AHI Joins Artisan Group
HOT SPRINGS, Ark. — AHI Stoneworks is the newest member of the Artisan Group.
The company is the 36th to join the group of North American premium countertop fabricators. AHI serves retail consumers, dealers, builders and commercial projects. The company fabricates all brands of solid surface, as well as natural stone and quartz.
Click photo to enlarge“AHI Stoneworks was a part of the Granite Buyers Club years ago that has evolved into the Artisan Group,” says Billy Shaw, AHI co-owner. “We are very glad to a part of an organization with likeminded business people and a consistent quality product line. There are many good fabricators out there, but we really focus on marketing to consumers, and a strict business model.”
AHI Stoneworks founder Nick Chaich began fabricating countertops nearly three decades ago while attending high school. Realizing that the fabrication business had potential to become much more than a beloved craft, Chaich undertook studies in business to gain the fundamental knowledge necessary to run a company.
AHI Stoneworks started in 1998 in a 15’ 30’ space, a borrowed table saw, a compressor and a Lowe’s credit card. After growing both in expertise and size, AHI now produces residential and commercial countertops at a competitive turnaround time and at high quality.
Billy Shaw has a countertop background that began in 1970. He started Highland Systems in Memphis, TN in 1987 and sold the company in 2006, after reaching annual sales of $9 million and employing more than 65 people. He became involved with AHI in 2010, becoming a shareholder this year.
“Being a part of the Artisan Group provides us with an entire support system of marketing, sharing of best practices and a sample program so we don’t have to recreate the wheel and can focus on our business,” Shaw says. “This means that consumers receive an exclusive granite, marble or soapstone product at a reasonable price.”
Artisan Group is an association fabricators that covers most major markets in the United States and Canada. Its members average more than 20 years of fabrication experience in the countertop industry; members have achieved, or have begun the process to achieve, full accreditation with the Marble Institute of America (MIA).
The group offers an exclusive line of stone, as well as other products as exclusive specialty dealers.
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