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TRANSCRIPT
00:20
Hi, I’m K. Schipper with the latest in hard surfaces industry news from Radio Stone Update.
00:30
Stone Update editor and publisher Emerson Schwartzkopf and I just returned from Xiamen, China, where we were among the more than 2,000 exhibitors from 40 countries and regions for the 25th China Xiamen International Stone Fair.
The four-day event, which began March 16, hit a record, filling two million square feet of exhibition space in eight general areas. On display was everything from raw blocks, to slabs to finished stone products, heavy equipment, A-I powered systems, CNC tooling, abrasives and adhesives, among other things.
Along with the host country, other nations with extensive displays included Brazil, Egypt, Greece, Iran, Italy, Pakistan, Portugal, Spain, and Turkey. Also present were emerging producers such as Cambodia, India and Vietnam showcasing unique stone varieties. And Minnesota’s Coldspring offered a selection of granite from the United States.
New this year was Hall B-8, which was dedicated to chemical and care products. A popular stop for attendees, it featured adhesives, sealants, colorants and cleaning solutions, among other products.
Large crowds also flocked to the show’s Design Area in halls A-7 and A-8. The Habitat Interior Design Exhibition and the Stone Infinite Product Design Show featured 16 exhibition spaces each curated by an elite Chinese designer to present the fabulous beauty and diversified applications of natural stone. Providing the material for this showcase were 10 leading stone brands.
The Fourth Natural Stone Varieties Collection displayed more than 400 samples of marble, granite, limestone, quartzite and other materials giving attendees an idea of what’s popular in the market today.
The stone fair attracted more than 153,000 attendees from more than 122 regions and countries. Notably, attendance was up among buyers from India, Australia, Russia, South Korea, Vietnam, Turkey, Thailand, Malaysia, Brazil, and the United States.
The 26th China Xiamen International Stone Fair will take place March 16-19, 2026. For more information or to register, go to www.stonefair.org.cn.
04:09
Coverings announces the expansion of its roster of both new and returning programs for Coverings 2025 when it opens for a four-day run April 29 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla.
Some 26,000 attendees are expected to visit numerous international pavilions hosted by top tile associations and manufacturers, to view state-of-the-art machinery and advanced tools and equipment. Attendees can see hands-on demonstrations, multilingual show floor tours and other interactive programs.
“Attendees will have the opportunity to maximize their time, forge valuable connections and source the latest products from 40 countries — all while achieving a year’s worth of business value in just four days,” says Jamie Rich, Coverings’ show director.
Programming and activities at Coverings 2025 will focus on the show’s four key tenets— Health & Wellness, Sustainability, Outdoor Spaces and Timeless Luxury.
A key highlight of Coverings 2025 is the return of The Coverings Lounge (Booth #4300) where professionals can gather to learn, connect, grow and relax. The space will deliver sessions at the Trends & Solutions Stage, one of Coverings’ three show floor stages, along with networking opportunities, presentations from tile and stone leaders, and daily happy hours with prize giveaways.
The Coverings Lounge will also feature the I.C.E. House Show Home Experience, an immersive display highlighting the future of home design. A two-year construction and design project produced by Jennifer Farrell Designs, the experience will include exclusive talks by the designer, and multi-media displays alongside samples of the materials used in the I.C.E. House.
Farrell will lead “Surface Materials and the Home of the Future,” walk-and-talk sessions from 1-1:30 p.m. April 29-May 1, giving her insights into the evolving role of surface materials in next-generation home design.
“Part of the story we’re telling at I.C.E. House is how the global culture of design is guiding the home of the future, which makes Coverings the perfect partner for telling that story,” says Farrell.
The other two show-floor stages will provide attendees with access to knowledge and innovation across a wide range of topics. The Installation Innovation Stage will feature interactive technical tutorials led by National Tile Contractors Association and the Tile Contractors of North America members.
The Fabricator Stage, in collaboration with the International Surface Fabricators Association, Natural Stone Institute and Rockheads Group will deliver high-energy presentations on cutting-edge stone fabrication techniques from industry-leading fabricators.
The Stone Fabricators’ Alliance Cage will also return to Coverings 2025 as a key gathering spot for fabricators and other stone professionals for daily demonstrations on a variety of fabrication techniques, including fabricating large-format tiles and gauged porcelain panels.
The Coverings 2025 Rock Star Awards Ceremony, which honors the 11th class of Coverings Rock Stars, will take place at the Coverings Lounge April 29, beginning at 4 p.m. The ceremony will also announce the inaugural 2025 Coverings Champions, recognizing distinguished tile and stone leaders and their outstanding contributions to the show.
The Galvanize Lounge will return to Coverings after making a successful debut at the 2024 show. The Galvanize Lounge is open to all attendees and will unite influential leaders, emerging voices and prominent women’s organizations across the industry.
