It might be contrary to folk wisdom, but Roger Schlott has found that sweating the small stuff is good business.
Owner of Ohio-based Granite Masters LLC, Schlott knows that it is the details of installation jobs that can make the largest impressions with customers. That led him to develop the tiny Hercules® EZ Level device, distributed by Braxton-Bragg, which allows installers to level cabinets quickly, easily and permanently.
For Schlott, the development of a new product begins with a simple question: "How do we fix a problem?"
In this case, the problem was dealing with countertop seams -one of the tedious, pesky details that can mean the difference between a satisfied customer and an unhappy one.
"It didn't matter how good a job you did and how good a deal they got, if the seam was messed up, it was like you didn't do anything," he said. "I noticed it was always difficult to level a piece of granite. Even on a shim basis, your fine adjustment is really touchy."
Schlott set out to enable anyone to create practically invisible seams when installing solid countertops. "One thing I've found is if you put anything between two pieces of granite it leaves a seam. If you can eliminate anything that goes between the granite where it touches, there is no seam."
After much thought, Schlott said he decided the best solution would be "... something that can be mounted in the cabinet that would use a bolt so you could gradually turn the minutest part of it to get a seam absolutely perfect."
The end product -the EZ Level -is simplicity itself to use. After peeling off the tape backing, the device is placed a 1/4 from the top edge of the cabinet where support or leveling is needed. All it takes then is the use of a 7/16 wrench or socket with extensions to tighten the bolt and raise the surface.
"It made installations much quicker," Schlott said. "You can just go to it. You can level them out so they're absolutely perfect, and it takes almost no time whatever. Saving time is one of the most important parts of getting an installation done."
Using the devices, an installer can set a perfect, hard-to-see seam, he said. In fact, Schlott had trouble documenting the evidence after his crew installed one particular countertop.
"I was going to take a picture of the seam," Schlott said. "I knew where the seam was at, but I couldn't find it."
Through the use of EZ Levels and another Schlott-developed product, the Hercules® Faucet Support, install times for Granite Masters crews have dropped to under four hours-that's usually the complete installation of a countertop, sink, and backsplash in a 6070 square foot kitchen.
"Time is money," Schlott said.
The design of the EZ Level evolved as Schlott's crews used it during jobs. Watching his employees work, he noticed that it was hard to keep the device in place while trying to secure it with screws.
"I saw they were struggling with it. I said `Guys, why didn't you tell me about this?' That's how the two-sided tape came about. It makes it simple.You can peel the tape off, stick it in the cabinet and have both hands free to put the screws in."
The tape uses a high quality adhesive that installers can trust to hold, Schlott said. "If you take the screws out, you almost have to knock the bracket off with a hammer. The tapes really sets up nicely."
Usage of the EZ Level is not just limited to countertops, he said. "It's only limited by your imagination on where you can use it. We use it in a lot of different places on a job because it's there and solves a problem."
EZ Level is perfect for securing sinks in tight cabinets, Schlott said. "Mounting sinks is really a pain, and you want something that is quick, that is going to be permanent, and that you don't have to worry about.
"We mount the EZ Levels on front and on the left and right sides. We put two on each side. Now we can take our sink and set it right inside the hole in the cavity and just let it sit there. We tighten the whole sink up to the granite. We don't even use any adhesive. It makes for a very, very quick install. You can easily set it and forget it."
Granite Masters is not Schlott's only business. He is also the president of Schlott Enterprises Inc., a corporation formed to handle multiple ventures. One of his companies sells computer power equipment.
"My background is computers. Most of my career was involved in IT. The last job I held was in the early 90s. A new president came into the company and in six months I didn't have a job. At that point, I said `This is the last time I'll work for anybody.'"
Schlott founded Granite Masters in 2002. It is based in Avon Lake, Ohio. He said that the business came about by accident. "An associate of mine was looking for a financial partner, and he was in the granite business. I decided to jump into it."
That venture proved to be unsuccessful, but Schlott wasn't ready to give up. "I did learn a lot about the business. About six months later, it was still bugging me. It seemed to be an interesting business. I decided to start my own company."
After attending a stone industry convention in Las Vegas, Schlott bought a CNC machine and things took off. "It took us to the next level of production," he said. "At that point, you're in the business."
Granite Masters currently uses an Intermac MasterStone 1500 CNC Machine for jobs. Although Schlott has mostly stepped back from directly working on the installation side of things, he still guides the process. "I pretty much handle the customer base. I've got people that do all the programming. I'll set up an initial drawing for a job.
"My office at home and my office at the shop are tied together. I can sit and do things from here. I can access it from anywhere in the country. If I was in California, I could set the machine up and do everything but push the buttons over there."
Rather than team with other contractors, Granite Masters generally relies on recommendations from customers to pick up business. "We have not been tied with any builders," Schlott said. "It has been a business that has been self-sustained by word of mouth. I ran my first ad (in July). I picked up a couple new installers. They were doing jobs so quick, I needed more business."
Schlott is now developing a material handling device for stone industry use. "I am working on some rail systems to make movement of stone easier. ... I'm trying to get the product to the customer easily and safely and not risk breaking it. I'm just trying to find one that is foolproof. When you stack (the slabs) in your truck on racks, you need to have a nice tight fit on everything.You want all the stone to be supported properly."
Teaming with Braxton-Bragg on distributing his products allows Schlott to get broader exposure in the marketplace, he said. "One of the biggest hurdles on any product in the stone industry is getting it into the hands of the people to try it. Once they try it and see it solves a problem then they'll use it."
Braxton-Bragg offers a full range of fabrication tooling and installation accessories including sinks, installation hardware, and every tool and piece of equipment needed to run a professional stone, tile, and polished concrete shop.
For more information about Braxton-Bragg and its publications and products, contact them toll-free at 800-575-4401 or visit the website www.braxton-bragg.com for current and back issues.
Top, left: Before and after shots of the leveling abilities of this simple yet effective device. There are many ways for an experienced installer to achieve the "perfect seam," but none as inexpensive, simple, and easy to use as the EZ Level.
Top, right: The Hercules® EZ Level uses a patented system of adhesive to hold the handy bracket in place while installers set the screws. Says inventor Roger Schlott, "You can peel the tape off, stick it in the cabinet and have both hands free to put the screws in."
Above: Schlott and other installers have also successfully used the Hercules® EZ Level for sink installation."It's only limited by your imagination on where you can use it," he says.
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