All Things Stone

It is important to define certain parts of this market study as marble-limestone for ease in studying the data available from world and domestic surveys.

Today, with the onslaught of suppliers entering the marketplace and the number of countries trying to sell stone in North America, it is imperative to know who your suppliers are.

Until the late 1970’s in North America, there was a distinction between importers, dealers, and distributors. There were channels of distribution. The number of stone dealers in the 1970’s were small compared to today’s numbers.

Originally Published in 1996 There are many ways to sell to customers in North America. Many years ago because the market in North America was so big, so new, and so virgin (if one could say that), foreigners selling into North America were mystified by its vastness...

In surveying numerous distributors, contractors, and sales representatives throughout the United States we have concluded that the market is definitely changing and trends, whether short or long term, are taking place.

U. S. Statistics of production: The last statistics showing dimension stone is dated 1993 but is representative of the industry.

The Dimension Stone Imports Into the United States—Granite. To simplify matters we can look at the totals of imports in the granite industry as that which is rough, stone articles, and worked granite.

Material Safety Data Sheets, otherwise known as M.S.D.S., are now being required on stone. This is an environmental matter for which the United States is leading the way in workers safety.

Most companies have no format for purchasing stone. Considerations must be given by all companies to establish proper purchasing technics and order forms if they are to be successful and control the suppliers.

For years the question of quality has always been an issue in the dimension stone industry. Is “quality” texture, color, ceramic, natural, defined, standardization, legal, or perceived?

Suppliers or fabricators are referred to sometimes as producers or factories who produce tile, slabs, cut to size, or other special works such as fireplace surrounds. These suppliers sometimes are misunderstood.

Selecting a stone for use requires that many questions are asked. “Who is doing the selection?” is one main question.

Greece is located between the Ionia Sea and the Aegean Sea, and is slightly smaller then Alabama. It is comprised of very mountainous areas and lots of islands. The structure underlying Greece is “Marble”.

The U.S. economic slowdown in the late 1980’s was enlarged due to the global economic slowdown. President George Bush tried to get americans to accept patience, as growth was nearby.