Granite Granite Ltd, the Wickford, Essex, based stone importers and distributors who have more than 80 varieties of granite slabs in stock, offer same day or next day delivery – a promise that is an important part of the service they offer fabricators – using their own Hiab-equipped lorries. They also supply bulk orders of limestone, slate and marble, and various tiles with specialist finishes to order that complete a versatile range of products.

Most of their customers, unsurprisingly, given their location, are based in London and the home counties, although Granite Granite deliver countrywide – their office-based satellite-linked traffic management system being a great asset in dealing with the logistics of distribution. Next on the cards… bar coded stock control.

Many customers prefer to collect and are welcome to do so. The depot is open 8am to 4pm Monday to Friday, with 24-hour telephone coverage by members of the staff.

After 10 years building the company on natural stone products, Granite Granite were keen to introduce Quartz. Following an intensive investigation, a branded quartz from Quarella, the Italian manufacturers, fitted the criteria – good quality, competitive price and Quarella have gone further than most of their competitors to promote the environmental friendliness of their ranges.

They have produced Evo from recycled materials, using their ‘Q-Zero’ manufacturing to reduce atmospheric pollutants, and have had their Evo and Living collections third-party certified by the American Greenguard Environmental Institute.

Another reason Granite Granite became distributors of the Quarella ranges was that the collections offer a large choice of colour combinations and finishes.

The Italian manufacturers are leaders in the development of Quartz composites, aiming to set the trend in developments.

“Quarella: a well-proven product in the market with a good reputation for quality,” says Granite Granite Managing Director Bernard Hogan. “It is now achieving a bigger foothold in the market thanks to a forward thinking stockist like us.”

What Bernard likes about quartz is that, unlike most granite, it is a branded product, so the supplier is guaranteed to get the sale. “You need a brand name and the truth is branded products are better, although our less expensive Supreme Pure White and Nero Stella Mirror Black from China are good sellers too.”

Granite Granite are prepared to hold significant volumes of Quarella in stock – it represents about a third of their stock holding. They get their message out about what they have with monthly mail shots as well as offering counter top and floor standing merchandisers to fabricators and showrooms.

Granite samples are also available and Directors Peter (Bernard’s son) and Mark White attend to all enquires. Andy, Bernard’s other son, supervises loading and controls the yard.

“We are absolutely sales led,” says Stephen Cooper, one of the original Granite Granite team, back with the company after a 10-year absence. He, as a Spanish speaker, together with Bernard, identified their first supplier in Spain when the company was established in 2000. Their first order was Uba Tuba. It was out of that that Granite Granite grew.