KCWOOD
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| 20 Feb 2011 11:41 PM |
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So why not lets just re-define this material we are using and call it
Seamless Surface.
From day one... ever since my ISSFA class, I have wondered what the hell does solid surface mean?? I still don't know... but Seamless Surface... two words, explains it all, and the consumer immediately knows the design potential.
Think about it, your customer is looking at all the Granites, Quartz... all your stone products, explain to them that every turn means a seam most times. Then you ask them would you like to see all the brands of seamless surface. We can fabricate it into one seamless piece, any shape any size.
In fact... why don't we try to set a Guiness world record sometime and make a mile long countertop.. what other material can you do that with...
You guys have been asking for years how we can better re-define it... with a better name
here's my answer.... till someone has a better one
Kelsey Crisp
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Jon Olson
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| 21 Feb 2011 11:31 AM |
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It's too late in the game to change the name. However, what we can do is play with the name to our advantage. When talking about Solid Surface you sell say it like this.
Corian Solid Surface
Formica Solid Surface
Wilsonart Solid Surface, etc...
Big sheet peeps aren't going to help on this, so we can force them to pay attention. If the fabricators start the trend it can happen. get out of the back seat and drive the car
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Gene McDonald
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| 21 Feb 2011 12:57 PM |
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No its not too late in the game Jon..no way...plus its not about us...its about those new fabricators coming behind us...Now when Countertop materials were able to be counted on one hand..it was ok..but today there are so many materials not too mention brands...
and you crack me up with thinking you can mention FORMICA Solid Surface and not have people look atcha with a raised eyebrow..Formica? I dont like Formica.haha
anyway..whats wrong with us changing the idea to bring the material back and its not changing the name its IMPROVING the name..its also not about what we think...we are basing this idea on our experiences..but maybe we should consider other peoples experience with trying to sell
A job just got specked to use vetrazzo solid Surface to a corian fabber...he thought it was just a different brand name like Megantie, Mysteria dovae, affintity, eos..etc. he didnt know everyone in the world has the right to put solid surface after their product..anyway he got in trouble bidding it cause he thought he had the tools not knowing its crete n glass..you can easily attack him and call him a dipstick like i did..but Solid Surface should be imporved...its also away to keep up with the trends...styles change, everything else changes...but the words..
its gonna be painful to change, but 10 years from now maybe Seamless Surfaces will help everyone |
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KCWOOD
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| 21 Feb 2011 01:04 PM |
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Jon... Gene is right... you actually say "Formica Solid Surface"? I did it a few times, and the customer, with a confused look on their face, said.. they make laminate thicker? Formica in my region means laminate...
It's not changing the name... it is about finally explaining what the material offers them. |
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Jon Olson
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| 21 Feb 2011 01:05 PM |
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Solid Surface is all the spec books AWI etc they don't do well with change, changing the name will just confuse an already confused situation. We just need to improve how we talk about the surface.
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Jon Olson
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| 21 Feb 2011 01:12 PM |
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There is a Formica Solid Surface. Up here we say laminate .I refused to use generic terms. Pass me a tissue not a Kleenex. This is my point
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KCWOOD
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| 21 Feb 2011 01:22 PM |
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Posted By Jon Olson on 21 Feb 2011 08:05 AM
Solid Surface is all the spec books AWI etc they don't do well with change, changing the name will just confuse an already confused situation. We just need to improve how we talk about the surface.
Why do you think it is confused Jon? Could it be the consumers doesn't have a clue what "Solid surface " means? They think... I bang on a laminate top.. its hard and solid... granite.. isn't it a solid surface, concrete... geez.. it is solid too.. so how does one explain what makes an acrylic sheet a solid surface, when it is like all the other "hard materials out there.. including butcher block. But the only words, that set this one material apart from all the others, is that it can be made seamless. I really don't care what specs say... as Gene just pointed out... the architect that did that one spec was so confused.. whaT he described was worded wrong, and the bidder, thought one thing was spec'd when in fact another was. Introduce your next customer to the Seamless material section ... and watch that light bulb finally go off in their understanding of what you are showing them... |
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KCWOOD
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| 21 Feb 2011 01:24 PM |
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Posted By Jon Olson on 21 Feb 2011 08:12 AM
There is a Formica Solid Surface. Up here we say laminate .I refused to use generic terms. Pass me a tissue not a Kleenex. This is my point
Jon... please don't ask for a tissue  .... It is a Kleenex! |
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Jon Olson
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| 21 Feb 2011 01:45 PM |
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I think there's lots of people that know what Solid Surface is. When I talk to customers they'll ask what's that counter surface, I say its Solid Surface you know like Corian very easy to say. To change mid stream to another name would just bog everything down. Do you think sheet manufactures are going to change all their brochures to another name? Do you think they'll even agree to work with each other to accomplish this?
