What Are They Thinking?
I was flipping through today’s issue of USA Today and came across the article, “Colleges offer choice of major—and headstone,” by Craig Wilson, and was perplexed. Apparently there are now some colleges out there that are making cemeteries part of their campuses, including Notre Dame, Duke and the University of Virginia. 
The catch is that the students get to pay the school twice, once for attending classes, and the second for a cemetery plot.
I know it is a free country, but a cemetery on a college campus? This just doesn’t seem right and then they charge an arm and a leg for a “so called” prestigious plot. If this is the new movement, maybe we need to expand our products from granite countertops to include granite headstones and market them to college campuses.
.…Well maybe not!
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite on May 30th, 2007 by Barb | | 2 Comments
Differentiate Yourself!
While there will always be design and color trends in the building and remodeling industry, the biggest trend today seems to be to distinguish your design from others. According to the article, “Kitchen & Bath Trends,” published in the May 2007 Qualified Remodeler magazine, “the old adage of keeping up with the Joneses is hardly the case, as homeowners are seeking ways to do exactly the opposite—differentiate themselves from the Joneses.” Homeowners are looking for ways to personalize their space with distinct design and character.
Granite countertops fit right in with this movement. Each piece of granite has its own set of unique characteristics, and because it is a natural product, no two pieces are exactly the same. So why not explore your possibilties with granite? There are well over 400 colors to choose from, each unique to compliment your individuality.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Industry News on May 29th, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Learning Links 05/25/07
Many consumers are interested in the latest kitchen trends when they build, or remodel their home, especially when it comes to granite countertops. While the internet provides a great way to explore and find information, as a consumer, you have to keep in mind that information is posted from around the country, and around the world for that matter. Color trends, pricing, etc. can vary greatly from one location to the next. It is best to use the internet to gather background information, but make sure to check with PGC, or local fabricator for accurate pricing, color information, and availability.
Following are some informative links:
http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/SpecialFeatures_detail.aspx?id=21
http://minneapolisluxuryrealestate.blogspot.com/2007/03/popular-kitchen-trends-in-minneapolis.html
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Learning Links on May 25th, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Nature’s Beauty
Selecting the perfect granite for your granite countertops can be a time consuming and tedious process. Granite offers unique characteristics and variations that are often looked at as “nature’s art”. One of the most beautiful aspects of selecting natural stone for your countertops is the natural variation and uniqueness of each piece. At Paramount Granite Company, we take great care in educating the customer on all of the various aspects of selecting stone, including care and maintenance, color selection, and stone variation.
We always strongly recommend that customers view their material before their final selection is made, for the simple fact that it is a natural product and does have flow, color, and pattern variations. Often time’s, small samples of granite do not do a larger remnant, or slab justice. We include a disclaimer on every proposal sent out stating, “Granite, marble, slate, limestone, and other stones are all products of nature. Paramount Granite Company cannot be held responsible for variations in the stone. If the customer is concerned about such variations, we suggest that they view the slabs at Paramount Granite Company before the fabrication process begins.“
Some materials offer such variance that, you may want a specific area of the slab used for the island, or bar top. In such instances, we can consult with the customer to accommodate their requests to the best of our ability. Our goal is to provide a final product that you are excited to show off and use, as it will be something that you will be using for many years to come. So just remember, nature’s beauty is out our control, but your input and hand’s on method of stone selection can make all the difference in the world!
Feel free to share…
Angie
Posted in Granite on May 24th, 2007 by Angie | | 0 Comments
Totino Grace Golf Outing A Success
Yesterday I had the opportunity to attend the annual Totino Grace High School Eagles Golf Shoot at Bunker Hills Golf Course in Coon Rapids, MN. As a fundraiser for the school, PGC sponsored a hole. Joel, our sales representative, and I manned the hole and greeted the golfers with a smile and of course a complimentary PGC can cooler. We also provided a little fun and entertainment with a hula hoop game, where the golfers had the opportunity to win a prize for getting their golf ball in the hoop.
Fun was had by all and we managed to display some literature on our granite countertops and laser etching service, despite the wind.
Following are a few photo’s from the event:
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Company on May 23rd, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Safety First
I make it a regular practice to read various trade publications for the stone industry, remodeling and builders journals, etc. to keep up to speed as to what is happening in the industry. I happened to be paging through the May 2007 issue of Stone World magazine today, and read Michael Reis’ Stone Column, “How Many Times Does This Have To Happen?” This column unfortunately, talked about a tragic occurence that happened in a New York stone shop. A 19 year worker from Ecuador was moving slabs, when several slabs of marble toppled over on him and pinned him underneath. He, sadly, was killed.
The handling of stone slabs is very dangerous. Workers need constant education on safety and reminders on the proper handling of stone in order to prevent injuries and tragedies. Consumers also need to be educated about the fact that stone fabrication facilities are not always the best place to bring small children to. At PGC, we encourage parents to have their children stay in the showroom where they can sit quietly and color, etc. If they choose to bring their child, or children out into the shop area, we make sure they know up front that they need to monitor their kids and have them stay by their side.
Recently, our Customer Service Manager, Angie, stayed for an after-hours appointment with a customer to view slabs for their granite countertops. Although she mentioned to the customer several times that they needed to keep their child from running off on their own, the customer neglected to say anything to the child, or scold him. Finally after several failed requests, Angie had to go find the child herself and make him sit down.
