Stone-Ideas.com 
New European business vehicle INSTEX might facilitate stone trade with Iran
France, Germany, and Britain announced triangular transactions to circumvent Donald Trump’s sanction against Iran
Markets & Marketing
Comparing life-cycle assessment of floor coverings, natural stone has an outstanding track record
Study by the German Deutscher Naturwerkstein-Verband (DNV) calling other countries to translate the publication’s English version for their own marketing
Theme of the year 2019: stone marketing with new ideas, e.g.: product design and emotions
Peter Becker, editor in chief of Stone-Ideas.com, asks what is in store for the next twelve months and what should the branch be delivering
Top 20 most expensive residential markets worldwide ranked by US$ per square meter
Monaco with $49,000 on top of the list followed by NYC, London, St Tropez and St Cap Ferrat
Primeira Pedra: a marble carpet instead of pavement in an unpretentious London district
Designer Michael Anastassiades used production waste as a means of advertising for Portugal’s stone branch
Guidoni Group: „One Stop Shop“-concept places the customer at the center of sales replacing the stone or its tradition
Brazil’s stone branch behemoth has taken up engineered stone and ceramics in its program without letting up on granites
GfK market analysis: in 2018, Europeans had around €355 more per person for spending compared to the year before
Among the 42 studied countries Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Iceland had the highest average purchasing power
Circular Economy is gaining momentum and will play an ever greater role in Europe’s economy of the future
Cosentino Group of Spain, producers of Silestone and Dekton, are poised to face the challenge
As of 2020 costs for oversea freight transportation of natural stone could go up
The International Maritime Organization (IMO) has established that the maximum sulfur content in fuel must be reduced sharply
Lundhs of Norway now has designer objects in limited editions for sale
But first and foremost, it’s all about merchandising and promotion of the company’s stone
Dr. Carlo Montani predicts sustained growth for the stone branch until 2025
His criticism: too much waste and too little marketing / Montani recommends propagation of natural stone as a symbol of peace
Belgium goes into the second round with its „Local Stone Ambassadors“
Architects and artists alike are taking an active role in campaigns launched by the Natural Stone Trade Organization and are gaining in popularity
US-President Trump’s tariffs against China imposed also on natural stone imports: 10% since September 2018, 25% from January 01, 2019 on
Can exporters like Brazil, Turkey, India, or Egypt benefit?
Euroroc’s two new presidents: „Communication and collaboration are the key issues”
Stijn Renier and Kristof Callebaut from Belgium share their presidency for the term from 2018 to 2020
Centre d’Interprétation de la Pierre (center for interpretation of natural stone) in Sprimont, Belgium
In a defunct power station formerly supplying quarries with energy, public relations work is being carried out for local stone