The total attendance, including both attendees and exhibitors, for the 2003 exhibition reached 5,085. This represented a 20% increase over StonExpo 2002, according to show management. “StonExpo has been the stone industry's leading show for 15 years, and the level of support for this event proves that StonExpo is still regarded as the best place to learn about new developments and to conduct business with major suppliers of all types,” stated Pennie Sabel, Executive Director, adding that the show's growth can be attributed to aggressive marketing and promotion, new attendees and updated conference topics introduced by the MIA. “A success like this is no accident. We not only took steps to upgrade our event marketing, but we also made sure our program content was updated to deliver the best information possible to help our attendees keep ahead of industry trends and build their business.”

This year's improved marketing and promotional campaign included a new graphic look that added a richer and more polished feel to the exhibition, reported show management. Additionally, there were new promotional pieces and a higher frequency and expanded target audience for the campaign. The show also mailed focused pieces to key elements of the industry. Targeted e-mails and stronger industry association support were also part of the new program.

Another aspect of the campaign was a direct focus on attracting more architects and designers, multiple mailings to fabricators and a wider use of advertising in more industry publications. StonExpo's Web site at www.stonexpo.com was also revitalized, and features the introduction of a new product section that attendees could view to see new innovations being introduced at the show.

According to Sabel, StonExpo is unique in the industry because it's the only tradeshow that is a non-profit event and is owned by the StonExpo Federation, a consortium of industry representatives. Revenues from the show are used to promote the use of natural stone and to educate users and specifiers about the quality and advantage of using natural stone. To better service participating companies, a new exhibitor advisory board was recently established and had its first meeting during this year's show. This group was formed to function as a direct channel between exhibiting companies and the StonExpo Federation, according to Sabel.

Show management reported that StonExpo 2003 received overwhelmingly positive responses from exhibitors. Many cited strong booth traffic for the duration of the event, and more than 50% of next year's floor plan was sold at the space selection meeting. “Exhibitors are always looking for strong return on their marketing investment,” stated Sabel. “The fact that so many have already reserved space for next year is testament to how well StonExpo helps them generate sales and achieve their marketing goals.”

MIA events

The MIA also held its annual meeting and Pinnacle Awards luncheon during StonExpo 2003. At the meeting, the MIA elected a new Board of Directors. The group appointed Paul Vigna of Artisan Tile & Marble of New Jersey as President for 2004; Scott Lardner of Rocky Mountain Stone Co. as Vice President; Kenny Krebs of Tennessee Tile & Marble Co. Inc. as Secretary; and Jack Seiders of Architectural Granite & Marble as Treasurer. Newly elected to the Board as Directors were Jim Hogan of Carrara Marble Company of America, Inc. and Jim Janochoski of Cold Spring Granite Company. “I'm very excited and honored to take the reins of MIA at this critical time in the natural stone industry, when MIA's role in educating the design community and the general public about the value of real stone is more important than ever,” stated Vigna, who succeeds Richard A. Booms of Booms Stone Company in Redford, MI. “Rich Booms and the staff of MIA have done a tremendous job this past year increasing MIA's influence in stone education and promotion, and I intend to build upon their success in the months ahead.”

Overall, it was a very successful show for MIA, which broke a new membership record when it enrolled its 1,000th member at the event.

The Pinnacle Awards competition is designed to recognize excellence in commercial and residential natural stone projects worldwide. At the December gathering, nine projects were singled out from a record-breaking number of entries for demonstrating superior beauty, creativity, ingenuity and craftsmanship by MIA-member stone suppliers, fabricators and installers. The projects ranged from upscale residential renovations to a luxurious hotel. Three special awards for achievement in restoration were also among the honorees.

Additionally, the MIA held its gala reception for its members after the opening day of StonExpo. Sponsors of the event included Stone World, Schechner Lifson Corp., Park Industries and International Granite & Marble. The reception, as well as the Pinnacle Awards luncheon, was well attended.

StonExpo 2004 is slated for October 28 to 30 at the Los Angeles Convention Center in Los Angeles, CA.

Side bar
Stone World presents Technological Achievement Award

• cooperativeness in sharing technology with the industry

• willingness to pioneer the use of new technology

• fostering educational programs for the training of stoneworkers in industry methods

• promoting technological progress through association work

This year's award was given to Kip Cameron of Granite-Tops in Cold Spring, MN.

Kip Cameron's progressive, customer-focused business plan - coupled with visionary use of advanced production machinery and leading edge business systems technology - has allowed Granite-Tops to grow in eight years from a three-person start-up shop working in 4,000 square feet of space to more than 50 employees housed in a new state-of-the-art fabrication facility with more than 10 times the original space. Cameron has helped pioneer several fabrication advances, such as widely used installation rollers, innovative racking systems and thin backsplash jigs. He has collaborated with industry leaders GranQuartz, Continental Diamond, Cold Spring Granite and Park Industries to produce a new generation of diamond production tooling. Cameron has personally trained dozens of start-up fabricators across the nation. He has always had an open-shop policy for trade association members, other fabricators, machine manufacturers and stoneworking supplies vendors. His new facility has several classrooms for formal training of his employees and for the use of visiting designers and his customers. He also works with a local school district to promote the understanding of manufacturing and careers in stone fabrication.

The current roster of winners of the Stone World Technological Achievement Award is as follows:

2003 -- Kip Cameron, Granite-Tops
2002 -- George Fox, Luck Stone Corp.
2001 -- Fred Becker of Becker & Becker Stone Co.
2000 -- Connie and Brenda Edwards of TexaStone Quarries
1999 -- Walter Dusenbery of Johnson-Atelier School of Sculpture
1998 -- Harold Stobbe of Owen Sound Ledgerock
1996 -- Willard Vetter of Vetter Stone Co.
1995 -- Chuck Monson of Dakota Granite Co.
1994 -- Linus Dingman of Cold Spring Granite Co.
1993 -- David Teitelbaum of Cathedral Stoneworks
1991 -- Wilbur Bybee of Bybee Stone Co.
1989 -- Tony Ramos of New England Stone Industries
1988 -- Jim Stengel of Dakota Granite Co.
1987 -- David Elliott of Elliott Stone Co.

Exhibitors at StonExpo 2003