Stone-Ideas.com

Gemeg’s redesigned showroom in Carrara: white marble only behind the windows of the container-like building

The facade by architect Victor Vasilev is reminiscent of modernism and bears artificial materials

The average purchasing power of Europeans per capita in 2022 was €16,344

On top of the 42 countries were Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, lowest were Kosovo, Moldova, and Ukraine

Marketing for natural stone (2): in addition to quarry steps in the landscape, the sector should also show pictures of animals in active quarries

In quarrying sites, there are habitats especially for endangered species

A better argument than durability over millions of years is the stones’ value stability

During the Corona pandemic, private consumers invested more than usual in modernizations with natural stone because it is a safe haven

The EU authorities have new rules on the energy efficiency of buildings in the works, which will bring great potential for renovation in the next 10 years

Residential buildings must achieve energy class D by 2033, non-residential buildings as early as 2030

Arguments in favor of natural stone: Peter Becker of Stone-Ideas.com will speak at the Xiamen Stone Fair about best-practice examples of how companies and associations make their material palatable to consumers

Peters Corner: what it means for the natural stone sector that Polycor, with more than 50 quarries and 20 factories in Canada, the U.S. and France, has become one of the big fish in the business

Best prospects for the natural stone sector in China: the government aims to increase private consumption of high-quality and environmentally friendly products

Guidelines are the turn to quality and to a “green“ consumption as well as the strengthening of the domestic market in general

In the desert city of Diriyah alone, Saudi Arabia is planning 38 luxury hotels with the aim of becoming a major player in tourism for wealthy travelers

In the other Gulf states, too, the focus is exclusively on the luxury segment

Turkey recorded a sensational +18,000 % in stone exports to Saudi Arabia in 2022 compared to the previous year, and the trend is positive in other respects as well

The country has achieved considerable diversification and has turned to finished products

EPDs for beginners: Sarah B Gregg from the Natural Stone Institute (NSI) explains what it is all about and why it is so important for stone companies

At the StonExpo trade fair in Las Vegas, an international joint stand named “Stone Pavilion” was initiated as the first action of the new “Natural Stone Strategic Alliance“

The national associations of the USA, Brazil, Italy, Greece, and Portugal were involved

Greece makes its natural stones digitally accessible in the “Greek Marble Atlas“

The interactive map gives the names of the varieties according to the EN 122440 standard and provides technical data in addition to descriptions

Brazil held above the US$1 billion mark in natural stone exports in 2022, but suffered losses of -4%, Centrorochas says

The current marketing initiative is about additional target countries and more value-added products

Good news about the Protected Geographical Indications (GI) also for natural stone: the procedure has taken the next hurdle

The Council of Ministers has approved the bill and wants only minor changes, e.g. that the award procedure be less expensive for applicants