At KMG Gold we love trade shows because they're a fun way for us to get to know our customers and potential future customers. It's always nice to get the opportunity to introduce people to KMG Gold and the services we provide that they might not have known about before. We also like getting to know our community and other local business owners in such a friendly setting.

This past Friday and Saturday KMG Gold attended the Manitoba Dental Convention at the Winnipeg Convention Centre. We set up our booth at the trade show on Thursday night and bright and early on Friday and Saturday morning we got to meet all the dentists, hygienists, assistants and students who stopped by our booth.

We got to hand out some of our new swag (pens, magnets and bags, woohoo!) and chatted with the dental professionals about how KMG Gold can help them recycle their dental gold. We found that there are a lot of people who don't know exactly what KMG Gold can do for their dental practice and many were surprised by how much money they could get for their unwanted dental gold.

The next trade shows that we'll be at are the Ultimate Women's Show on April 12 and 13 and then the BBB Home Repair and Renovation Show on April 25-27.

We can't wait to see you there!

Tags Trade Show  Winnipeg  Grand Forks  Manitoba  North Dakota  Dentists  Better Business Bureau  Women  Seniors  Customer Service  Awards  Gold  Silver  Gold Buyer  Canada  Precious metals 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 2:15 PM 0 Comments

At KMG Gold we love getting to know our customers, whether they're repeat customers or first-time visitors. This is one of the reasons why we love going to different trade shows. Trade shows give us the opportunity to reach out to new people and show them why we're so special. It's always a fun way for us (and the customer!) to spend an afternoon, meeting new people and getting to know other businesses and business owners in the community.

The most recent trade show we attended was the 50+ Living Show last weekend at Assiniboia Downs. Office manager Jodi was representing KMG Gold and offering complimentary assessments to anyone who was interested. Super friendly and easy to talk to, Jodi is one of the reasons why KMG Gold has won awards for being so accessible and customer-oriented.

We have a couple of other trade shows on our radar that you might be interested in if you missed us at the 50+ Living Show, or that you might be interested in even if you've already visited us. KMG Gold attends trade shows in Canada and the US so just make sure to take note of which city it's in!

• Grand Forks Women's Show on October 26, 2013
• Winnipeg Dental Convention on January 23-25, 2014
• Winnipeg Ultimate Women's Show on April 12-13, 2014
• Winnipeg BBB Home Repair & Renovation Show on April 25-27, 2014

If you know of any trade shows that you think would be a good fit for us, we'd love to hear from you. Don't forget to drop us a line on Facebook and let us know what your favorite trade show is, no matter what type it is!

Tags Trade Show  Winnipeg  Grand Forks  Manitoba  North Dakota  Dentists  Better Business Bureau  Women  Seniors  Customer Service  Awards  Gold 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 12:08 PM 0 Comments

Thanks to nominations from dozens of satisfied customers, KMG Gold is happy to announce that we've been named a finalist for 2013's Better Business Bureau Torch Awards. We're so excited to be recognized for the strong customer service, honesty and integrity that we display in all of our business transactions.

If you live in the Winnipeg area, you might have already seen this exciting news that was posted in the BBB mailer that went out last week. KMG Gold has been named a finalist in the Marketplace Excellence category, an award that we won in 2011 and were named runner-up for in 2012. We're crossing our fingers that we'll be the winner this year and we'll find out on the night of the awards ceremony on October 24.

If you've ever wondered how the Torch Awards work and how businesses can win one, read on!

It starts with the nomination forms. A happy customer will fill out a nomination form that has a few boxes on it along with a few lines asking them to describe how a business went above and beyond the norm. All it takes is one form to be nominated, but KMG Gold was lucky to receive dozens from happy customers, all of which were sent to the BBB. Along with these nomination forms, a company also has to formally apply for the award, writing a few pages detailing what makes their business worthy of such a prestigious award, how they serve customers along the BBB's mandate of trust and integrity, how the company makes a difference in the community as well as in the lives of their employees.

It's a well-rounded report that takes everything from customer service to employee culture into consideration. You can be certain that every business who has been named a finalist is dedicated to providing the best customer service experience possible, which is why it's such an honour to have come this far for the third year in a row.

