Category Archives: Posts

Rockheads Forum Call

Wednesday, February 27th, 2019

Welcome New Members

1. 1. Emerald Coast Fabrication
   2. Paxton Countertops
   3. Keystone Granitewerks
   4. Precision Stoneworks

Current Topics

1. 1. 1. Tariffs on cut-to-size – Brian Lynch
         1. How is everyone dealing with import tariffs on cut-to-size, what solutions have you found?
            1. Geoffrey Gran from TCF – Has not affected him, however when the news came out initially a lot of GC’s contacted him to get updates
            2. Chris from Stoneworks – Effected greatly. Real hurdles on the new bidding because developers do not want to accept the price increase. Not bidding glass quartz either. Switched to cut to size granite, bidding it now with 25% tariff already in place.
            3. Nick Began – Glass quartz is already imported, already almost 100 containers – including MSI. Hired Adrienne Blogmiller, tariff law expert, her comments were to stay away from any glass quartz with more than 50% in content. Can fight it if it is 60% above in quartz content.
               1. How do you submit a MSDS Sheets for each color? As long as the material has been approved through a third party
               2. Paul Menninger-Capitol Granite– Coming from the chemical industry in previous career, allows companies to have a range 40%-70%.
            4. Fred Christian-Hallmark – keep in mind court costs vs. tariff cost
            5. Geoffrey – Has anyone tested this material? It is a new product with no testing done as far as he knows.
               1. Nick – Have to go to independent 3^rdparty testing that believes is international, also did own testing in house.
               2. Are there any test results from this company? Yes – SGS is the service, performs close to the MSI’s Q Quartz.
            6. Jon Kaplan – does anyone know what is delayed in regard to the tariff?
               1. The 15% is pending depending on upcoming meetings with President and China.
            7. What more would you like to hear on this topic?
               1. Hear from reliable source/authority on what the latest and greatest is without sugar coating.
               2. Have a representative from MSI present to discuss what has been done on their end.

Slabsmith – Frank Muraca

1. 1. If you are using Slabsmith to create a layout and seam information for your customers are you charging for it and if so how much can you get away with? We have done a fair amount at no additional cost and it is a value-adder and we would like to charge for it. just curious what others in the group are doing.
      1. Geoffrey-TCF – sells it for $250.00, posed as a convenience to the customer because it saves time. Don’t do it for builders, but will do it for commercial jobs, Box Stores (depends on store, but done with a custom sku. Make sure you are educating the store on what you are doing if you go this route), and residential.
      2. Matt from Colonial – was not successful in charging for Slabsmith at the higher level when brought up to Meredith. Work with stores one on one for this. $250 out of Big Box stores and $200 out of the showroom.
         1. Asking for this to be a SKU is the biggest challenge because not everyone can do it. This is why you request for a custom SKU.
      3. Does anyone do other up charges for Big Box? Geoffrey does do this, has around 15 items.
         1. Chip minimizer, plumbing – depends on what the customers’ needs are and also your capabilities. Customers want simplicity and ease of purchase so please keep this in mind.
      4. Karen Roe-NSM Motif – $250 for the layout and also sell Invisiblock and Granite Gold
      5. Jon Kaplan – Granite Gold being tested in some markets for program in the big box stores.
      6. Geoffrey Gran, TCF. Granite Gold test market.  TCF is working and doing well.

Saw jet vs. CNC saw – Marco/Atlas Marble

1. 1. I have two sawjets and I’m in the market to upgrade my saw systems . I know about my fixed cost on owning saw jets . Could anyone tell me if they have replaced their Saw jets for CNC saws and besides operating expenses decreasing did the changeover to CNC saws VS. Saw jets decrease S/F production significantly?
      1. Fred Christian-from Hallmark –
      2. Paul Menninger – What would be the compelling event to go to CNC Saw vs. CNC Waterjet?
      3. Matt Scarsella from Tile & Stone – use CNC Saw without a sawjet and has manipulate and production is second to none. Have automatic loader and conveyer belt. Don’t use saw jet and cut 35-40 slabs a day on one saw.
         1. Buying decision – wanted to increase productivity. Added benefit of having saw that loads itself. Could not have done the same thing with a saw jet, it would cut the conveyer belt. Savings is in reducing cycle times. Just cutting blanks and marking where the seams are.
      4. Brian from Cutting Edge – removing waterjet will increase production time.

Plumbing Services

1. 1. Geoffrey – has 2 full-time plumbers on staff. Make $100K a year on both plumbers. Get to control the process. Find someone who is experienced.
      1. Do you have to be a licensed plumber?

1. Every state is different, but in IL yes they must be licensed.

2. Is there a break-even point?
   1. Charge, for HD, $350 for a basic reconnection.
3. Anthony McGilvery-Valley Countertop IndustriesHired retired plumber for about a month to come train their installers how to do reconnection – their state does not require licensing.

Announcements

1. 1. Coverings
      1. Hosting Yearly Roundtable Discussions in Orlando at Grove Resort and Spa
      2. Meeting Evening of the 9ths and entire day of the 10^th
      3. Rate of the hotel – Hotels.com $159 for single room. All condominiums on the property so there are flexible pricing options.
      4. Please be sure to register on the website.
   2. Best Idea Contest
      1. Please send them via the website or directly so they can be entered into the presentation.
      2. Grand Prize is being given by Sapienstone for all-expense paid trip to Italy (flights, hotel and meals) to visit the factory as well as enjoy time experiencing country and culture.

For the entire recording, please click on this link and fast forward to minute 10:00

In case you missed the call on Jan 9th, 2019 and you want to hear back what it was all about, great discussion!

Topics you’ll hear discussion around:

• Best way to recruit employees
• Employee drug policies and developments
• Implementing EOS – what’s the best way to implement

Click on this link for the full recording: Call recording and start at the 13:00 minute mark.