Leveraging business partnerships

What do organizations like the Natural Stone Council, The Marble Institute of America, and the Indiana Limestone Institute have in common? Along with other stone care organizations, suppliers, and related exhibitions and trade shows, they come together for stone; to help form a united voice for the industry as a whole.

It is with each of these unique but complementary segments of the industry that opportunities for partnerships are formed. Partnerships in industry are a prevailing measure of success. A granite intrusion is extracted from the earth to become a polished architectural feature; when finished, that feature must be cared for and maintained to retain its beauty. When different segments of the industry work together, the professional realizes the mutual benefits of collaboration and ultimately the consumer is offered a complete package.

Architects, engineers, and construction managers throughout the United States have greatly benefited from integrated practice. Clearly, those who operate within the stone industry can better implement and utilize this same methodology to provide an increased means for value-added products and services. Partnerships in the stone industry parallel those typically found within architectural, engineering, construction, and real estate professions – all of these rely on the foundation on which their services are built: STONE.

The Architectural, Engineering, and Construction (ACE) Industry strives to maximize the value of its product while assuring its extended life and manageable lifetime maintenance expenses. By adopting an integrated approach to practice and collaborating with this segment of the industry, an enormous opportunity exists for stone professionals to offer greater benefits to the end consumer.

I believe there is a need for increased integration between each of the professionals and industries discussed; particularly between architects and stone care professionals. Architects are leading the way as far as building information and modeling technologies are concerned; however, the stone industry continues to be a major material supplier for the built environment. Collaboration is an extremely valuable method for acquiring and then retaining consumers through an ongoing partnership designed to first establish form, and then to ensure that form retains its beauty and even increases in value over time.

Partnering can help to develop more meaningful relationships with customers and clients while strengthening customer loyalty and contributing to stronger customer connections. Partnering means collaborating on business agreements, allowing two companies to match their skills, market strategies and sales efforts to jointly win new business and extend product/service offerings. It reduces the total cost of new business acquisition and increases the value of business won. Further, opportunities to work in different industry sectors become available.

Hartzstone and other stone care (restoration, maintenance, preservation, conservation) strives to support the business goals and objectives of partners and bring value-added, cost-effective services to help the bottom line. Quality of service and customer satisfaction is paramount to us. Our team of professionals has the skills, know-how and relationships with external specialists and suppliers, to help generate more opportunities for business. For more information contact Ed Hartz at Hartzstone. www.hartzstone.com.

Ed Hartz owns HartzStone and is pictured with his Rhodesian Ridgeback puppy. Ed provides expert consultation and restoration in and around New York City and Long Island with affiliates in Bermuda and the Caribbean. He can be reached at HartzStone, LLC, PO Box 3265, Newtown, CT 06470 or by phone 203-426-088.