MIA Releases 2013 Benchmarking Survey
CLEVELAND – Fabricators still favor natural stone over quartz surfaces … but the ratio gets closer as shops increase production, according to the 2013 Fabricator Benchmarking Survey from the Marble Institute of America (MIA).
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The use of natural vs. engineered is just a small part of the open survey of North American fabricators offered late last year; but, like the rest of the study, even that slice offers some telling trends.
For shops with sales less than $500,000 on materials, for example, 81% went to natural stone and 19% to engineered in a 4-to-1 difference. That gap closed with increasing sales and – at the top end of the scale – shops with sales greater than $5 million spent 64% on natural stone and 36% on engineered, or less than 2-to-1.
Among the many other results from the survey:
- residential remodeling work leads new residential and commercial sectors regardless of shop size;
- shops owning only a bridge saw spends 17% more on tooling per employee than automated shops;
- 29% of respondents plan a CNC purchase in 2014; and
- the average salary per employee is comparable, regardless of type of shop (manual with bridge saw or automated).
The 2013 survey had a record number of participants due largely to widespread industry support. Participation in the survey was available for free to all fabricators in North America, and the resulting report allows fabrication companies to compare their firm with firms of similar size.
The MIA is using the data derived from the survey to create a one-of-a-kind web portal that contains statistical data, design trends, housing information, and more.
While the survey questions were posed to fabricators, the report offers relevant information for suppliers and international companies seeking information about the North American market. The report also highlights key differences between fabricators operating manual versus automated production facilities.
Sponsors for the 2013 survey were Cosentino North America and KOHLER Co.
Stephanie Guilfoyle, who facilitated the survey for the MIA, said that, “I was truly amazed to see the variety within the stone industry …from small shops with one or two employees and no showroom, to larger operations with 80 employees and 10,000 ft² showrooms! I’m excited for the upcoming 2014 survey with a few expanded questions to allow for further analysis about waste factor and salary comparisons.”
“This information is very helpful and informative,” said Chris Evans of Rock Solid Granite and Tile Inc. “I plan to make participation in the MIA financial benchmarking survey an annual priority.”
Jon Lancto of Surface Products in Cornelius, N.C.added that, “This survey helps us understand where we need to spend time and resources to increase profitability.”
“The number of participants was the best we’ve ever had,” said Mike Loflin, MIA Industry Research and Information Manager. “From the data they supplied, we were able to develop the charts and graphs in the Executive Summary available on our newly revised Stone Industry Statistical Data webpage at www.marble-institute.com/data.”