Tags Winnipeg  Canada  Manitoba  Grand Forks  Better Business Bureau  Torch Awards  Customer Service  Finalist  Honesty  Integrity  Gold 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 11:00 AM 0 Comments

In an industry rife with unethical businesses, KMG Gold recognizes the importance of only working with businesses and individuals who have a commitment to the same high standards of ethics and integrity as we do. That's why we've implemented the Trusted Gold Buyer program, a designation that recognizes the same high standards as us.

The latest addition to the KMG Gold team is Gold-N-Memories from Steinbach, Manitoba. Gold-N-Memories joins a select group of business authorized to represent the KMG Gold Refinery in the purchase and recycling of unwanted gold and silver jewelry and other precious metals. Gold-N-Memories has made a commitment to the same high standards of ethics and integrity in their business dealings as have, which is why we've chosen to bring them into our network. They will now be able to display the KMG Gold Trusted Gold Buyer banner and decals in their place of business and will be able to incorporate the designation in their business cards, stationery and other marketing materials.

As a winner of multiple BBB Torch Awards that recognize the importance of integrity and ethics in the business place, KMG Gold has long been recognized as the trusted authority in North America for the recycling of precious metals. We strive to educate our customers to ensure they receive the highest payout possible and ensure that they aren't taken advantage of by some less than scrupulous individuals in the gold buying industry.

Tags Gold  Silver  Gold Buyer  KMG Gold  Precious Metal  Trust  Better Business Bureau  Manitoba 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 3:25 PM 0 Comments

You may not have had the opportunity to meet KMG Gold's president and CEO Michael Gupton, but on Friday August 2, 2013, BNI Canada did. Professionally affiliated with BNI Canada for many years, Mike stopped by Winnipeg's own Winter Club to give a speech about his grassroots business and shared his recipe for such enormous success.

BNI Canada is a professional marketing organization that specializes in word of mouth referrals, something that KMG Gold strongly identifies with. Mike attributes a large part of his business' success to the positive word of mouth referrals that happy customers have provided him with. These happy referrals played a large hand in KMG Gold being awarded three Better Business Bureau Torch Awards in two years in addition to being nominated for an additional two for this current year.

Always happy to address a crowd, Gupton delights in sharing insider tips about the gold buying industry and is always happy to lend his expertise regarding precious metal recycling.

So if you haven't met Mike yet, you should! Come drop by our Winnipeg location and we'd love to meet you.

Tags Winnipeg  Better Business Bureau  Awards  Winner  Gold  Precious Metal  Recycling 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 2:30 PM 0 Comments

October 20, 2012.
Winnipeg Free Press

By Dan Proudley

Michael Gupton buys and sells gold, but the most valued commodity he deals in is trust.

The owner ofKMG Gold Recycling is uncompromising in adhering to a high standard of ethics in an industry where uneducated consumers may not always be getting the best value for their precious metals.

As a result, KMG Gold’s sterling reputation for operating in a fair and honest fashion has once again been recognized by the Manitoba and Northwestern Ontario Chapter of the Better Business Bureau (BBB). The Winnipeg-based precious metal recycler has been named a finalist for its third BBB’s Torch Award. KMG Gold has won the award previously in 2011 and 2010. The Torch Awards are handed out annually to companies and organizations that demonstrate ethical conduct, integrity and excellence in the marketplace. This year’s winners were announced Oct. 18.

But to top things off, KMG Gold Recycling is in the running for yet another honor. The company is also a finalist for the BBB 2012 Green Award for environmentally sustainable practices.

Winning the Torch Award means a lot to Gupton. “I think it’s fantastic. We have done our research when we say we are the only precious metal recycler to win one of these (Torch) awards,” says Gupton. ”This is outstanding. I think it’s marvelous to be singled out as the only one in North America who has been nominated by our customers and to have been recognized by the Better Business Bureau. Our customers are obviously very happy with what we are doing, and that’s exactly what we want.”

For Gupton, a civil engineer and former gold prospector, the strategy he has adopted is certainly yielding results. ”Business is absolutely booming right now,” he says, recalling how one day in late September, people were “literally lined-up out the door.”

When customers walk-in to KMG Gold’s store at 620 Academy Road, their precious metals are weighed and analyzed in front of them by a certified technician, who then clearly explains how the metal is valuated. The entire transaction is transparent.

