With eight factories in China, 19 quarries worldwide and sales offices around the world (including three in the U.S.), Best Cheer Stone Group has developed into one of the largest stone suppliers in the world. Over the past few years, the company has undergone a number of expansion initiatives, including increased exports to the U.S. market.
Best Cheer came to the U.S. in April of 2003 with the purchase of Rowan Granite Quarry, Inc. in Salisbury, NC, producer of Solar White granite. “We have been purchasing from the well-known quarries throughout the U.S. and abroad for many years prior,” stated the company. “We have increased sales of raw blocks in the U.S. with the acquisition.”
Materials offered by Best Cheer Stone Group include granite and marble slabs, prefabricated pieces, landscape materials, mosaics, travertine, slate, soapstone and cut-to-size products.
“Pre-fabs”
Among the product expansions at Best Cheer Stone Group, the company is offering prefabricated countertops (“prefabs”) for shops in the U.S. “We started our warehouse in Anaheim with the prefab program,” said Fabian Canche, Sales Manager in the Anaheim location. “We stock $6 million in inventory in this location alone.”
Canche explained that most of its prefab products are sold to fabricators and installers. “You still need the fabricator and installer,” he said. “You need to trim the backs and the sides, and it’s not like homeowners are going to pick up the slab, do the sink cut-out and install the material.”
According to Canche, the prefabs are made to fit standard American kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities, and they are processed in China using advanced stoneworking technology from Italy, including CNC technology and resin treatment.
Prefab countertops are available in over 120 colors in Anaheim, and the group has over 500 materials for selection in its three U.S. warehouses. “If the customer cannot find the prefab color or size to fit their kitchen project, they can select from slabs as well,” according to Best Cheer. “We have just started this program in our Eastern location, concentrating on - but not limited to - the 3-cm availability. We strive to grow this program to the same growth as our West Coast location.”
In all, Best Cheer Group has invested $10 million in U.S. operations over the past five years, and it has seen considerable growth in employment. “We will remain committed and to our primary customer - the fabricator - who is the backbone of our industry,” stated the company.