Pretty much everyone who has worked in the stone industry for any length of time knows that this business can be characterized as somewhat, um, fragmented. Now, this characterization isn't necessarily a bad thing, since the unique qualities of stone make every installation a custom one-of-a-kind application. However, the varieties in stone quarrying, processing and installation are creating some problems for the industry.
In this issue of Stone World, a longtime veteran of the industry has written a “Forum†about the changes in the way stone is sold in the U.S. (page 90). The comments made by this contributor, Ravi Johar of Southland Stone, touch upon some concerns that are shared by many in the stone trade, and they essentially express concern that quality is being disregarded as the industry grows. “Even though per-capita stone consumption in the U.S. is relatively small, it has shown tremendous growth in recent years,†Johar wrote. “And as with most industries seeing growth, these developments have attracted new suppliers. The challenge that is presented to the stone industry is to have suppliers become experts and diligent in their dealings within the market. This requires knowledge about the materials and a respect and dedication to providing good quality.â€