In some cases the jewelry might be worth more if it’s re-sold rather than melted down for the precious metal content. In instances like this, Gupton will recommend a trustworthy jeweler that he is confident will deal with the customer fairly. “At every step, we try to educate the consumer,” says Gupton. “Trying to be upright and transparent is the way to go. An enlightened and educated consumer is a happy customer.”

The company also has an extensive website, www.kmggold.com that features constantly updated prices for precious metal and other related information.

While soaring gold prices have spurred business, there is another factor for the shining success of KMG Gold – Gupton claims he offers the best payout prices available. “Our rate for individuals is amongst the highest in the industry,” he says. Retail customers receive 73-90% of the market value price. Dealers and people with larger amounts receive 90-95% of market value.

“Bring in more gold, get more money,” notes Gupton. “Repeat customers and employee affiliate programs (such as Manitoba Hydro) get a VIP 4% bonus.” He says other gold buyers only pay out between 15%-to-55% of the market value.

KMG Gold can offer higher payouts because it operates its own refinery. Scrap precious metal is melted down and the content of precious metals such as gold, silver and platinum are determined. These ingots are then sold to primary refiners such as the Royal Canadian Mint or Johnson Matthey.

By reusing material already mined, the environmental impact of new mines is greatly reduced, says Gupton. “We are actively helping the environment by recycling all this stuff.”

Gupton founded KMG Gold as an internet company in 2007. He and his wife, Karen, ran the business out of their dining room for three years. In their first year, gross sales totaled an impressive $100,000. As the business grew at a phenomenal pace, Gupton opened a retail store on Osborne Street in 2010. That location quickly became too small, so the store moved to 620 Academy Road. Today, KMG Gold sources as much precious metals through its retail outlets, as it does from its internet shipments from all across North America.

In addition to the Winnipeg retail store, KMG Gold has several shipping outlets in British Columbia, Alberta, and California as well as KMG Gold Trusted Gold Buyers in Steinbach and Toronto. KMG Gold Recycling has also just opened its first retail location in the U.S.A., in Grand Forks North Dakota.

Tags BBB  Better Business Bureau  Gold Buyer  Sell Gold  Honest gold buyer 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 6:41 PM 0 Comments

KMG Gold Recycling, the only precious metal recycler to win two BBB Awards has been nominated for their third straight BBB Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence. The Winnipeg company has won the award every year since the award's inception in 2010.

Winnipeg, MB (PRWEB) September 17, 2012

KMG Gold Recycling has been nominated by their customers for their third straight Better Business Bureau Torch Award.

KMG Gold Recycling is the only precious metal recycler in North America to win the BBB’s prestigious annual award. And they’ve won the award three years in a row since its inception in 2010.

BBB Torch Awards recognize businesses that build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, remain transparent in their business dealings, honour their promises and display integrity in all of their marketplace activities.

“Our goal right from the start has been to educate the consumer on the precious metal recycling industry.” said Michael Gupton, President of KMG Environmental Inc. which operates as KMG Gold Recycling in their home town of Winnipeg MB and has a second location in Grand Forks ND.

Gupton went on to say that the key component of KMG Gold is their commitment to consumer education. “We make every effort to educate our clients and the public at large about the precious metal industry so they can make informed decisions. We believe the best way for the public to protect themselves is to be knowledgeable”.

“Being nominated by our customers and winning a Better Business Bureau Torch Award are outstanding achievements for us as it singles out KMG Gold as the gold recycling industry leader in honesty, ethics, and integrity. An educated consumer is a happy consumer... so we’re obviously doing something right!” Says Gupton.

“The process of recycling precious metal is not that complicated. There are simple steps the consumer can take to guarantee they receive top dollar for their “unwanted” scrap gold and silver. All cash for gold precious metal ends up at a refinery. So the consumer should sell gold directly to the refinery to eliminate the middlemen so they can make the most money when selling their gold.” Says Gupton.

KMG Gold Recycling, founded in 2007, buys and sells, recycles, and refines all precious metals including gold, silver, platinum and palladium. Gold and silver can be melted and assayed on-site in Winnipeg.

All of the precious metals KMG Gold Recycling buy and refine are recycled and placed back into the world’s precious metal markets. This helps reduce the demand on newly mined metals, which in turn, helps reduce the amount of energy required to mine virgin metal, and the amount of acid rock drainage from mine waste rock dumps and tailings ponds.

