To say that times have been tough for U.S. stone fabricators over the past few years is an understatement. At a time when the unemployment rate reached a point not seen in decades, there have been less and less investments in granite kitchen countertops — the bread-and-butter for a stone fabricator. But over the past year or so, the industry seems to have turned the corner, and for the second straight year, American stone fabricators are reporting positive results and optimism for the coming years. Perhaps more importantly, they are planning investments, including some major purchases, with an eye on the future.
These are the results of a survey conducted by the Market Research Department at BNP Media (Stone World’s parent company), and it polled fabricators across the U.S., including large and small firms as well as relatively new and well-established companies.