Learning Links 08/22/07
Although we fabricate and install granite countertops and other natural stones, we often get asked questions that are related to kitchen design/build, remodeling and cabinetry. While we don’t specialize in the design aspect of building, or remodeling, we sometimes can give suggestions, or ideas based on what some of our customers have done in their homes, etc.
The internet can also be a useful place to gather information before starting a project. Following are some links that give some comparisons on various countertop materials, cabinetry trends, and kitchen design trends:
Soapstone, Caesarstone, Wood, Corian: http://design.hgtv.com/kitchen/Video_detail.aspx?id=1069
Cabinetry trends:
http://kitchendesignplus.com/index.cgi?actiontotake=trends
5 trends in kitchen design: http://www.wftv.com/homeimprovement/4904367/detail.html?aracontent=c20_id1772
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Learning Links on August 22nd, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Where in the world does my granite come from?
We often get asked by customers who visit our showroom, “Where does my granite I selected for my countertop come from?” Many customers are often surprised to find out that many colors are quarried throughout the world and in fact, most colors these days are imported.
According to “Sizing Up The World Stone Market,” an article published in the August 2007 issue of Stone World magazine, “Brazil is the leading exporter of granite to the US in terms of volume and value, although they are ranked only seventh in the world market. China and India lead exports in tonnage to the US, while Italy is also ranked high for exports.”
Granite is also quarried and imported from such places as Canada, Africa, Norway, Argentina, Portugal, Finland, Russia, Spain, Saudi Arabia, etc.
If you are curious as to where your granite for your countertop, bartop, fireplace surround, etc. originated, please feel free to ask. It makes for an interesting conservation.
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Granite on August 21st, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Recipe: Stuffed Zucchini
Here’s a good recipe to try for the harvest season I found in The Seasonal Cabin Cookbook, by Teresa Marrone. It is easy to prepare and tastes great. 
Stuffed Zucchini
1 large zucchini
12 oz. pork sausage
2/3 cup chopped onion
1/3 cup thinly sliced celery
2 tsp. vegetable oil
1 large tomato, diced
1 cup cooked rice
1 egg beaten
1/2 tsp. garlic salt
1/4 tsp. pepper
grated cheese
Slice zucchini horizontally, so you have 2 halves; wrap and refrigerate 1 half for other uses, (or double the recipe). Use a grapefruit spoon, or soup spoon to scrape out the seeds, leaving a rounded trench up the middle. Sprinkle the cut side of the zucchini generously with salt; Set it aside for about 30 minutes, then rinse off the salt and drain the zucchini.
While the zucchini is salting, fry the pork sausage in a large skillet over medium heat, stirring frequently to break up the meat. When the meat has lost it’s pink color, add the onion and celery and cook stirring occasionally until the sausage is cooked through and the vegetables are tender. Transfer the sausage mixture into a large mixing bowl and allow it to cool slightly. Pat the rinsed and drained zucchini dry with paper towels. Rub the outside of the zucchini with the oil and place on a large baking sheet. Heat the oven to 350 degrees.
Add the tomato, rice, egg, salt and pepper to the cooled sausage mixture. Scoop it into the trench in the zucchini, packing firmly and rounding the top.
Sprinkle with grated cheese over the top. Bake until the zucchini is tender and crisp, stuffing hot and the cheese melts, about 35 minutes. To serve, slice into 3″ or 4″ wide pieces.
Enjoy!
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Cooking in your kitchen on August 17th, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
Is it that time already…
It is hard to believe that next week the Minnesota State Fair, one
of the indicators that the summer will soon end, will begin. It seems as though the time between Memorial Day and Labor Day gets shorter and shorter every year. As the summer wraps up, we can reflect on the events of the summer and the upcoming events, whether that is 
the first day of school, the first Minnesota Vikings game, or the first snowfall (shhh, don’t say that too loud).
However it is that you enjoy spending time with your family and friends, going to the lake, taking a bike ride, or grilling out, take advantage of these last few weeks of summer and prepare yourself for the upcoming Minnesota winter!
Feel free to share…
Angie
Posted in Uncategorized on August 16th, 2007 by Angie | | 2 Comments
E-mail Marketing—A Great Tool To Reach Customers!
E-mail marketing has been around for a number of years now, but not every business has taken advantage of this marketing medium. What is e-mail marketing you may ask? Wikipedia defines e-mail marketing as “a form of direct marketing which uses electronic mail as a means of communicating commercial or fundraising messages to an audience. In its broadest sense, every email sent to a potential or current customer could be considered email marketing. However, the term is usually used to refer to:
- Sending emails with the purpose of enhancing the relationship of a merchant with its current or old customers and to encourage customer loyalty and repeat business.
- Sending emails with the purpose of acquiring new customers or convincing old customers to buy something immediately.
- Adding advertisements in emails sent by other companies to their customers.
- Emails that are being sent on the Internet.”
PGC has been using using e-mail in general for over 10 years, and e-mail marketing for more than 2 years now. Although we used a generic template for our first e-mail marketing campaigns, I could see the value in communicating with our customers in this way. After further investigation on my part and with the help of Prime Advertising and Vertical Response, we developed a custom e-mail marketing template that had a similar look to our website, which has worked well with our branding efforts. E-mail marketing has proved to be a valueable communication tool for PGC and our customers, while being relatively inexpensive. It also works great to keep our company name visible in todays competitive market.
Have you given e-mail marketing a try yet?
Thanks for reading!
Barb
Posted in Company, Industry News, Marketing on August 15th, 2007 by Barb | | 0 Comments