By recycling, KMG Gold Recycling customers alone have helped reduce over 3 million tons of acid waste rock from being generated by virgin mining of gold.

For more information on KMG Gold Recycling, please visit http://www.kmggold.com, or call us at 204-452-4653, or toll free at 1-877-468-2220.

Media Contact: Michael Gupton, BSc Eng (Civil), CET, AScT, President, KMG Environmental Inc. (204) 452-4653

Tags BBB  Better Business Bureau  Torch Award  Ethics  honesty  integrity  marketplace excellence 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 3:33 PM 0 Comments

Winnipeg, Manitoba– January 4, 2012. - Better Business Bureau investigates thousands of scams
every year, from the latest gimmicks to schemes as old as the hills. Our new Scam Source
(www.bbb.org/scam) is a comprehensive resource on scam investigations from BBBs around the
country, with tips from BBB, law enforcement and others. You can sign up to receive our Scam Alerts
by email, and you can also be a scam detective yourself by reporting scams you’ve discovered.
We’ve divided scams up into nine major categories and picked the top scam in each, plus our Scam of
the Year.

Top Job Scam

BBB sees lots of secret shopper schemes, work-from-home scams, and other phony job offers, but the
worst job-related scam can dash your hopes and steal your identity. Emails, websites and online
applications all look very professional, and the candidate is even interviewed for the job (usually over
the phone) and then receives an offer. In order to start the job, however, the candidate has to fill out a
“credit report” or provide bank information for direct deposit of their “paychecks.” The online forms are
nothing more than a way to capture sensitive personal data – Social Insurance number, bank accounts,
etc. – that can easily be used for identity theft. And, of course, there is no job, either.

Top Sweepstakes and Lottery Scam

Sweepstakes and lottery scams come in all shapes and sizes, but the bottom line is almost always this:
You’ve won a whole lot of money, and in order to claim it you have to send us a smaller amount of
money. Oh, and keep this confidential until we’re ready to announce your big winnings. This year’s top
sweepstakes scam was undoubtedly the email claiming to be from Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg
announcing that the recipient was the winner of $1 million from the popular social networking site.
These kinds of scams often use celebrities or other famous names to make their offer seem more
genuine. If you aren’t sure, don’t click on the link but instead go directly to the homepage of the
company mentioned. If they are really giving away $1 million, there will be some kind of announcement
on their website. But don’t waste too much time looking.

Top Social Media/Online Dating Scam

On the Internet, it’s easy to pretend to be someone you are not. Are you really friends with all of your
“Friends” on Facebook? Do you have a lot of personal information on a dating site? With so much
information about us online, a scammer can sound like they know you. There are tons of ways to use
social media for scams, but one this year really stands out because it appeals to our natural
curiosity…and it sounds like it’s coming from a friend. Viral videos claiming to show everything from
grisly footage of Osama bin Laden’s death to the latest celebrity hi-jinks have shown up on social media
sites, often looking as if they have been shared by a friend. When you click on the link, you are
prompted to “upgrade your Flash player,” but the file you end up downloading contains a worm that
logs into your social media account, sends similar messages to your friends, and searches for your
personal data. The next time you see a sensational headline for the latest viral video, resist the urge to
peek.

Top Home Improvement Scam

Always near the top of BBB complaint data are home improvement contractors who often leave your
home worse than they found it. They usually knock on your door with a story or a deal – the roofer who
can spot some missing shingles on your roof, the paver with some leftover asphalt who can give you a
great deal on driveway resealing. Itinerant contractors move around, keeping a step ahead of the
law…and angry consumers. The worst are those who move in after a natural disaster, taking advantage
of desperate homeowners who need immediate help and may not be as suspicious as they would be
under normal circumstances. A large percentage of BBB’s Accredited Businesses are home contractors
who want to make sure you know they are legitimate, trustworthy and dependable. Find one at
www.manitoba.bbb.org.

Top Check Cashing Scam

Two legitimate companies – Craig’s List and Western Union – are used for an inordinate amount of
scamming these days, and especially check cashing scams. Here’s how it works: Someone contacts you
via a Craig’s List posting, maybe for a legitimate reason like buying your old couch or perhaps through
a scam like hiring you as a secret shopper. Either way, they send you a check for more than the
amount they owe you, and they ask you to deposit it into your bank account and then send them the
difference via Western Union. A deposited check takes a couple of days to clear, whereas wired money
is gone instantly. When the original check bounces, you are out whatever money you wired…and you’re
still stuck with the old couch.

