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Volume 4, Issue 7 July 2016
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Greetings to all of our longtime supporters and our new subscribers alike. We here at CountertopResource.com are having an especially busy summer, and August brings even more excitement for the countertop industry as we are happy to see that the International Woodworking Fair (IWF) continues to focus on the countertop industry.
IWF Atlanta is set to take place from August 24 to 27 at the Georgia Congress Center, but the day before the fair even begins, on Tuesday, August 23, six all-day symposiums, each focused on industries related to woodworking, will be held. One of these symposiums is
Exploring Countertop Options, running from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
This countertop symposium is being presented by the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA), and sponsored by
SolidSurface.com. Speakers include such well known fabricators as Russ Berry of commercial/architectural fabrication firm A.S.S.T.; Dave Paxton, of the diversified Paxton Countertops & Showers; Mike Langenderfer of The Countertop Shop and current ISFA executive director; former executive director Keith Haight, who will speak about thermoforming; and ISFA Communications Director Kevin Cole, who has been forecasting the industry for at least a dozen years.
Presentations at the symposium cover a diverse range of topics, including new materials and applications, solid surface casework, operating a successful countertop fabrication shop, countertop trends and a countertop forecast. It also has a Q&A panel discussion with the aforementioned speakers so the audience can get direct advice from these experts.
There will also be a 'Countertop Pavilion' again this year with a focus on products and services intended for countertop fabricators. In addition, Jeff Girard, president of The Concrete Countertop Institute, will be hosting an education conference Thursday, August 25 from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.:
Leapfrog from Laminate to High End Concrete.
This year's IWF promises quality industry events, and we hope the trend towards more countertop programming continues. Feel free to drop us a line at
info@countertopresource.com. We always enjoy hearing from you.
Sincerely,
Brian Jones, Editor/Content Manager
info@countertopresource.com
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Featured Articles
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Southern Stone Surfaces, located in Nashville, Tenn., was founded in 2006, and today, it is one of the largest countertop fabricators in the region. The company's specializes in granite, marble and quartz surfacing, and its primary customers are builders and cabinetmakers. However, some retail business is also done...
Read the full story here
Building a Sum Even Greater Than Its Parts: Why It's Essential to Create a Cohesive Sales Team
By Becky Wenner
"Coming together is a beginning, staying together is progress and working together is success." Henry Ford, one of the great industrialists of the 20th century, said that about the importance of teamwork and of how it applies to businesses of all sizes.
Today's economy is more diverse and more fiercely competitive than ever before, yet Ford's insights still ring true today. Whether you are leading a small sales team, managing a large sales department or are part of a group of sales professionals, your personal success is going to hinge...
Read the full article here
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Health & Safety Watch
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 Working in a countertop fabrication shop can be dangerous if safety precautions are not followed. Many of the most hazardous situations are very specific to the industry, but employees may also become injured or killed by general hazards that are common in all types businesses. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) makes its data available
...
Read the full story here
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AG&M Anaheim Celebrates Grand Opening of Design Center & Showroom
Architectural Granite & Marble (AG&M) celebrated the opening of its new location in Anaheim Hills/Yorba Linda with a casino-themed party. The design and builder community showed up for a tour of the indoor slab selection center and upscale showroom, as well as some casino fun. The party also launched Metro Quartz, AG&M's exclusive quartz countertop....Read more here
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MIA+BSI Women in Stone Introduces Award and Scholarship
 Women in Stone introduced two new opportunities to promote the program's efforts to support women in the stone industry, the Women in Stone Pioneer Award and the Women in Stone Empowerment Scholarship. The Women in Stone Pioneer Award will recognize an advocate within the stone industry for their role in recruiting, retaining and advancing women. The winner's performance in promoting women should be exemplary, honorable and inspirational. "The Pioneer Award recognizes an individual who has ventured into the unknown to educate and empower women in our industry," commented Women in Stone co-chair...Read more here
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ISFA Hires New Membership Director
 The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) hired industry veteran Bryan Stannard as its new Membership Director. In this new position, Stannard will take charge of all membership-related activities, including member recruitment and retention, program and meeting development and handling member educational and networking opportunities. Stannard has been in the surfacing industry since the mid-90s. He previously was surfacing manager for ITW Polymers Sealants North America....
Read more here.
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HanStone Quartz Expands Marble-Inspired Cascina Collection
 As a result of the popularity of the Cascina Collection, HanStone Quartz expanded the signature collection to include six new colors. Echoing the wispy veining of Carrara Marble, the fresh new colors add a classic sophistication to any interior space. Joining Italian Waves, Classic Statue, Serenity and Tranquility, these six colors...Read more here
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Lotte Introduces 15 New Staron Solid Surface Choices 
Lotte Advanced Materials unveiled 15 new Staron Solid Surfaces colors and patterns. According to the company, the new choices available increase the design flexibility of the material. Staron Solid Surfaces are hygienic, nonporous and heat-, scratch- and stain-resistant. The recent additions
...
Read more here
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Clé Introduces Artist Cement Collection of Tiles
Clé, the international artisan tile e-boutique, introduced its exclusive Artist Cement Collection of hand- made encaustic cement tiles. The tiles were designed by eleven artist studios located in Europe, South America and the United States. The series includes architects, artists, designers, and sculptors...
Read more here
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Houzer Adds To Platus Fireclay Sink Series
Houzer Inc added a reversible, dual-sided apron front model to Platus fireclay sink series. This new model offers a modern plain front design or an alternative classic fluted design. The quality sinks are manufactured in dedicated Fireclay ovens...
Read more here
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Stone & Tile Pros issued a new reference manual - the Dimension Stone and Tile Field Guide: Failures Troubleshooting, Investigation and Analysis, recommended for anyone that works with stone or tile. The guide arms the reader with tools and information to diagnose failures, including essential testing procedures, charts and illustrations and an exhaustive glossary of terms.
Read more here
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Upcoming Events
CountertopResource.com offers the most comprehensive calendar of industry events. Here are a few upcoming events:
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Countertop Videos/Podcasts
We are always on the lookout for good videos posted to the Web that might interest you. Here are a couple that are featured on the website:
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A Matter of Opinion
Tips From Granite Grannies: Fabricating for an Apron Front Sink
BLANCO interviewed Lori Hethmon, Founder, Owner and Lead Designer for Granite Grannies, on her best tips for fabricating an apron front sink.
Q1: What are the different installation methods for apron front sinks?
There are basically two types of apron front sink. Some apron fronts offer a frontal piece that wraps around cabinetry - basically a rectangular sink with a false front that makes it look like an apron front. Actual apron-front sinks require precise measuring to fit within cabinetry. These features affect the way the counter top is cut.
An apron sink must be on site, and sitting in the exact location preferred by homeowner before we can template the project. The farm sink can typically sit farther out from the cabinet or sit farther to the back wall. Additionally, the shape of the sinks will vary considerably and must be templated on site.
Q2: Do you review the desired reveal with the customer? Or do you prefer a reveal and just go with that.
The industry isn't short on opinions, and the Countertop Blog offers some of its own, along with insights into interesting articles, videos, surveys, guest blogs and more.
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CountertopResource.com has a new feature that allows you to subscribe directly to the website so that each time a new entry is posted to the site it will be automatically mailed to you...
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We Want to Hear From YOU!
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Have a Cool Project, Tip or Other Information to Share?
Drop us a line with photos and information on a project you've done, a repair you've made, a tip on a particular problem you've faced or other useful information and we will publish it! Plus we will include a link back to your website so you get the full credit, positive exposure and additional traffic to your website, which is invaluable in the digital age.
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