Click the arrow to play
TRANSCRIPT
K. SCHIPPER: Hi, I’m K. Schipper with another edition of Radio Stone Update
00:08
With trade shows returning – finally – to in-person events – organizers of the annual StonExpo/Marmomac Americas show announced plans to turn the annual event into the destination for the stone industry in North America. The plan was unveiled during the 2021 Marmomac stone show in Verona, Italy, at the end of last month.
Jim Hieb, CEO of the Natural Stone Institute, presented a five-year plan to expand and enhance the Natural Stone Pavilion at TISE – The International Surface Event. Aiding in the presentation were Dana Hicks, the TISE Show Director, Marmomac Exhibition Manager Elena Amadini and Michael Picco, institute president.
The pavilion made its debut at TISE in January of last year, and also appeared at the show’s most recent edition in June. While the original presentation attracted a core representation of North American natural stone producers, plans began to develop an international mix of companies. A survey of TISE attendees by Informa Markets, the show’s owner/producer, also shows a demand for more natural stone at the event.
A key part of the new emphasis comes from the agreement between Informa and the Stone Equipment and Supply Alliance, or SESA. A group of more than 50 U.S. companies and representatives of fabrication goods, SESA will use StonExpo exclusively for exhibiting machinery and other major presentations.
Says Hieb, “We recognize there are other shows in North America, but these equipment manufacturers are only going to showcase their products at StonExpo. That’s a compelling reason to be there.” He adds that the Natural Stone Pavilion will also include a Natural Stone Theater for presentations, as well as on-the-show-floor education beginning next year.
Current plans for the 2022 show offer space for 100 stone companies to exhibit. More than 25 North American stone companies are already committed to appearing at next year’s StonExpo, which is scheduled for Feb. 1-3 in Las Vegas.
02:25
In a related story, online registration is now open for the in-person and virtual 2022 editions of TISE. The exposition, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center, will again feature three elements, SURFACES, StonExpo/Marmomac and TileExpo. The education program will run Jan. 31-Feb.3.
Dana Hicks, TISE show director, says with new content, new creative feature ideas and more space requests for new product introductions, the upcoming show should create an exciting new event experience.
The show is really two shows in one. Attendees will have the choice of going to Las Vegas for the event or connecting virtually at the hybrid TISE Live Virtual Event/Vegas Edition 2022 sponsored by Mannington with Microban®. The virtual event is seen as a way to allow more of the industry around the world to be part of TISE.
In-person attendees can take advantage of early-bird sign-up rates through Dec. 10. A pass to the exhibition hall for the entire event is $75 per person, or $60 for members of the World Floor Coverings Association, Natural Stone Institute or National Tile Contractors Association. Access to education events is offered at a per-day rate of $75, or $60 for members of those associations.
Registration for the TISE Live Virtual Event is $20. Those registering by Dec. 10 will also have access to exclusive content leading into the event. Online registration is available at www.intlsurfaceevent.com/en/register.html
4:19
TISE isn’t the only show that’s opening its registration. The online portal for Coverings’ 2022 event registration and hotel bookings went live last week. The tile-and-stone event Is set for April 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention center.
Attendees can now sign up for exhibit passes and lodging. The site is also accepting submissions for the 2022 Coverings Installation and Design – or CID – Awards and nominations for the 2022 Rock Star Awards. Both of those close this Dec. 17.
Key advantages to registering online in advance include preliminary notices of popular programs, special promotions, product sneak peeks and other opportunities. Coverings’ show management is currently planning for a creative and strategic lineup of product displays, a global exhibition hall, networking events, and robust educational opportunities, demonstrations, live interviews and more. In addition, both attendees and exhibitors can secure rooms at discounted nightly rates at a selection of Las Vegas hotels.
The CID Awards bestow recognition for outstanding design and installation in residential and commercial tile and stone projects. Projects are judges in eight different categories and entries are free of charge. International projects may also be submitted. All projects must be completed between January 2020 and December 2021, for review eligibility.
The Rock Star Awards recognize emerging leaders in tile and stone from 2021. Nominees must be 35 years of age or younger, and employed as architects, designers, distributors, retailers, contractor/installers, fabricators, specifiers, manufacturers and/or trade association personnel. Winners will be honored onsite at Coverings 2022 and highlighted in a year-long professional feature on the Coverings’ website and via Coverings social media.
For more information about attending, sponsoring or exhibiting at Coverings 2022, contact Taffy Event Strategies at 571-313-5801 or go to info@coverings.com.
6:41
October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and the natural stone industry is doing its part with the third annual Pink Stone Challenge. The social media campaign, coordinated by Imagine Real Stone, is open to everyone, and the three winners will benefit their favorite breast-cancer charities with cash donations.