Top Phishing Scam

“Phishing” is when you receive a suspicious phone call asking for personal information or an email that
puts a virus on your computer to hunt for your data. It’s almost impossible to avoid them if you have a
telephone or an email account. But the most pernicious phishing scam this year disguised itself as
official communication from NACHA – the National Automated Clearing House Association – which
facilitates the secure transfer of billions of electronic transactions every year. The email claims one of
your transactions did not go through, and it hopes you react quickly and click on the link before
thinking it through. It may take you to a fake banking site “verify” you account information, or it may
download malware to infiltrate your computer.

Top Identity Theft Scam
There are a million ways to steal someone’s identity. This one has gotten so prevalent that many hotels
are posting warnings in their lobby. Here’s how it works: You get a call in your hotel room in the middle
of the night. It’s the front desk clerk, very apologetic, saying their computer has crashed and they need
to get your credit card number again, or they must have gotten the number wrong because the
transaction won’t go through, and could you please read the number back so they can fix the problem?
Scammers are counting on you being too sleepy to catch on that the call isn’t from the hotel at all, but
from someone outside who knows the direct-dial numbers for the guest rooms. By the time morning
rolls around and you are clear-headed, your credit card has been on a major shopping spree.

Top Financial Scam

In challenging economic times, many people are looking for help getting out of debt or hanging on to
their home, and almost as many scammers appear to take advantage of desperate situations. Because
the federal government announced or expanded several mortgage relief programs this year, all kinds of
sound-alike websites have popped up to try to fool consumers into parting with their money. Some
sound like a government agency, or even part of BBB or other nonprofit consumer organization. Most
ask for an upfront fee to help you deal with your mortgage company or the government (services you
could easily do yourself for free), and almost all leave you in more debt than when you started.

Top Sales Scam

Sales scams are as old as humanity, but the Internet has introduced a whole new way to rip people off.
Penny auctions are very popular because it seems like you can get something useful - cameras,
computers, etc. – for way below retail. But you pay a small fee for each bid (usually 50 cents to $1.00)
and if you aren’t the winner, you lose that bid money. Winners often are not even the top bidder, just
the last bidder when time runs out. Although not all penny auction sites are scams, some are being
investigated as online gambling. BBB recommends you treat them the same way you would legal
gambling in a casino – know exactly how the bidding works, set a limit for yourself, and be prepared to
walk away before you go over that limit.

Scam of the Year

Yep, it’s us – the BBB phishing scam. Hundreds of thousands, perhaps millions, of people have gotten
emails that very much look like an official notice from BBB. The subject line says something like
“Complaint Against Your Business,” and the instructions tell the recipient to either click on a link or
open an attachment to get the details. If the recipient does either, a malicious virus is launched on
their computer…a virus that can steal banking information, passwords and other critical pieces of
information needed for cyber-theft. BBB is working with security consultants and federal law
enforcement to track down the source of these emails, and has already shut down dozens of hijacked
websites. Anyone who has opened an attachment or clicked on a link should run a complete system
scan using reputable anti-virus software. If your computer is networked with others, all machines on
the network should be scanned, as well.

For more information on these and other scams, go to BBB Scam Source (www.bbb.org/scam). Sign up
for our Scam Alerts and learn about new scams as soon as we do.

About The Better Business Bureau

The BBB Serving Manitoba & N.W. Ontario, established in June of 1930, is a not-for-profit, public
service organization and part of an international organization with 114 local Bureaus across Canada and
the U.S. and locally in Manitoba & now N.W. Ontario. BBB rates companies in the marketplace
through a rigorous evaluation of businesses against objective standards, unbiased business review
reports, impartial dispute resolution services and educational programs for businesses and consumers
alike. The Better Business Bureau is unique because of its position of neutrality and its outstanding
history of service. Visit the Better Business Bureau at: www.manitoba.bbb.org.

Tags BBB  Scams  Better Business Bureau  top 10 scams of 2011 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 10:31 AM 0 Comments

Shipping insurance is vital when looking to ship scrap gold, silver, palladium or platinum to the refinery. Refineries pay the most money for items of scrap precious metal such as old earrings, thermocouple wire, wafers, coins, bracelets, rings, silver electrical contacts and silver from photography labs etc.

