Stone Industry Education Series Set for 2015

OBERLIN, Ohio – The schedule for this year’s Stone Industry Education series of Stone Summits is now on the calendar … and early sign-ups will get a 20% discount in registration fees.

Click image to enlargeThe eight sessions, set from coast-to-coast will offer one of three themes: Marketing for Fabricators, Stone Shop Administration and Stone Shop Management.

With Marketing for Fabricators – set for Feb. 18 in Salt Lake City (West Valley, Utah) and Oct. 8 in Los Angeles (Sun Valley, Calif.) – the agenda includes how to get advertising directly to consumers ready to buy, and streamline marketing and advertising efforts with proven solutions. An afternoon fabricator forum will offer tips and best practices from area fabricators.

In Stone Shop Administration, the focus is on the indicators to forecast in order to better predict next year’s market; creating a plan for diversifying sales to ensure growth both this year and five years down the road; and making a plan for finding and retaining top talent. Scheduled stops are June 18 in Denver, July 16 in Kansas City (Lexena, Kan.) and Sept. 24 in Boston (Norwood, Mass.)

Attendees at the Stone Shop Management sessions will learn the business metrics a fabrication shop should be measuring; how to better diversify the customer base between residential, commercial and Big-Box stores; and how to deal with customer-service issues that arise at the customer’s home. Look for the seminars on March 26 in Dallas (Farmers Branch, Texas), April 30 in Chicago (Elk Grove Village) and June 4 in Edmonton, Alberta.

Registration is $99 for installers and fabricators, and $249 for suppliers and stone distributors. Register by Feb. 15, however, and there’s a 20% discount on fees.

For information, and to register online, go to http://www.stoneindustryeducation.com/.

The Stone Industry Education Series is produced by the Marble Institute of America and Stone World magazine.

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