All that’s necessary is to visit any showroom, warehouse or slab yard during October and look for a natural stone slab that has pink in it. Take a photo of the slab including yourself or another person. Multiple entries of multiple stones are encouraged. Then, post your photo or photos on social media with the hashtags #pinkstonechallenge2021 and #imaginerealstone. Also note the name of the company and the city where you found the stone.
The last day to submit photos is Oct.31. Winners will be chosen by a panel of Imagine Real Stone judges and announced during the first week of November. To see some of the entries so far, go to Imagine Real Stone’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/imaginerealstone/
7:58
Gary Fox and Jay Cerda are the winners of the 2021 Tile Setter Craftsperson of the Year Awards from the National Tile Contractors Association – the NTCA. Fox, of Fox Ceramic Tile in St. Marys, Kan., is being honored for his commercial work. Cerda, of Cox Tile in San Antonio, is recognized for his residential work.
The two were honored during the NTCA Annual Meetings in Jacksonville, Fla., this past weekend. Award criteria include a minimum of 15 years of tile setting experience, technical correctness of installations, craftsmanship/artistry, resolving tile installation problems, self/improvement/continuing education and mentoring/leading others.
Fox entered the trade at 14 and has been the company’s senior foreman since 1992. He earned his CTI designation in 2011, prompting everyone else in the company to follow his lead. Cerda began in the industry right out of high school and over the years he has transitioned from helper to apprentice to setter. He currently is a Master Tile Setter and has also earned his CTI designation.
Both winners will receive round trip airfare for two to Coverings 2022, along with hotel accommodations for a three-night stay.
9:19
Caesarstone Ltd. issued its inaugural Environmental, Social, Governance – or ESG – Report last week. Caesarstone has continued to support sustainability through innovation in products and greener production processes, while remaining focused on a value chain built on environmental, health and safety practices, according to its CEO, Yuval Dagim.
Caesarstone prepared its 2020 ESG Report with a framework that relied on Global Reporting Initiative – or GRI – standards, aspects of the Sustainability Accounting Standards Board – the SASB – and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, also known as the UN SDGs.
Specifically, Caesarstone has aligned with five of the 17 UN SDGs: climate action; good health and well-being; decent work and economic growth; industry, innovation and infrastructure; and responsible consumption and production.
Based on the evaluation, Caesarstone has established sustainability goals centered around sustainable products, environmentally responsible production, health and safety and social responsibility. Portions of the company’s ESG report are also intended to address the actions Caesarstone has taken and continues to take to support its employees and communities in response to the global COVID-19 pandemic.
Says Dagim, “We are happy with our ESG accomplishments to date and are pleased to have built the framework to accomplish our new ESG goals and create a more sustainable future for our company.”
Copies of the 2020 Global ESG Report are available at http://ir.caesarstone.com/ESG
In other industry news…
11:22
Cosentino has opened its second North American location featuring its next generation showroom model. Cosentino City Atlanta opened in mid-October with a 3,800 ft2 showroom that will serve as a resource for homeowners and designers within the Atlanta design community. The facility showcases Cosentino’s product offerings alongside a selection of globally and locally sourced textiles, cabinetry samples and plumbing fixtures. Located at 3107 Peachtree Rd NE, the City Center is the 18th center globally and follows on the heels of a similar center opening in Chicago last month.
12:05
MS International, Inc. – MSI –acquired ROKplank, a U.S. manufacturer of rigid-core luxury vinyl tile – otherwise known as LVT — in Cartersville, Ga. The factory will operate under the name Premium LVT Manufacturing. The Orange, Calif.-based MSI, says the purchase will allow that company to continue to diversify its sources for Everlife LVT, as current demand far outpaces production and supply chain challenges continue to increase. Raj Shah, MSI president, says plans include a large investment in the factory to continue to grow capacity.
12:47
The Natural Stone Institute is making headway on sustainability issues including the start of a new CEU course. The Design Community Outreach work group of the institute’s Sustainability Committee developed a new CEU entitled “Achieving Green Building Goals with Natural Stone” which focuses on why natural stone is an ideal choice for projects with green building goals. It will be presented as a live webinar on Tuesday, Nov. 9, at noon Eastern Time. To register go to www.naturalstoneinstitute.org/greenbuildingCEU.
Remember, for all the news in the hard surfaces industry, look for our online newsletter, Slab and Sheet. And, for the latest in import news, look for Hard Surface Report. For notes and a full transcript of this podcast, go to our website at www.radiostoneupdate.com. For Radio Stone Update, I’m K. Schipper and we’ll see you here again soon.
