Artisan group members have donated hundreds of tons of granite and solid surface countertop scrap, as well as other building materials to Habitat for Humanity ReStore over the past year.
Eight members of the premium countertop fabricator group participate in the program which accepts donations of new and used building materials and makes them available to the public at deeply discounted prices.
Artisan Group member FloForm Countertops in Canada, has donated $25,000 in countertops in the last year. "It is rewarding to know that we are helping homeowners to purchase low-cost materials for home improvement as well as reusing products that might be otherwise end up in land fills," says Ted Sherritt, owner of FloForm.
ReStore operates on a Triple Bottom Line philosophy: "People, Planet and Profit." People seeking building supplies can find what they need at ReStore. ReStore seeks to be a good steward of natural resources and energy provided by Planet Earth. Thousands of tons of useable building materials are diverted from landfills each year by ReStore. Finally, ReStore profits are transferred to Habitat for Humanity to further its mission. Through this Triple Bottom Line philosophy, Habitat ReStore has experienced phenomenal success and serves as a model of sustainability.
Top Master Inc. has been recognized by Habitat ReStore of Kansas City as one its largest contributors. Since 2008 Top Master has partnered with Habitat Restore to coordinate picking up its leftover granite pieces and select remnants. Customers can then purchases the pieces that are perfect for vanity tops, small bar tops or table tops. To date these donations have kept in excess of 91, 000 tons of scrap material out of the landfill and generated more than $50,000 for Habitat Restore.
Hoffman Fixtures in Tulsa recently made a large donation of granite and quartz to the Oklahoma City branch of Habitat ReStore. "After purchasing Phoenix Fabrication in Oklahoma City we were organizing and cleaning up the operation and could not think of a better way to make use of the large amount of remnants that Phoenix had accumulated," says Joe Hoffman, owner, Hoffman Fixtures. "When it was all done the ReStore truck had made four trips to pick up two a-frames full of usable remnants."
Rocky Mountain Stone in Albuquerque has made a number of large donations of remnant granite countertops to Habitat for Humanity. These countertops include unfinished drops as well as a few tops with minor fabrication errors that are re-fabricated for ReStore customers. Rocky Mountain Stone offers special pricing for these re-fabrication services.
Scott Lardner, president of Rocky Mountain Stone, says, "Habitat for Humanity is a great organization. We're happy that ReStore is able to use our donations to support their cause."
Quality Surfaces, Inc. of Owen County, IN is a proud supporter of Habitat for Humanity. Over the past year, Quality Surfaces has donated more than a dozen recycled tops and a handful of granite tops to Habitat's Restore program. In addition, QSI was involved in its local Habitat for Humanity Builder's Blitz, donating new countertops for two Habitat houses in the community. Mike Job, president/owner of QSI, believes involvement with Habitat for Humanity supplies a much needed service to the local community. "Working with Kerry Tomson (Executive Director of Monroe County's Habitat for Humanity) and ReStore has been a win-win situation for us and our community. They provide us an opportunity to give back, and we now have a use for perfectly suitable used materials that would otherwise be sent to the landfill. It just makes sense."
"ReStore is very involved in our NARI chapter," says Jon Lancto, owner, Surface Products in Cornelius, NC. "Once a year the chapter has a sale in the parking lot of the store to benefit NARI with all the remaining goods being donated to Habitat. We have worked the sale and donated some odds and ends-sinks, faucets, Artisan Stone Collection granite and quartz vanity tops. We also have used them as our feature charity at one of our yard sales."
Habitat ReStore in North Carolina provides tear-out service on existing kitchens, which is a real benefit to customers. The customer doesn't have to pay for tear-out and receives a tax writeoff and the cabinets and usable other items don't end up in the landfill.
Blume's Solid Surface in Freeport, PA, rents a building to Habitat Restore. "The building materials we donate are resold in the ReStore," says Gus Blume, Owner. "We donate sinks, countertops that were made incorrectly or had orders cancelled, discontinued items and used building materials left from building and remodeling projects."
Even Artisan Group members who don't have a ReStore location, plan on supporting the organization. "Our store is opening any day now and we plan on supporting them to the fullest," states Evan Kruger, owner, Solid Tops in Easton, MD.
About Artisan Group
With 35 members and growing, Artisan Group covers most major markets in the U.S. and Canada, and it can handle a variety of fabrication needs from a local to national scale. Its members average more than 20 years of fabrication experience in the countertop industry, and all Artisan Group members have achieved, or have begun the process to achieve, full accreditation with the Marble Institute of America.
The group is among the first granite fabricators in the world to be working towards this distinction. Collectively, Artisan Group surpassed $350 million in sales in 2009. Brands of the Artisan Stone Collection include Exotic & Classic Granite, Modesto Granite (starting at $35/square foot) and Saratoga Soapstone. It also offers a marble collection as well as Heritage Wood surfacing products. Apart from countertops, the Artisan Group supplies the Firstline collection of granite care products as well as Kohler sinks and faucets through an exclusive specialty dealer program with the Kohler Company. For more information, please visit www.artisan-counters.com.
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