Recommendations

I am very fortunate as a new business owner to have Missy on our staff. As an Instructor, Missy is an expert in both TRX and Kettlebell, who can facilitate both programs to students of all levels.
She is very dependable, creative and has provided us with results proven input regarding marketing, scheduling, and training . She has a long list of attributes that I can attest for and strongly recommend, I didn't even hit on loyalty & Integrity.

If there is such a thing as a honest sales person and a true "Sales Challenger", Melissa's persona would embody it. She understands how to listen to a company executive's challenges, ask challenging questions without offending and deliver something so creative that it screams with genius. Melissa's presentation skills are phenomenal and combined with her inner creativity and passion, she is unstoppable.

I've had the pleasure of working with Melissa for the past two years at SSI. She truly has been a force of creativity and innovation in our marketing department. I've seen her take large projects with little or no direction and boundaries and mold it into something remarkable, keeping in mind budget and time constraints.

On a personal note, she has been a huge benefit to my own progression in my own path in SSI due to her marketing prowess and industry advice. Truly enjoy working with this gem.

I ​worked​ with ​Melissa on ​the company milestone anniversary celebration​ and it was such a pleasant experience​ to say the least​.​ Any items that needed an approval, signature, payment or verification went through Melissa and the team at headquarters based in Atlanta​. However, throughout the 14-month planning process​​ I was based out of New York and the event was being held in Orlando - not to mention the 250 guests who would be flying in from all over the country to attend this four day sales meeting and celebration. While communication and organization is important when planning any event, it was extra important since we were working completely virtual aside from the site visits and actual event. Melissa was always responsive, engaged, enthusiastic and determined to provide guests with an experience like nothing they have had before. One of the many things that stood out during our collaboration was her budgeting skills which not once took away from the overall guest experience. Melissa was also very creative when pitching innovative and unique themes and design ideas. I hope to have the opportunity to join forces again with Melissa on a future event.

The generosity of spirit, the true openness to others, and the way Melissa ensures that everyone who enters her store front feels like family ... these to me are the pieces that make small local businesses shine. I moved from New York City where the pace of life is so fast, sometimes you worry you’ll lose yourself. Melissa makes certain her space is one where you will stop and stay awhile.

While Melissa is working with various charities such as the Starhouse Foundation, Sunshine on a Ranney Day, and a multitude of others she continues to educate herself and advocate for others to obtain as much knowledge as possible pertaining to their businesses and the world around them. For instance, she is very involved with Pink Boots Society which was created to assist, inspire, and encourage women in the
beer industry as the industry is predominately run by males. Melissa has faced adversity as a woman in her male dominated industry and yet she continues to push forward with her intelligence and perseverance as her guide.

I first connected with Melissa while looking for event space for a non-profit close to my
heart, The Homeless Period Project, which provides period supplies for homeless women and girls. After chatting with her, it was clear to me that Melissa isn't just passionate about serving her customers, she is passionate about serving the
community.

After describing what I needed -- a place to invite friends and neighbors in Roswell to package donated period products into kits for distribution -- she immediately offered her help. She explained that each month, 100% of the tips collected at Pinkies Up go to support a different charity, and quickly put the Homeless Period Project on the list as a recipient of her charitable tip donations. She offered to open her doors for the event on an evening when she would otherwise be closed. The night of the event,  Melissa not only served as our hostess, she went out her way to make it a success, helping us with everything from setting up tables to packing products. While this alone shows her passion for service, it is hardly an isolated act. Friends who reached out to Melissa for space to do a fundraiser for local schools were welcomed just as warmly.

I am certainly grateful to be a direct recipient of Melissa's kindness, and her support of the Homeless Period Project will impact many. However, I am even more grateful that
she is a member of the Roswell community and  can serve as a shining example to others of how to not only run a business, but run a business that cares.

Not only has Melissa created a unique concept that is sustainable on its own, but she is now ready to deploy a “digital sommelier” that other wine merchants will use to help their customers curate the optimum wine or beer based on what is available in that store, therein causing the customer to feel intelligent about their choice and enhancing the sale for the merchant.
 

Beyond just her business acumen, I also have come to appreciate her compassion for under-served philanthropies. Most people in her role, encourage customers to leave tips that then would help compensate the wait-staff. In contrast to that approach, tips are still encouraged, but 100% of tips are then donated to a different charity each month. And for what it is worth, she is committed to creating partnerships with other local merchants. Example, she has teamed up with Mitch, who owns and runs the iconic meat and fish shop two doors down from Pinkies Up, and offers beer and wine tastings to Mitch’s customers who enthusiastically wait in line for their selection. And in turn, the team at Mitch’s encourage their customers to take their soup and sandwich two doors down and eat with Melissa while having a craft beer or glass of wine. She also coordinated a Pop-Up Market for Small Business Saturday, organizing Roswell small businesses to showcase their products to Pinkies Up customers. Brilliant!
 

As a customer and an entrepreneur myself, I have watched her overcome the many challenges that all startups face and I recognize in her passion for her work, she is determined and all out committed to be a highly valued Roswell brand.

When I met Melissa, she welcomed my children ages 4 and 9 to the store as well as my neighbors. I mention this because as Roswell and Alpharetta grow, while nice are not so welcoming. I asked her if she would be open to hosting a neighborhood event at her store and she happily agreed! Not only did she go above and beyond in welcoming children, adults and senior adults into her store, she set up various charities to receive her tips. I quickly learned that she never accepts tips for herself and that she always donates them.
 

Pinkies Up quickly became a very inclusive and welcoming establishment for the neighborhood welcoming anyone coming to her store and for anyone wanting to have a beer, meet a neighbor
or learn about wine from another region of the world! The store has several board games for people to enjoy and Melissa encourages people to come visit, stay a while and enjoy a drink.