Enterprising Woman: Phyllis Bergman – President Of Mercury Ring Corporation
July 24, 11
When they get married, most women just get a single diamond ring. When Phyllis Bergman married the president of the family-owned and operated Mercury Ring Corporation, she had no idea that in the future she would be swimming in diamonds, as president of the company. These days, she not only manages the company, but she also designs her own jewelry line, the Life and Love Collection, two subjects she knows a lot about.
How and why did you get into the jewelry industry?
I actually married into the industry. My husband’s father started Mercury Ring in 1944. My husband, Ira, ran the company from 1960-1986, at which point he decided to do something else. Rather than sell the company at that time, my daughter and I decided we would like to have the opportunity of running a company. We moved it out of New York City to New Jersey, and proceeded to change from a business that sold mainly fashion jewelry to wholesalers to a company that sold bridal jewelry to retailers.
What was the progress to your current position?
Since 1986 I have been president of the Mercury, however, as I became more involved in the industry, charity work and board involvement, I started to really grow as a leader.
Do you think the diamond and jewelry industry still deserves to be termed as very much a man’s world? What changes have you seen?
I think it is still VERY much a man’s world today. It definitely remains an industry that is run mostly by males who create products for women. However, many women executives have emerged to lead very powerful companies on the retail side, in sales capacities and trade organizations. On the manufacturing and diamond side, however, there are still too few women.
 Phyllis Bergman |
I do not think being a woman has hindered anything I attempted to achieve in the industry. I like to think that I succeeded on merit rather than using the woman’s agenda card. Perhaps, I was lucky to be brought up in a family of all boys, so that I can talk sports, joke and use a four-letter word with the best of them. I am very comfortable around men and I think they are comfortable with me around. I really feel the sex issue does not come into play when we are dealing on a business level. Of course I always remember what my mother taught me, “You catch more bees with honey,” and “Always make sure your lipstick is on.”
Why do you think there are relatively few women outside of the retail sector? Is this something that you see changing?
I think there are a lot of women in the designer section of the industry but very few make it to large manufacturing because they do not have the history and the mentorship needed to succeed. Women who are part of family businesses have that behind them. Also today, it takes strong financial backing to succeed in our industry because of the costs of raw materials. That involves banking negotiations. I honestly do not see this changing at all. You cannot succeed today without a strong sense of business. Women tend to rest on their creativity.
Where would you like to see more women participating in the industry?
Definitely in the manufacturing end.
What has been the high point of your career so far?
Ah, the high point of my career! I have had so many. I am very lucky. Becoming the first woman president of the prestigious 24 Karat Club and then going on to become the chairman; to receive the American Gem Society Triple Zero Award, along with Terry Burman of Sterling, Allen Brill of Rolex and the B.C.Clark family. Little me on stage with these men! Being president of the Women’s Jewelry Association for four years and watching it grow. Being inducted into the Women’s Jewelry Association Hall of Fame and of course being invited by De Beers to visit all their facilities in South Africa and Botswana. These are just a few.
Which woman do you most admire in the industry?
First would be Helene Fortunoff, who built a family business that she married into, like me, and also gave her time and efforts to the Industry. Susan Jacques of Borshiems, Anna Martin of Standard Charter Bank. Beryl Raff who became a senor executive in the industry, Varda Shine, who rose to a high level in the diamond world and all the woman manufactures who work so hard to keep their companies viable.
Is there anything else you would like to add?
In closing I would like to add, that if in the course of my life in the industry I just focused on the product problems, the staff problems, and collection of accounts my days would have been rather boring. But through networking, and really becoming a member of our industry, by being fortunate to be mentored by men who gave back to our industry, by gaining such a worldwide network of friends, I never felt that I had a job, I felt that I really represented an entire industry.