Several companies offer shipping insurance for precious metals in Canada and the US. For high returns from gold, silver, platinum or palladium, finding genuine shipping insurance is crucial.

Genuine Shipping Insurance

Not all companies that offer shipping insurance in Canada provide coverage for items of precious metal. On the contrary, some shipping firms offer insurance that is not claimable for items of precious metals. For instance, you can buy shipping insurance from companies such as UPS, FedEx, Purolator, Canada Post, the US Postal service amongst others.

However, the shipping insurance offered by these firms is not claimable for items of precious metals, gems, jewellery, gold bars, silver bars, coins, wafers etc. But there are Canadian companies that offer genuine shipping insurance claimable for items of precious metals.

Only KMG Gold Recycling offers real, claimable shipping insurance for your gold at one half the costs of the other carriers insurance.

Why chose KMG Gold Recycling?

KMG Gold Recycling pays out an average five times more money than its industry competition. When it comes to jewellery, KMG Gold Recycling is America's trusted authority, providing a tradition of excellence, high quality and unparalleled service.

Last year, KMG Gold Recycling won the 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence demonstrating ethics and integrity in the marketplace.

BBB Torch Award winners build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, remain transparent, honor their promises, and display integrity in all of their marketplace activities.

KMG Gold offers a secure and safe way to sell your unwanted jewellery for the most money in the industry. With the current high price of gold, there's never been a better time to sell. KMG Gold Recycling's expertise and experience ensures your peace of mind. The company offers a competitive payout, quick turnaround and fast payment.

KMG Gold Recycling is North America's newest and most dedicated full service refinery and gold buyer. The company has the most comprehensive recycling services of any refinery and gold buyer. Payments and services are efficient as the company offers excellent communication and customer support. Every single transaction is fully transparent and open.

There are custom settlement options tailored to suit all of your needs, whether you're an individual selling small lots of gold or the large refining lot customers. Currently, KMG has the highest gold buyer pay out rates in North America! All of KMG Gold’s prices for cash lots and refining lots change every day with the market price of precious metals.

Tags insurance  KMG Gold  Better Business Bureau  shipping  precious metals 

Posted by Caitlyn Diamond at 9:25 AM 0 Comments

KMG Gold Recycling recently won the 2010 BBB Torch Award for marketplace excellence, truth in advertising, honesty and ethics.

KMG Gold Recycling - a international buyer and refiner of precious metals based in Winnipeg, Manitoba – credits its focus on transparent pricing and top-notch customer service with cementing its reputation as the industry's most “trusted” gold buyer. KMG Gold purchases gold, silver, platinum and diamonds from consumers throughout Canada and the United States through their website business (www.kmggold.com and www.kmggold.ca), at gold parties run by company trained certified gold buyers, and at their company-owned store in Winnipeg MB.

KMG has direct to the refinery shipping outlets in Sacramento California, Edmonton Alberta Canada and also at participating The UPS Stores® locations in Vancouver, Burnaby, Surrey, Kamloops, Winnipeg, and Calgary, Canada. Shipping direct to the refinery will always net the customer the most money for their gold, platinum and silver.

The gold buying industry, spurred by skyrocketing gold prices, has come under the media microscope. But, by conducting its business with a high level of honesty and integrity, KMG Gold has distinguished itself from the pack.

“Our transparent business practices and superior customer service wins us a loyal following,” says Michael Gupton, founder of KMG Gold. “We pay more money than all of our competitors and post our prices every day on our website. We lead the industry by providing Canada's only precious metal shipping insurance, a written evaluation and offer to purchase.” And, adds Gupton, “Our new website lets consumers browse and see the prices we pay and what we buy. It helps consumers have a better idea of the value of their own items before they send their gold to us.”

Gupton, a 25+ year gold industry veteran and published author is often tapped by consumers advocacy groups and charitable organizations  to speak about gold and gold value.

“At KMG Gold, we believe strongly in educating consumers about the value of their gold. The more information the consumer has, the less likely they will be misled by dishonest dealers,” says Gupton. “We provide a extensive range of information on our website and have an excellent customer service team to quickly respond to emails and phone calls.”

