BB INDUSTRIES OPENS SECOND FULFILLMENT CENTER

KNOXVILLE, TN -- BB Industries (BBI) is opening a large fulfillment center in Salt Lake City, UT, on April 5, 2021 to better serve the 13 western states with guaranteed two-day or less delivery. “As we grow, so do our customer partners’ benefits,” said BB Industries CEO Rick Stimac. “We are using the resources from our unprecedented 2020 growth to expand our fulfillment services to ensure customer delight. This investment also shows our commitment to the stone industry and to our vendors and customers, and the fact that we want to provide the highest levels of service in all areas.”

The Utah facility is a full-service operation, just like at the BBI headquarters in Knoxville, TN. In addition, the company has several smaller satellite locations around the country.

“Some of the big delivery services are experiencing delays of up to six days with the increased demand for direct shipping, and BBI wants to ensure that delivery expectations are being met, regardless of the current environment,” said Stimac. “So we consulted with FedEx and UPS and the consensus was that a Salt Lake location will provide the level of service that BBI customers expect, with closer proximity to many of our western customers. We have also expanded our outside sales team to 20, including several in the West Coast region, over the past few months.”

BBI strives to constantly improve its efficiency by doing things like minimizing the amount of boxes shipped in each order, and marking packages with red tape for easy recognition. They have created a one-stop-shop for all things stone fabricating -- from diamond tooling and adhesives, to machines.

“Vans are a great service, but they have a limited inventory,” explained Stimac. “With these two large fulfillment centers, we can ship anything from our 11,000 SKUs to customers in two days, across the entire country. Our customers know that BBI is committed to accuracy, and we currently have 99% accuracy, OTIF (On Time In Full). Boiling it down, we fulfill your order with the least amount of boxes, most accuracy, fastest time, with any of our 11,000 SKUs in two days or less, from anywhere in the U.S. With our 26-year successful track record, we don’t just talk a good game. When we tell you we provide better service and better value, we mean it, and we back it up with our 30-day, no questions asked guarantee, unlike any in the industry.”

XIAMEN STONE FAIR 2021 RETHINKS FOR A BETTER FUTURE

XIAMEN, CHINA -- The 21st China Xiamen International Stone Fair will be held from May 18 to 21, 2021 in Xiamen, China, and the show’s management has presented a new year proposal for the entire stone industry.

The new edition of the Xiamen Stone Fair will include eight exhibition areas: Domestic Stone, Machinery & Tools, International, Artificial Stone, Outdoor, Design & Education, Media and the Xiamen Bath & Kitchen Fair. Hall C1-C5, C3L, B6 and A5-A6 will display numerous natural stone and stone products from China. Hall B3-B7 will be dedicated for machinery and tools in which smart manufacturing will be a highlight. The International area is planned for Hall A4-A5 where the most national delegations and overseas exhibiting companies will send staffs or agents in China to represent their booths. Hall A2-A3 is organized for artificial stone, while Hall W is for raw stone blocks and large machines. Moreover, it is the first time that the design & education area will be in Hall A1, which is where the Stone Infinite Product Design Show and Xiamen Habitat Design & Life Festival will be co-located.

New plan of exhibition areas – to extend the coverage

In the 2021 edition, natural stone, machinery, and tools and accessories will still take a leading part. In order to truly reflect the current situation and future trend of the stone industry, new subjects will be introduced. Keywords like “sintered stone,” “kitchen and bathroom supplies,” “smart manufacturing,” “eco-friendly production,” “customization” and more will be found in the show.

In the International area, there will be a re-planning. Show management has contacted overseas companies and will actively assist those who will send a staff or agents to China to attend the fair. National delegations from Italy, Turkey and Portugal are under orderly preparations.

A different presentation – to broaden the channels

The 3rd Stone Infinite Product Design Show with the theme of “Stones in Daily Life” is structured in six sections: Art in Stones, Life in Stones, Artifacts in Stones, Construction in Stones, Salon in Stones and Tea Break in Stones. The show is honored to invite Xiaojie as the chief curator, LAU Siu-Hong, Freeman as the visual identity design consultant and Wang Xiangrong as the art consultant.

Industry forums will be held in corresponding exhibition areas to closely focus on hot topics and pain points, as well as visualize the installation, conservation and after-sales services.

The digital platform, Cloud Xiamen Stone Fair introduces new marketing modes, including video marketing, live streaming, online matchmaking and more. For the first time, Xiamen Stone Fair will go onsite and online to energize the industry.

“The pandemic has delayed our annual meeting, yet the reunion is around the corner,” stated show management. “No matter in the past, present or future, Xiamen Stone Fair’s commitment to serve the industry and move forward with the whole stone community will remain resolute.”

Pre-registration for the Xiamen Stone Fair 2021 is now open. “Secure your place and join the industry community,” stated the management team.

COSENTINO LAUNCHES HOME REMODELING FINANCE PROGRAM

CORAL GABLES, FL -- In an effort to make it easier for homeowners to finance their remodels and updates, Cosentino, a world leader in quartz, natural stone and recycled surface production, announced the launch of Cosentino Finance. In partnership with its kitchen and bath dealer network, Cosentino Finance will offer streamlined and affordable financing options for residential projects up to $100,000 for qualifying homeowners powered by Service Finance Company, LLC.

“The past six months have ignited a deeper passion for our homes and the important role design plays in how we live, work, learn and play,” said Director of Marketing for Cosentino Americas Massimo Ballucchi. “As industry reports forecast continued home improvement growth in 2021 and beyond, Cosentino Finance will make it easier for homeowners to transform dream remodels into reality, while also giving our valued dealer partners a competitive edge.” Finance options range from zero percent interest to same-as-cash to low-interest low-payment terms, and more.

“Cosentino is an exceptional and well-known brand with a wide network of fabricators and installers with whom we are especially excited to be associated,” said Mark Berch, president of Service Finance Company. “Their already-strong market presence combined with our industry-leading suite of finance products, background in home improvement and in-market support will help Cosentino dealers close more sales and profitably grow their business.”

In conjunction with the launch of Cosentino Finance, a new promotion running through March 31, 2021 will offer dealers a discounted fee on select finance plans from the program’s offering, with Elite and Premium members of the Cosentino WE program receiving additional fee discounts on financed projects where Cosentino materials are specified.

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