For more information on the lounges, stages, tours, educational sessions and other special programs at Coverings 2025, or to register, go to www.coverings.com.
08:13
In honor of International Women’s Day — March 8 — 12 women tile installers gathered at Carpet and Tile Warehouse in Vero Beach, Fla., to take the first-ever all-women Certified Tile Installer (CTI) hands-on exam.
When the day was over, six had passed the test, bringing the total number of women CTI installers 20. The groundbreaking event was organized by The National Tile Contractors Association’s Women in Tile. Women are still less than 1% or all CTIs.
The newly certified installers are Alyssa Muller of APM Flooring Company; Natalie Hall of Artistry in Tile; Rachel Overby of R&R Tile and Renovations; Cecilia Leger of Leger Tile; Nicole Hulme of The Tile Chick LLC, and; Kelly Krantz of Knockout Tile and Flooring LLC.
In preparation for the exam, a Facebook study group led by Dawn Marie Davis of Strong Work Renovations LLC allowed participants to support and encourage one another through the process. Schluter Systems included a Mind Your Business class prior to the test.
Elizabeth Lambert, chair of the Women in Tile Committee, said NTCA’s Women in Tile was proud to support the historic event which involves the most-challenging 25 square feet of tile installation in the CTI exam.
“We brought together talented female tile installers from across the country — many of whom are business owners and industry leaders,” she said.
Elena Grant, assistant executive director of the NTCA, added, “This event is just the beginning. Our goal is to introduce more women to careers in tile and continue building a strong network of women supporting women.”
10:03
If your business is hardscape, registration is now open for Hardscape North America, (HNA) which will take place this year Oct. 22-24 at the Kentucky Exposition Center in Louisville, Ky.
Bob Thomas, president and CEO of the Concrete Masonry & Hardscape Association, which produces the show, says, “Industry members return year after year to immerse themselves in hands-on demonstrations, explore innovations, connect with peers at one-of-a-kind networking events and take advantage of top-tier education and technical training.”
The show is endorsed by the Natural Stone Institute and the Brick Industry Association, and members of all three industry groups can save up to 30 percent on education for their entire team at HNA. A VIP Pass offers 15 education sessions that include installation demos, workshops and a hardscape lighting session.
Other highlights include Hardscape House, a covered pavilion that offers hands-on demos and equipment testing, and the HNA National Installer Championship.
Those registering before May 31 can reserve a spot for only $25. After that, registration increases to $30 until Sept. 4, when it grows to $60. On-site registration is $120. For information, go to www.hardscapeNA.com.
11:32
The International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA) begins its 2025 event series with a Fabricator Forum in Montreal April 16-17. The event will deliver expert-led presentations, peer-to-peer discussions, a facility tour, and networking opportunities tailored to industry professionals.
The educational sessions will cover key topics such as silica safety, best practices for networking and building sales, sustainability trends and market trends that impact fabricators.
Sponsoring the Montreal event are Cosentino, Baca Systems and Biesse. The Montreal Fabricator Forum will host educational content at the Hotel Place D’Ames in Old Montreal, followed by a welcome reception hosted at Cosentino City Center Montreal.
The second day of the event will feature an in-depth tour of Granit Design, a state-of-the-art facility that operates with innovation-driven automation that allows the Granit Design team to fabricate more than 12,000 square-feet of stone each week.
The event is open to all fabricators, including non-members. Registration starts at $350 and includes all sessions and meals listed on the agenda. Space is limited. For more information or to register, go to www.ISFAnow.org/fabricator-forums.
12:59
And, in news out of Atlanta, Construction Resources Company LLC has completed the acquisition of MVP Granite Countertops. MVP provides surfaces and countertop fabrication and installation service for professional builders, interior designers and remodelers in the Charleston, S.C. area.
Mitch Hires, CEO of Construction Resources, says he’s thrilled to welcome MVP to his company’s family. Said Hires, “This acquisition unlocks greater services for our shared customers…. We will continue to invest in the team’s growth and proven success with their customers.”
Jamey Nelson, president of MVP Granite Countertops, who will remain with the company along with his leadership team, said he’s proud of what MVP has accomplished in the past seven years he has been with the company.
“We couldn’t be more excited to join Construction Resources and help shape their growth in Charleston,” Nelson said.
Construction Resources was acquired by The Home Depot at the end of 2023 and is a leading distributor of design-oriented surfaces, appliances and specialty products for professional contractors and designers focused on renovation, remodeling and residential home building.
14:18
Remember that our online newsletter, Slab & Sheet, comes out on alternate Wednesdays. For a transcript of this broadcast, go to www.radiostoneupdate.com. I’m K. Schipper for Radio Stone Update, and we’ll see you here again soon.
