July, 2020
Attendees gathering for StonExpo/Marmomac at The International Surface Event this January will find that the Natural Stone Pavilion, which debuted on the floor at TISE 2020, has tripled in size, offering attendees far greater access to stone suppliers, all in one space.
Anchoring the Pavilion are booths for the Natural Stone Institute and the Natural Stone Council. “We are growing the presence of natural stone suppliers at the the show, and delighted to see this growth at StonExpo,” says NSI CEO Jim Hieb. “Last year we brought in 18 stone companies, and this year we have increased the size of the booth threefold. Fifty-plus folks are exhibiting. People coming know that they can source with their natural stone only suppliers,” he says.
While StonExpo/Marmomac has long been known as the place to come for stone, tooling, and equipment, there wasn’t a dedicated spot for only natural stone suppliers to exhibit together, Hieb says. That lack sparked the the idea to convert the current TISE stone pavilion on the floor to a natural stone focus where producers and quarriers could exhibit as well, he says. “This initiative is a great support program to the NSI’s Use Natural Stone Campaign.
"From all practical perspectives, the next largest stone show will be at TISE. We have set up a platform for [suppliers] to be successful,” Hieb says.