Tags BBB  Better business bureau  honesty  ethics  integrity 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 7:10 PM 0 Comments

Whether you realize or not, relationships are the fuel that feeds the success of your business. Here's how to make ones that last.

Whether you recognize it or not, all successful small businesses–regardless of what they do or sell–have one thing in common: their owners know how to build and maintain relationships. The truth is that entrepreneurs too often get caught up in the details of the kinds of products or services they are selling to notice how critical it is to build relationships not just with your customers, but also with your vendors, employees and–gasp–even your competitors. "Without strong relationships, it is impossible to have success as a business owner," says Michael Denisoff, who is the founder and CEO of Denisoff Consulting Group in Redondo Beach, California.

"You need to have long-term customers and good vendor relationships that will carry you through challenging times or tight deadlines, as well as relationships with other business owners to share struggles, resources and best practices that can really give you an edge. The reality is that business relationships are just like any other relationship. They require some effort to maintain and they must be mutually beneficial. As in any relationship, you must be willing to give, share and support, not just take or receive."

That's a lesson Denisoff admits he had to relearn the hard way when, a while ago, he fell into the trap of neglecting some of his business relationships. But it wasn't that he didn't care about those relationships. It's just that he got so busy that he didn't realize how much time had gone by where he had not checked in with several of his contacts–an easy mistake for most small business owners who feel like every day is shorter than the last. What Denisoff found was that, in two cases in particular, his failure to put enough effort into nurturing his relationships caused them to wither away.

The first instance was when he called up a supplier to ask for a favor–not realizing how much time had gone by from the last time he had touched base. Denisoff says his supplier seemed distant and not very willing to help him out, which was surprising. After asking him if anything was wrong, Denisoff's supplier answered that since Denisoff hadn't been around in a while, he felt like he was being taken advantage of. In another instance, he called up a customer who he could tell was not pleased with him because, in truth, he only called her when she had a project ready to go. She felt like Denisoff did not truly value her and was using her only for her business. It's like having a friend that only comes to see you when they want to borrow money or need help moving," he says. "In time, you cut them off."

The two eye-opening experiences caused Denisoff to take two major actions in response. First, he created a contact database where he not only stored information on his clients, but also with vendors and business peers. He now uses the database to document the details of the conversations–both personal and professional–that he has with each of his contacts. "This helps with continuity and helps me to remember key facts and information about each contact," he says. "It felt mechanical at first but it proved to be an efficient method to ensure that no one fell through the cracks." Secondly, Denisoff changed around his daily routine so that he now dedicates a portion of his day to doing nothing but reaching out and maintaining his professional and personal relationships. "Thankfully, I have strong long-term customers to keep the pipeline full and a good group of vendors and business peers dedicated to helping each other succeed," he says.

The actions taken by Denisoff are great tips for any business owner to adopt as their own. Here are some additional tips from Denisoff and other business owners on how to build stronger business relationships that will last.

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Encourage Honest Feedback

"An open, honest relationship demands clear communications of how each party is performing," says Patrick Scullin of Ames Scullin O'Haire, an Atlanta-based marketing services company. "Encourage constructive criticism and be brave enough to suggest ways clients can help your firm perform better," he says. "If you know where you stand, you can stand stronger."

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Listen More Than You Talk

"We all want to extol our strengths, our virtues in hopes of impressing others and, ultimately, getting more business," says Alisa Cohn, an executive coach. "It's counter-intuitive, but being a good listener highlights your virtues much better than being a big talker. I coach a financial planner and we did a little market research on what his clients value the most in him. Yes, they value his advice and his skills in handling the money, but a lot of financial planners have that. What sets him apart is that he takes the time to listen to them and really understand where his clients are coming from. They said most often that they value his role as a sounding board, and a few even called him better than a shrink! That's the kind of behavior that leads to referrals and long-term business success."

Dig Deeper: Listening With More Than Two Ears

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Make A Routine

Devise a system to ensure that not too much time passes before you connect with your contacts, such as the formal database Denisoff created. And with the proliferation of social media tools these days such as Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, it's never been easier to keep in touch.

