Paramount Granite Blog » Company http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog Just another WordPress weblog Fri, 03 Feb 2012 21:43:58 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 Top 10 Color Choices For 2011… http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2012/01/18/top-10-color-choices-for-2011%e2%80%a6/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2012/01/18/top-10-color-choices-for-2011%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 18 Jan 2012 19:23:27 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=5719 It is always interesting to look back and find out what the best sellers were for the year, so I took some time and did just that. While there are colors on the list that have been popular over the years, for their consistency and classic look, such as St. Cecilia, Opalescence, Tropic Brown, Labrador Green, etc., this list includes a variety of colors that contain flow, movement and some pizzazz—and I am not surprised. Today’s consumers are not afraid to express their tastes in their homes.  If you are looking for elegance and charm, or energy with an attractive style, by choosing natural stone for countertops, you can’t go wrong, and the color selections are plentiful. 

If you are interested in these colors, or others for you project, make sure you stop by our showroom.

 Top 10 Best Selling Colors at PGC for 2011

  1. St. Cecilia Classic
  2. Opalescence
  3. Tropic Brown
  4. Labrador Green
  5. Verde Butterfly
  6. Sedna
  7. White Carrera Marble
  8. Cielo De Ouro
  9. Golden Crystal
  10. Absolute Black

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2012/01/18/top-10-color-choices-for-2011%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Let’s Delve Into 2012! http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2012/01/02/lets-delve-into-2012/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2012/01/02/lets-delve-into-2012/#comments Mon, 02 Jan 2012 21:17:27 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=5627

It is good to be back after a nice, long holiday break between Christmas and New Years. It was nice to relax with family and friends and have some time to do a little reading, something I enjoy.  Isn’t it funny how a little down time can spark some renewed energy? And…just in time for the new year!

While 2011 was a better year for some in the remodeling and building industry, others still found it challenging. At PGC, we are confident the year 2012 will be one of continued growth and we are ready to delve in. We all have to keep in mind that there is good news out there. In fact, according to 8 Cities With The Best Home Price Recovery, “Minneapolis is one of cities in the country that has seen the biggest recovery in home prices.” That is good to hear and many builders are also feeling confident. “Despite the obstacles and challenges that remain, a large number of builders are feeling optimistic about their prospects for 2012, and for valid reasons. While the road to a housing recovery has been a bumpy one, several key market metrics, including housing starts, have steadily trended higher during the past 12 to 18 months,” that according to the article, 2012 Home Building Outlook: Builders Largely Optimistic About Growth found on HousingZone.com. The outlook for the remodeling industry is improving, as well. In Model Year, an article found on the NARI website, Jonathon Smoke, Executive Director for Research at Hanley Wood in Washington, said that “he believes in the the future of the remodeling industry and that many factors show growth.” And… let’s not forget that consumer spending was up during the holiday season. That’s more good news! 

We all certainly have plenty to be thankful for. At PGC, we are committed to our customers, and are looking forward to a busy year, fabricating and installing beautiful countertops for your home!

Happy New Year to all!

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2012/01/02/lets-delve-into-2012/feed/ 0 12 Blogs Of Christmas—Blog #12 We Wish You A Merry Christmas! http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/12/22/12-blogs-of-christmas%e2%80%94blog-12-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/12/22/12-blogs-of-christmas%e2%80%94blog-12-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas/#comments Thu, 22 Dec 2011 17:43:54 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=5619 Welcome to the 12 Blogs of Christmas!

Blog # 12 We Wish You A Merry Christmas!

I wanted to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to all of our customers for their continued business and support. We appreciate it. We hope you enjoy this holiday season and are able to share it with family and friends.

Also—I wanted to say a special thanks to all of my blog followers. Looking forward to another year of passing along industry information, project photos, links, tips, opinions, and my favorite recipe’s.

Happy Holidays to All!

Barb & the Team at PGC

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/12/22/12-blogs-of-christmas%e2%80%94blog-12-we-wish-you-a-merry-christmas/feed/ 0 Gratitude—The Right Attitude! http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/11/23/gratitude%e2%80%94the-right-attitude-2/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/11/23/gratitude%e2%80%94the-right-attitude-2/#comments Wed, 23 Nov 2011 17:30:49 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=5400 “Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow.”

—Melody Beattie

Thanksgiving is that time of year that many people take time to reflect and are grateful for what they have, including family, friends and loved ones. In our daily lives, it is easy to get down and give into negative emotions, especially when we are constantly being bombarded with bad news from the media, or faced with repercussions of a down economy. The good news is that we don’t have to give into negative emotions. We can choose to be happy and grateful for what we have and where we are right now. In fact, according to Zig Ziglar, “Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions, and the more you express gratitude for what you have, the more you will have to express gratitude for. On the other side of that coin, the more you complain about your problems, the more problems you will have to complain about.”

Isn’t that the truth?

At this time, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to our customers, suppliers, and employee’s. Without you, we would not be where we are today. We appreciate your business, hard work, time and talents. I would also like to express my appreciation and gratitude to our family and friends who give so much meaning to our lives. We enjoy your company, companionship, and love.

While it is natural to give thanks and appreciation at Thanksgiving time,  this year, I plan to make a conscious effort to extend my attitude of gratitude well beyond just one day, and hope you do too.

Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/11/23/gratitude%e2%80%94the-right-attitude-2/feed/ 0 Paramount Granite Company Celebrates 15 Years In Business! http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/10/03/paramount-granite-company-celebrates-15-years-in-business/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/10/03/paramount-granite-company-celebrates-15-years-in-business/#comments Mon, 03 Oct 2011 13:42:54 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=5153 Paramount Granite Company celebrates 15 Years in business this month!

We hope you can help us celebrate. Stop by our showroom anytime during the month of October for Rocktober! We  will have treats, refreshments, and prize drawings for our customers! Make sure to also check out our colors for your countertops including:  Group A, B, C, Exclusives and more. We also have a large selection of partial slabs to choose from—great for those smaller projects.

We look forward to seeing you and serving you and appreciate your business!

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/10/03/paramount-granite-company-celebrates-15-years-in-business/feed/ 0 A New Addition… http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/08/15/a-new-addition%e2%80%a6/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/08/15/a-new-addition%e2%80%a6/#comments Tue, 16 Aug 2011 02:00:43 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=4998 We would like to congratulate Angie Olson, our Customer Service Manager, and her husband, Aaron, on the birth of their son, Andrew Randall Olson. 

Baby Andrew

Both Angie and Aaron are excited about the new addition to their family. Andrew was born, last Friday and is their first child. We are very happy that mother and child are doing well.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/08/15/a-new-addition%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Measure 101… http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/06/21/measure-101%e2%80%a6/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/06/21/measure-101%e2%80%a6/#comments Tue, 21 Jun 2011 20:15:46 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=4828 At PGC, when it comes to measuring, we are very particular and like to get it right, so there are no mistakes during fabricating, or the installation process. 

To help us insure we get it right the first time, we require all cabinets to be set in place, before a measure can take place. We also require all sink and faucet information (specs), so our measuring tech knows where to drill holes for your faucet in relation to the sink, and the distance between each hole. We also prefer that sinks and other plumbing fixtures be on-site at the time of measure for verification purposes.

We use PhotoTop, a Digital Imaging/CAD program, for measuring that can be used to create both 2D and 3D custom countertops drawings.

Following are a few photos of the measuring process I wanted to share:

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/06/21/measure-101%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 One Stop Shop… http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/06/07/one-stop-shop%e2%80%a6/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/06/07/one-stop-shop%e2%80%a6/#comments Tue, 07 Jun 2011 16:53:32 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=4760 “Price is what you pay. Value is what you get.”

- Warren Buffet American Investment Entrepeneur

Today more than ever, many customers are looking for value when they buy. Today’s consumers lead busy lives and are often looking for convenience to save them time, along with a quality product that lasts—something you can’t get by buying the cheapest product.

At PGC, we pride ourselves on our quality and customer service. We know that most customers not only want to work with someone they trust and who does quality work, but is also there for them for service work, or if there is a problem. Over the years, we’ve added convenience items to our product line to accomodate our customers needs.  These items have made our customers countertop shopping experience more convenient, and our business a one stop shop.

If you have a remodeling project coming up, make sure you stop by for your countertops, sinks, faucets, and more.

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/06/07/one-stop-shop%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 Countertops, Sinks, Faucets & More… http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/03/23/countertops-sinks-faucets-more%e2%80%a6/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/03/23/countertops-sinks-faucets-more%e2%80%a6/#comments Wed, 23 Mar 2011 17:22:42 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=4373 Sometimes I am surprised when I hear a customers say, “I didn’t realize that you sold engineered stone, or some other product.” The funny thing is—I shouldn’t be. Although we mention our products on our website, and other forms of advertising, it is unrealistic to assume the customer has seen them, or should naturally know our product line. That is why it is so important to consistently mention what you sell to your customers, especially your convenience items. Afterall, how is the customer going to know that you sell sinks and faucets, if you don’t tell them? How is an employee expected to sell other products, if they are not asking the customer if they have a need for an item for their project?

At PGC, while our specialty has always been granite countertops, we sell a lot more than that. Our product line also includes a variety of natural stones, as well as engineered stones, not to mention an assortment of accessories and convenience items.

For your convenience, following is a list of our products we provide:

Natural Stone

Engineered Stone

Glass Product

Accessories

Shop Online Items

Thanks for reading!

Barb

]]> http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/03/23/countertops-sinks-faucets-more%e2%80%a6/feed/ 0 2011 Minneapolis Home & Garden Show A Success… http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/03/07/2011-minneapolis-home-garden-show-a-success%e2%80%a6/ http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/2011/03/07/2011-minneapolis-home-garden-show-a-success%e2%80%a6/#comments Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:00:17 +0000 Barb http://www.paramountgranite.com/blog/?p=4301 The 2011 Minneapolis Home and Garden show once again proved to be a successful event. After a long, cold winter, many consumers were eager to get out and take a look at some spring products, and ways to improve their homes. With the economy picking up, people seemed optimistic, and anxious to start some spring remodeling, including adding granite countertops. The Minneapolis Home and Garden show was held at the Minneapolis Convention Center and ran March 2nd through March 6th.

Following are a few photos I wanted to share from the show:

Dan Harlander of PGC at PGC booth

Dan Harlander of PGC at PGC booth

Dan Harlander & Blair Gostonczik of PGC at PGC booth

Dan Harlander of PGC and visitors at PGC booth

Thanks for reading!

Barb

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