London stone wholesaler MGLW, established in 1990 by brothers João and Rogério Moutinho, has been updating its website to carry information about what it has in stock at any particular time in what sizes. It has also just recruited Chris Ghost to head a digital marketing push and make the most of CRM (customer relations management) software.
MGLW has always kept a keen eye on what its customers want and what they want now is to see what’s in stock online. Not that Rogério, who manages the business in SW8, believes pictures, however good they are, can do justice to the true nature of stone and he still encourages clients to visit.
The materials themselves have changed in 26 years as well as the technology. Light marbles are popular now and MGLW has found new sources of them to combat the increasing prices of Italian marble in a market that only becomes more competitive. MGLW has whites and creams from Portugal, Greece, Vietnam, Namibia and Pakistan in stock. And for a truly distinctive effect it offers semiprecious stones, both as a veneer or in solid form either in slabs or cut to size.
The MGLW range of natural stone includes marble, limestone, granite, slate, onyx and others, but engineered stone is also a major part of its business these days. MGLW is an agent for Compac quartz and has more recently added Neolith porcelain slabs from TheSize in Italy.
Neolith slabs measure 3200 x 1500mm, in 3mm, 6mm and 12mm thicknesses. The material offers imitations of natural marble and other materials, such as concrete or wood. MGLW’s engineered stone also includes Lapyk glazed lava stone for resistant, unique surfaces.
Rogério says he does what he can to ensure his sources operate ethically and to high environmental standards and he is currently encouraging quarries around the world to achieve the ISO 14001 environmental standard. He is in favour of the Modern Slavery Act because he believes it will help to distinguish legitimate, responsible suppliers from cowboys.
As for Europe, he has made some currency arrangements to counteract any sudden drop in the value of the pound after the referendum. He believes Europe could do with some reforms, with the south learning some lessons from the north.