This month, I am writing my column from a hotel room in Vitoria, Brazil, overlooking the Atlantic Ocean in 90-degree heat in mid-February. There are two reasons for this. On one hand, I have been on the road so much lately that I am rarely in my office to write articles. But more importantly, I wanted to write a little about my experiences here while they are fresh in my mind.
To start off, the International Marble and Granite Fair taking place here has been a tremendous success. Although the show had drawn some international interest during its first 15 years, when it took place in the stoneworking center of Cachoeiro de Itapemirim, Espirito Santo, Brazil, it is now centered in the major city of Vitoria. This move has made the show an international draw, and it is particularly attractive to the American market. Everywhere I turned at the show, I heard my native language being spoken by U.S. importers, who are here purchasing containers of granite slabs that have become staples of the kitchen countertop trade - Verde Butterfly, Ubatuba, Giallo Ornamental and so many others. Some of the Americans here are old friends, and others are names I have heard about for years and finally had the pleasure of meeting for the first time. And there are also many other North American importers and distributors (and fabricators) who I had not been familiar with, but who came to Brazil to do some serious business.