VIRGINIA BEACH, VA — After more than two decades that saw incredible growth in the stone fabrication sector — followed by difficult times in the world economy — Regent Stone Products of Virginia Beach, VA, remains a leader in the supply of technology for stone fabricators. Back in 1991, Regent was formed in an 800-square-foot office in Virginia with the idea to sell its own line of diamond blades to contractors. At that time, it also began selling other supplies for construction industry professionals. Now, more than 20 years later, it has become a fixture in the stone fabrication industry.
“It was primarily going to friends in construction and asking them what things they bought month to month,” explained Tim Siviter, founder of Regent. “We began to sell more and more stone fabricator tools after dealing with a couple of local stone contractors. In time, this helped to form the idea of the industry’s first 6- x 9-inch catalog to be direct marketed to the stone industry, and [we were] the first to offer the guaranteed lowest price — with 10% off name brand tools and ‘name brands for less’ strategies. Before then, it was standard to use manufacturers’ literature and punch holes and assemble binder type catalogs. Regent was the first to actually mass produce thousands of catalogs — sending them bulk using a mailing list and approaching the industry in a direct-marketing format. We now send out approximately 10,000 catalogs annually, with a current edition of 220 pages.”