Changing The Way Madison Buys Granite
There was a time when granite countertops were not for every homeowner because of the cost. Traditionally speaking, local dealers or installers of granite will purchase froma local distributor, who purchased from a regional wholesaler, who purchased from an importer, who then in turn purchased from an exporter, who purchased from a reseller who had purchased from a mine or quarry. Of course, along the way, each step in the distribution chain made a profit on the handling and sale of the product. The result was an expensive, and therefore, an exclusive product.
Brendan O’Day,
Commercial AccountsManager
Summit Granite USA, LLC
Getting Smaller Every Day
But the world is getting smaller. By virtue of improved communication and transportation, Summit Granite, USA has been able to purchase direct from the mines and is in a wonderful position to pass those savings on to our customers. And that includes direct to homeowners and builders.
A Business To Deliver Value
There are three areas where we can save homeowners money on the granite they install in their homes. They are as follows:
- We buy directly from the mines which eliminates up to five steps in distribution, each step represents cost for the end user
- We fabricate the granite with our own staff which eliminates another added expense with outside suppliers
- We install with our staff, again saving the added expense of a subcontractor hired to install the granite in your home
“Typically, our clients see a savings of 23% to 35% with the per square foot costs ranging from $32 to $63 as compared to $49 to $82. Depending on the size of a countertop, the savings can be substantial,” Brendan O’Day says.
What You See Is What You Get
“When it comes to selecting granite, it’s nice to have some idea of what you are going to end up with,” says Andrew Hanson of Summi Granite’s Madison showroom. “Because we purchase by the container load, you can be fairly sure the color and pattern you select will be very close to what you see in the showroom. That is a direct result of our buy direct capability, and it gives homeowners peace of mind.”
Often, retailers have samples that have no direct relationship to the slab of granite that actually is delivered for their use. Sometimes they are close to a match, but other times the color can vary as well as the pattern. The fact is, slabs of concrete weighing hundreds of pounds that do not match can cause problems.
When customers ask Hanson how to select who will provide their granite he lists three primary things, assuming trust is already there:
First - does your supplier deal directly with the quarry? If so, the direct relationship will probably be reflected in a very competitive price.
Second - does your supplier have a complete showroom with samples from the same container your slab will come from? If so, there is a greater opportunity for the slab you ultimately install to be very similar to what you see in the showroom. If not, be sure you see it before you take delivery to ensure you are getting what you expected.
Third - will your supplier measure the area in which your slab will be installed and install it? If so, you are removing a potential problem of having poor measurements or poor installation.