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Be Honest

"As a small business owner, it's important that people see me as expert in my field," says Amy Harcourt of Definitive Marketing. "But, when asked questions I don't know how to answer, I always say so. I remember an initial meeting with what became one of my best clients. I was meeting with the executive team and was asked about my experience in their industry (of which I had none). I could have tried to spin my response to sound like I knew their industry. Instead, I told them that I had no experience and why that might work to their advantage. I was surprised to see stern, questioning faces turn to friendly nods and smiles. They really appreciated my honesty. And that laid the foundation for a great relationship."

Dig Deeper: Can the Truth Set Your Profits Free?

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Take Notes

Keep detailed notes on everyone you meet, says Mike Scanlin, CEO of Born To Sell, a software company that makes investing tools. "When you get back to the office, enter those notes into your address book or contact system. Later, you will want to be able to enter keywords like 'sailing' or 'wireless' or 'French' and find all the people you know who match that keyword. Doing keyword mining on your own contacts will pay dividends for years."

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Give More than You Receive

Be sure to contact people when you are NOT in need of something. Take time to learn about their business since it's as important to them as your business to you. "Take a minute to understand your client's dreams and provide opportunities for them to fulfill this whenever possible," says Rohan Hall of rSiteZ.com, a company which builds social networking sites. "Whenever I have a client on the phone I try to understand what they're trying to achieve with their business. From time to time there will be an opportunity that I will actually refer them to someone that I think could help their business especially where I gain nothing from this. Clients really appreciate it when they realize that you're looking out for them."

Dig Deeper: How to Incorporate Philanthropy Into Your Business

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Be Proactive

Using your journal and knowledge of your relationships, forward articles, links and other information that might be of interest to your contacts. "When I see interesting news stories I forward them to people who I think would find them relevant," says Scanlin of Born to Sell. "I've had many recipients come up to me later and say things like, 'I can't believe you remembered that I wanted to go to Thailand.' It takes less than 30 minutes each morning to send out a handful of these. Do it every day and the care and feeding of your network will be alive and well."

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Be Real

"Do not be afraid to be vulnerable," says Amy Ludwigson of Pure Citizen, an organic clothing retailer. "Let people see who you are. It builds trust and respect. Being too professional is a bore and well you are not going to enjoy yourself."

Dig Deeper: When Do You Lie? Strategies For More Authentic, Respectful Communication

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Turn Blunders into Opportunities

Admitting mistakes and correcting missteps will take you far when it comes to building relationships, says William Gregory O, who is the co-founder of Lex Scripta, a law firm in Illinois. "Often times, people just want to know that you are sorry and that you have a plan for getting back on track," he says. When one of our service providers made a mistake, which resulted in our service being delayed for a week, the service provider responded immediately with an apology and a proposal for fixing the problem. Instead of looking for another service provider, we decided to work with this provider because we know that the provider is honest and diligent. When a mistake is more than a minor setback, do something to make it right or otherwise provide value to the wronged party."

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Make it Personal

Sometimes it is good to send an actual physical letter or card of appreciation as opposed to an e-mail. "Say 'Thank you," a lot," says Amy Blum, owner and president of Eagle Marketing. "I send notes to new clients thanking them for their business. I send e-mails of appreciation often, for no reason at all. And, I send great toffee during the holidays. Never forget who got you where you are. And never, ever think you can say thank you enough to clients, customers, colleagues and even vendors too."

Dig Deeper: How to Build Personal Relationships With Customers

How to Build Better Business Relationships: Meet Face-to-Face

Invite your contacts to an event (sporting, music, etc.) that you would both enjoy. You will naturally deepen the relationship and get to know each other better. You could also make plans to catch up at or join someone at a networking event. For some people, networking events are challenges and having at least one friendly face there can give them the confidence to network better. Plus, you will strengthen the relationship.

Tags BBB  better business bureau  business  ethics  honesty 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 8:37 AM 0 Comments

KMG Gold Recycling wins 2010 Better Business Bureau Torch Award for Marketplace Excellence demonstrating ethics and integrity in the marketplace.

BBB Torch Award winners build trust, advertise honestly, tell the truth, remain transparent, honor their promises, and display integrity in all of their marketplace activities.

KMG Environmental Inc. which runs and owns KMG Gold Recycling won the prestigious award at Thursday nights, October 14, 2010 inaugural gala event.

Tags BBB  Better Business Bureau  Torch Award  Ethics and Integrity 

Posted by Mike Gupton at 3:15 PM 0 Comments