Parents, please be assured that we are keeping you and your childrens safety in mind. Children are often curious and don’t often see danger. Help us keep our shop safe by following our rules. They are in place for a reason.
Thanks for reading and your cooperation!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Company, Industry News on May 22nd, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Recipe: Mississippi Mud Potatos
Here’s a recipe I thought I’d share for all of those potato lovers out there. This is a good recipe to go along with the up-coming summer barbeques. It is easy to make and tastes great!
Mississippi Mud Potatoes
8 cups cooked potatoes
1 cup mayonnaise
1 pound American Cheese
1 small onion chopped
Salt & pepper to taste
6 slices thick cut bacon
1/2 cup olives
Peel and boil enough potatoes for approximately 8 cups when cut and cubed. Let the potatoes cool and then cut and cube them on your granite countertop. Place the potatoes in a greased 13″ x 9″ baking pan. Spread the mayonnaise on top and then sprinkle on the cheese. Add chopped onion, salt & pepper, and chopped bacon. Top with the olives. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Let stand a bit to cool and serve.
Enjoy and happy barbequing!
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Cooking in your kitchen on May 21st, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Learning Links 05/17/07
Today’s consumers want more information than ever before and are doing their homework. Many consumers use the internet to research information about a product before they buy. At PGC, we offer a lot of information about granite countertops, edges, maintenance and care, etc. on our website, but consumers often want to visit several sites to gather their information and educate themselves.
Below are some blog sites I found with useful consumer information on granite and natural stone:
Kitchen Product Review: Granite Countertops
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite, Learning Links on May 17th, 2007 by Barb | | 2 Comments
There’s Something Wrong With This Picture!
OK…so it happened to me again. I was driving to work and realized the tank was empty, so I stopped for gas. I waited patiently for the gas to pump and then heard the click. The pump shut off, so I got back in my car and got back on the interstate. I just happened to look down at the gauge and realized the tank was only 3/4 full again. I couldn’t believe it. I told myself before that I need to look at the gauge before I leave, but you know how it is when you’re in a hurry. So there I was driving down the highway wondering, “What is with these gas stations that don’t adjust their pumps to accomodate the higher prices? Their pumps just shut off when it gets to a certain price? What is with the high price of gas? It is over $3.00 a gallon now.”
Is it my imagination, or does everything these days seem to cost more? Last weekend was my sixteen year old daughters prom. I told myself that I wasn’t going to complain about the cost of these dances anymore and just accept it, but it sometimes helps to vent.
Typical Girls Expenses:
(This list doesn’t cover the guys expenses, which would include tux rental, corsage, dinner for himself and his date, limo ride, etc.)
Prom dress……………………………………… $300.00
Professional Pictures……………………….. $ 30.00
Boutineere……………………………………….. $ 15.00
Hair…………………………………………………$ 75.00
Nails………………………………………………..$ 25.00
Shoes………………………………………………$ 50.00
Jewelry……………………………………………..$ 30.00
Borrowed gas money to get to school
on Monday because spent portion of
their money to help cover prom costs…………..$ 20.00
Memories to last a life-time……………………Priceless
As pulled into work, I realized again, this is just another situation where there is nothing I can do. I just need to accept it.
What it means:
- A few more deep cleansing breaths.
- More stops to gas station for me because tank shuts off too soon.
- More stops to gas station for PGC install truck, PGC measure van, and PGC PT Cruiser sales vehicle because tank shuts off too soon and more gas is needed.
- More beautiful granite countertops sold, delivered and installed.
- More satisfied customers…Priceless!
Thanks for reading and listening to me complain!
Barb
Here’s a few photos of kids having fun creating lasting memories:
Posted in Granite, Company on May 16th, 2007 by Barb | | 4 Comments
Marketing Your Way To Success
Since we opened our doors, over 10 years ago, we have always strived to be the best at what we do…fabricating and installing natural stone countertops. We are always looking for ways to improve our processes, customer service, and quality to stay on the cutting edge and stand out from the competition. From the beginning, we realized the importance of marketing, and focused on ways to build relationships and identify ourselves in the market to get recognized and bring in new business.
I recently read ” The Marketing Top 10,” a commentary by Linda Case, published in the May 2007 issue of Remodeling Magazine that listed the Top 10 forms of marketing that work best for remodelers, which I felt were great points. 
I am happy to say PGC uses them all. Read through the list below and see how your company fares.
List in Letterman-style (from the bottom.)
10. Direct Mail—Especially postcards that use professional photography.
9. Association membership—Join various associations to network, get referrals, share ideas, etc.
8. Home tours—Show off your work!
7. Publicity—Enter competitions and publicize the wins.
6. Community Profile—Take what you enjoy and let it work to be an advantage for your company. e.g. Go to a golf outing, biking, etc. and meet others with common interests and share what you do for a living.
5. Jobsite presence—Introduce your company to a neighborhood via a postcard, etc.
4. Your website—Use your website to show photos of your work, tell your story, etc.
3. A great image—Design a great logo and use it everywhere! e.g. business cards, signs, letterhead, website, vehicles.
2. Sterling customer service—Constantly strive for improvements for your clients experience.
1. A system for staying in touch—Contact customers, suppliers, trade partners, etc. several times a year. Give them information and a reminder of you. e.g. Newsletters, cards, invitations.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Company, Business, Marketing on May 15th, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
