Industrial News

Stoor explains that ProSource® grew out of the recognition that trade professionals didn’t always have a good vehicle to buy floor coverings. The franchise began in 1990 and today is one of the top wholesale distributors of floor coverings in North America. When one of his reps, who previously worked for a large importer of naturalstone tiles, left his employer but kept calling about a new line he was working on, Stoor’s interest was whetted. “Then, all of a sudden, he came to us with TEMPERSTONE™, and we took it on,” Stoor says. “We saw that TEMPERSTONE™ offers a different concept and that’s why we got involved.” The TEMPERSTONE™ concept, pioneered by John Spencer, hopes to mirror the success the carpet industry experienced with from-the-factory stain protection. The TEMPERSTONE™ line features a full line of stone products pre-treated with the technologically-advanced TEMPERBOND™ sealants under factory conditions, and offers a one-year warranty that John Spencer believes will increase consumer appeal for natural stone and overcome uncertainty buyers might have over choosing it over a synthetic product (such as ceramic tile). “I think most people like the concept that it’s already presealed,” says Stoor. “Once it’s installed you can go ahead and grout it without using a grout release, then seal the grout immediately, as opposed to waiting for seven-to-ten days after you grout it to seal it. It’s a time thing.”

Figuring in a cost of $2 per-square-foot to do after the grout sealing, Stoor says the TEMPERSTONE™ price is competitive and the customer service and support is extremely good, both to him as a wholesaler and to the end users receiving a one-year warranty with the installation of their floors. “After an order is placed, they send the final customer a care kit with sealer and cleaner at no charge,” says Stoor. “We’re also pleased with their service, whether it’s replacing a sample that’s broken or delivering a big order. People who provide service get our business, and it’s part of why we’re doing so well with them.” Stoor adds that he also appreciates the continuing efforts of his TEMPERSTONE™ rep to train his staff on the advantages of the product. While would-be buyers haven’t yet started to ask for TEMPERSTONE™ by name, thanks to an aggressive marketing campaign that brand recognition isn’t far in the future. Even so, Stoor says once people see the advantages the product offers, it’s certainly moving more of them away from other hard-surface floor options. “Travertine, especially, already has a perceived value in this market,” he says. “However, not everybody likes travertine because they don’t want the cost of upkeep later on. When we can offer something that’s presealed, well, we do sell quite a bit of TEMPERSTONE™. It’s a great selling point.” ¦

For more information on becoming a TEMPERSTONE™ distributor or on the nearest TEMPERSTONE™ distributor to you, contact TEMPERSTONE™ at (866) 490-7893 or visit the Website at www.temperstone.com.