The franchise centers on television game shows, but also includes merchandise such as video games, printed...
has lasted since the show began in 1956.
Michael C. Fina was one of the first companies in New York City to enter the bridal registry business. At its peak the company registered over 10,000 brides per year. In 1998 the store moved to its current location at 545 Fifth Avenue. Today the company features a wide range of jewelry from such brands as Tacori and Hearts On Fire. In 2008, Tacori
Tacori
Tacori is an American jewelry designer focusing on platinum and diamond bridal jewelry. The family-owned design firm is located in California and retailed throughout the United States and Canada...
launched their 18k925 Collection with The Hills
The Hills
The Hills is a reality television series which originally aired on MTV from May 31, 2006 until July 13, 2010. The show uses a reality television format, following the personal lives of several young adults living in Los Angeles, California, but tends towards a narrative format more commonly found...
star Whitney Port
Whitney Port
Whitney Eve Port is an American television personality, clothing designer, and author. She is known for being one of the main cast members on the former MTV reality series The Hills...
at the store.
Michael C. Fina also continues to sell home goods, maintaining a selection of well known brands such as Christofle
Christofle
Christofle is a manufacturer of fine silver flatware and home accessories based in France since 1830. They are renowned for their sterling, silverplate and stainless flatware. Among Christofle's product lines are silver picture frames, crystal vases and glassware, porcelain dinnerware and silver...
, Baccarat
Baccarat
Baccarat is a card game, played at casinos and by gamblers. It is believed to have been introduced into France from Italy during the reign of King Charles VIII , and it is similar to Faro and Basset...
, Royal Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen
Royal Copenhagen, officially the Royal Porcelain Factory is a manufacturer of porcelain products and was founded in Copenhagen 1 May 1775 under the protection of Queen Juliane Marie...
, Raynaud, Waterford
Waterford Crystal
Waterford Crystal is a trademark brand of crystal glassware, previously produced in Waterford, Ireland, though the factory there was shut down after the receivership of Waterford Wedgwood plc in early 2009...
, Bernardaud
Limoges porcelain
Limoges porcelain designates hard-paste porcelain produced by factories near the city of Limoges, France beginning in the late 18th century, but does not refer to a particular manufacturer.- History :...
, Georg Jensen
Georg Jensen
Georg Arthur Jensen was a Danish silversmith.Born in 1866, Jensen was the son of a knife grinder in the town of Raadvad just to the north of Copenhagen. Jensen began his training in goldsmithing at the age of 14 in Copenhagen...
, Hermes, Steuben
Steuben Glass Works
Steuben Glass Works was an American art glass manufacturer, founded in the summer of 1903 by Fredrick C. Carder and Thomas G. Hawkes in Corning, New York, which is in Steuben County, from which the company name was derived. Hawkes was the owner of the largest cut glass firm then operating in Corning...
, Daum and Lalique.
Employee Recognition
Entering the recognition business in the 1960s, the Finas incorporated lifestyle gifts alongside more traditional recognition items such as tie tacks and desk clocks.During the late 80’s Michael C. Fina created the Magic Box to solve the problem of presenting lifestyle gifts such as televisions and barbecues in the workplace. The box, which contained a framed certificate, congratulatory letter, gift catalog, order form, and optional trinket such as a pen or watch, gave employees the traditional experience of being presented with a gift at work, but allowed them to choose a gift that fit their lifestyle.
Today, this segment of the Michael C. Fina business services more than 800 companies in more than 100 countries, supporting more than five million employees globally each year. Michael C. Fina built a 200000 sq ft (18,580.6 m²) World Headquarters and Distribution Center at 33-01 Hunters Point Avenue in Long Island City. This building houses all departments, systems and inventory for the company. Over 92% of the recognition services products ship out of this center with all gift wrapping and servicing done in-house.
While employee service awards and the Magic Box are still the cornerstone of Michael C. Fina’s employee recognition business, the focus of the industry is shifting towards multi-initiative performance management
Performance management
Performance management includes activities that ensure that goals are consistently being met in an effective and efficient manner. Performance management can focus on the performance of an organization, a department, employee, or even the processes to build a product or service, as well as many...
, and the company is offering new products and services to accommodate its customers’ changing needs such as GiftNET, an online gift catalog. In 2005, Michael C. Fina introduced its One Source | Total Recognition methodology which, "delivers cost-effective, state-of-the-art recognition solutions to multinational corporations, with a strict focus on world-class customer service."
In 2009 Ashley Fina was named president of Michael C. Fina, and in 2010 the company became certified as a Women's Business Enterprise by the Women Presidents' Educational Organization, a regional certifying partner of the Women's Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC).
The company was the first employee recognition provider to receive ISO
ISO 9000
The ISO 9000 family of standards relates to quality management systems and is designed to help organizations ensure they meet the needs of customers and other stakeholders . The standards are published by ISO, the International Organization for Standardization, and available through National...
and SAS70 certifications for adherence to strict guidelines that ensure consistency in the products and services offered, as well as for internal controls for information and data security.
Michael C. Fina Products
Beginning in the 1980s the Finas oversaw the production of Michael C. Fina brand products. Prior to the official creation of Michael C. Fina products, the company had a partnership with silver manufacturer Kent Silversmiths dating back to 1947 to create custom pieces.Michael C. Fina created the china aboard the USS New York
USS New York
USS New York may refer to:, was a gondola, built on Lake Champlain in 1776, that participated in the Battle of Valcour Island., was a 36-gun frigate commissioned in 1800 and burned by the British in 1814., was a 74-gun ship of the line, laid down in 1820 which never left the stocks, and was burned...
, the ship crafted from steel salvaged from the World Trade Center
World Trade Center
The original World Trade Center was a complex with seven buildings featuring landmark twin towers in Lower Manhattan, New York City, United States. The complex opened on April 4, 1973, and was destroyed in 2001 during the September 11 attacks. The site is currently being rebuilt with five new...
.
External links
- www.mcfrecognition.com
- www.michaelcfina.com
- www.recognitionheroes.com
- http://mcfinaworldwide.com/