Not A Good Time For A Problem!

Patty

Just got a call from a guy doing a weekend install (granite kitchen coutertops)
that was not good news. Seems the guys got 4 out of 5 pieces completed. The last piece was a piece where the inside diameter was hollowed to fit the built-in stove top. WELL.........it must have been cut on a stress point, which does exist in products such as granite, and it CRACKED IN HALF! SHi$!!! This is not a good thing to happen on a Sunday at 5:00pm. It's a long way back to the shop, cutting, bevelling, polishing, and the people want it completed TONIGHT! Unbelievable! Why does crap like this always happen? These guys will work til midnight, for sure!

ron schenker

That really sucks, but sh*t happens and hopefully there are alot more goods than bads. I had just finished installing a beautiful IKEA kitchen and was screwing holes for the little knobs, and wouldn't you know it....1 of them was on the hinge side of the door. I had to back to IKEA and buy a door ($156.00) waste of time,money and sanity. I blamed my mistake on the polyuretane fumes that I was inhaling from the wood stairway that I had refinished the day before.

Patty

Well, I'm just relieved that we have another "like" slab in stock. This stuff was pretty rare granite, real high-end stuff, and right now they are cutting a new piece, as we speak. Why does this always seem to happen in the final inning? Sorry to hear about your IKEA mishap. I guess it happens to the best of us, huh?

Mike Finley

Patty is granite slabs what you guys do or just part of what you do?

Patty

Granite countertops & marble flooring is what the the owner & crew cut & install. I, however, (the princess with polished nails am not skilled enough to cut & install...though I just might take a lesson or two). I am a mere salesperson; consultation, estimating & sales....but I'm a great closer! I do this part time, Mike. It's extra $$$ for me but it's helping solve the growing pains for a new 1-year old business. I handle work that the owner can't keep up with. He already works 15 hours a day, seven days a week. He's experienced in the labor end but not real savvy with the business end. I have 18 years under my belt running a rather nice machining/manufacturing company and love helping this kid out. And, I really like putting a new kitchen together...cuz it's really where I belong! My real job, full-time, has been in advertising the last 3 years. Even when I work a 70 hour work week, the stress doesn't even come close to how it is when you own a business. I make a lot less money now than when I had my own business, but I'm having more fun now! Finally, the misspent youth I missed out on!

mdshunk

Patty, has your position given you enough information that you could guesstimate what the startup costs are for a granite countertop manufacturer/installer?

Patty

Well, it all depends how you want to do it. Some of our competitors have millions of dollars of granite in stock. We do not. This company is only at its infancy stages (1 year old.) However, we do have the equipment necessary to do all the cutting, bevelling & polishing. What it all costs, I never asked. I could find out for you, though. Don't forget, you need trucks/vans that can haul the weight. Also, cranes and forklifts come in handy! And, around here, lately, the inspectors have been fining granite/stone companies for inadequate ventilation systems. I know of one that just recently got closed down because of this. These units are pricey. From my own previous experience, I remember spending 20K on ventilation equipment for my welding area (former family business). 200K and a location would probably put you in the game, on a small-scale, from my own guesstimate. But, I'll ask Mario, the boss, tomorrow, what he thinks, ok? Is this something that interests you? It IS a profitable business. And, in my opinion, it's not the toughest trade to tackle out there. Also, from a marketing standpoint, it is a sought-after, high-end upgrade that appeals to people with a few extra bucks in their pocket. Generally speaking, I don't seem to get the run-around, nor do I get penny-pinched too badly. THe low-end consumer does not call. They stick with their laminate. And the people who do call us, are higher-income and are ready-to-buy, for the most part. It's a peach of a business!

mdshunk

Yes, it has some appeal for me. I've wired up new equipment from time to time at a local granite counter shop, and it seems like straightforward enough work. Their shop is manned mostly by mexican illegals, so I'm guessing it's not rocket science, just dirty. The equipment does look enpensive as hell. I wired a 3 phase CNC saw a few months ago for them that must have cost 50 grand or more. I did overhear a conversation with a customer about how different edge profiles cost more, but they all looked like they were done with the same equipment to me. Guess you gotta make money somehow.

Patty

[QUOTE=mdshunk]Yes, it has some appeal for me. The equipment does look enpensive as hell. I wired a 3 phase CNC saw a few months ago for them that must have cost 50 grand or more.

Yeah, the equipment needed to do the job is the biggest bite out of your pocket, but isn't that typical in most businesses? In my machine shop, I had lathes that could turn 22' between centers. Some pretty large stuff. CNC costed an arm and a leg and then you better know how the heck to program the dang thing! I must have had 5 million just in equipment alone. Where's the inventory and tooling and every other contraption needed to process the job? But, as for the granite, if you just want to keep it simple for now, and start out VERY small, try to hook up with a supplier who does it all; supplies the granite and cuts, polishes and bevels the edging per spec. Then, all you have to do is sell & install. That might be the way to break into the biz. Right now, we deal with 8 or 9 suppliers/importers of the product, however, we do have the equipment to do the cutting ourselves. It's nice to not rely on an outside source for this because too much can go the wayside. And, it's a nice convenience to have a shop available 24/7 in case of late-night emergencies. Ooohhhhh...didn't we have one tonight? See! Sweet!

Grumpy

I believe in top notch customer service but I don not answer my phone on sundays. Also one more reason to have a shop close to the house

Good luck!

Mike Finley

That's interesting that some of your competitors stock stone also. Here in Denver the fabrication and the supply are two separate business, I can't think of any that I know of that do both. There are a lot of small shops that only do granite slab fabrication and install, but anybody who is good sized also does Corian, Avonite, a brand or two of quartz and some other odd ball stuff thrown in, I guess the difference is they call themselves solid surface fabricators so they do a wider variety.

leiffearn

My granite guy at one time used a bunch of guys and small equipment. He finally bucked up and bought a $1 mill diamond/jet saw. Fully automated. He was able to lose a few guys. He says as long as the business keeps rolling in he'll be able to continue making that $17,000 a month payment. He says he has to do two kitchens a week to cover all and profit. He lost his caring attitude about details but I guess when one moves more into production phase it takes time to iron out the process.

Patty

Yeah, some do it all. I've been to several mid-sized shops. A handful of guys actually doing the cutting, etc...and maybe less than 100 slabs on hand. Then, there are a few (not many) extremely impressive operations that have a couple thousand slabs in stock, and an operation that would blow you away. Their warehouse alone must be 60,000 sq.ft. These are the houses that carry all the exotics, too. And, they do sell to the little guy, which is a good thing for us. We cannot afford to keep that amount of stock on hand, especially the higher end stuff. It's expensive and so exotic that only the big shops can afford to sit on it, but it is available (at a price!) to all of us, in the event we have a customer who requires it. I think the biggest problem with granite hhas to do with available supply. Every once in a while, certain product is hard to get our hands on, and it never fails....it always seems to be sought after at that time! You just can't speed up nature...or for that matter a container crossing the ocean!