Risk Takers Prove Successful in the Land of Books and Beads

If a business receives gifts from around the world for their pet cat, it must be a good sign, right? 

Buddy Mondazzi, the mascot of Mondazzi Book and Bead Warehouse Showroom has become famous through the success of Ed and Sonja Mondazzi's online business.

"A woman from Scotland sends him collars and stuff all the time," said Mike Wetmore, an employee of the store for the past two years. 

Mondazzi's store is a family-owned business with 11 employees, whom they refer to as "team players." In recent years, Amazon.com has invited the business to sell internationally for Amazon UK and Amazon Canada as well as Amazon USA.

"We've made a few good decisions," Ed Mondazzi said. 

With an inventory of over 7,000 books, the warehouse recently opened a showroom to the public after years of only selling online and to wholesalers.

"People are enjoying it because all of our books are 50 percent off and beads are wholesale," Ed Mondazzi told Patch. 

"When people come in, they're surprised," he said. "They say, 'Wow! This is in Windsor?'"

Customers, mainly beaders, Ed Mondazzi said, sometimes have to be reminded of the store hours because "they come in and spend hours and hours shopping. We have to boot them out the door." 

Most recently, books for the body, mind and spirit have been the bestsellers for Mondazzi.

"They're really big right now because people are concerned with their health, and we're a really good source of material," he said. 

Mondazzi Book and Bead Warehouse Showroom is based on a “chain business model,” Ed Mondazzi said.

“We make very little money on each sale, but we have lots of sales. We sell our products at a reasonable price in great volume.”

Mondazzi’s store even broke a record—they shipped 14,000 online orders in one day.

“We’ve shipped to every spot all over the world,” he said.

“The sales we make have made a very good living for my wife and I. We’re risk takers because everything we’ve done has been a huge risk, especially with the economy. But the risk has paid off through hard work and decision making,” said Mondazzi.

He also told us that the quality of his sales are guaranteed, “If I can’t sell it for good value, then I won’t sell it.”

Mondazzi Book and Bead Warehouse Showroom is located on 570 Hayden Station Road in Windsor. The showroom is open Monday through Friday 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m.