When I look at the stone industry, I see a totally mixed bag — and I don’t mean that as a good thing. As editor ofStone World and (its electronic off-shoots such as this E-Newsletter), I get a firsthand look at all aspects of our business — from one-man fabrication shops in small rented warehouses to large-scale fabrication plants to massive quarrying and slab-processing operations. I see these stoneworking facilities at work in all corners of the globe, and it seems that no matter what the size or scope of a business, when it comes to worrying about the overall direction of the industry, they usually fall into one of several categories. Frankly, these classifications can also apply to technology suppliers.
A. Operations that are genuinely concerned with the greater good of the stone industry. They support initiatives that benefit the trade as a whole — whether it is generic promotion of the stone industry, associations or other mediums for promoting the craft. They share their knowledge with their fellow industry members. They are continually looking to improve their own operations while also enhancing overall consumer awareness and education. In general, these firms are the key to positioning stone as a premium building material.