As I said earlier let's use the name it was given since sheet peeps already use it so were half way there let's just finish the job.
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KCWOOD
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| 21 Feb 2011 02:08 PM |
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Sorry Jon.... I'll keep using the term Seamless... you keep buying tissue... and I'll continue blowing my nose on a kleenex!  |
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Richard Magee
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| 21 Feb 2011 02:34 PM |
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Kelsey, Jon's Kleenex is called "facial tissue" as opposed to "toilet tissue" although either can be used either way I suppose. Unfortunatley "solid surface" is Corian (Kleenex) and God only knows what the other alternative is. Now please excuse me as I've got to go get a cold one out of the Fridgidare  GEMSTONE |
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| Rich Magee |
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Wayne
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| 21 Feb 2011 02:36 PM |
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Kelsey you hit the nail on the head. We're selling direct more & more and the consumers we talk to think solid surface includes quartz, granite & concrete...because they're solid! We'll start using the "seamless surface" approach and see how that works out. Thanks for the idea! |
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Jon Olson
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| 21 Feb 2011 02:49 PM |
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Is the seamless surface solid? Can you thermoform it like solid surface. I saw that Corian is a sloid surface ,does Corian now make a seamless surface? Confusion,confusion confusion
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Gene McDonald
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| 21 Feb 2011 08:12 PM |
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Jon..whats is up with you?  let us do this..great everyone you know seems to know the defintion of Solid Surface...but on our end for every customer that you know I have 20 that do not know the defintion..unless I do say Corian.like...the MFgs sell their product and we have to sell ours...there are countless people on here to tell you there problem with this name I am surpirised that you think we are fibbing or something.. I mean..what is keeping your business flowing is not whats keeping others..when you mention Architects..they spec name brand..but we seem to have problems with residentail customers...your customers are a totally different animal than the norm and so are mine...but the up and coming consumers are not being taught by MFG's the defintion of SS..just the defintion of their brand of material but listen..we understand where you stand on this..but hey let us kids alone and see if we can change the world...we are just trying to change the name not the material..because in our personal businesses these words need to be described and defined without having to mention that dreaded name CORIAN..some are not certified with corian and Corian shouldnt have the monopoly on all SS fabricators..but again why do you care what we do to help stimulate solid surface..it would be so much better to stimulate the world of countertops with NOW INTRODUCING SEAMLESS SURFACES...for all you homeowners that are tired of that dreaded seam or grout lines...Introducing Seamless surfaces which are made with Engineered acrylics and polyesters we admitted a problem and I been stating it for years and told bt the old timers to deal with it...well, its our time guys...take SEAMLESS SURFACES to the top..who cares about MFGs..as long as you buy sheets off them ..thats all they care about..Avonite would love me cause of sheets selling..not that I call it Avonite seamless surface...I bet they will love to change their brochures to help those who have this problem and they can save the outdated literature for ones who like the words Solid Surface :) |
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John Christensen
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| 21 Feb 2011 08:18 PM |
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I understand where you guys are going with this. But maybe the mfg's would have a problem calling this stuff seamless. Where would that put them when there is fabrication/quality issue and the customer finds out that there are actually many seams in his top, he just couldn't see them. The customer thought that he was getting a seamless top.
Johnny C |
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Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/SolidSurfaceTechnologies
e-mail: sst@opusnet.com |
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KCWOOD
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| 21 Feb 2011 08:23 PM |
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Dang Gene... where did that come from... awesome dude!!!
Jon... I never expected such a stance from you... someone that has been screaming we need to promote it better....
Then the first sign of light at the end of the tunnel... you seem to scream go back.. it's a freight train?
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Jon Olson
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| 21 Feb 2011 08:40 PM |
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We do need to promote it better. I don't have a problem with the name Solid Surface. Perhaps I'm missing something. We promote SS the best talking about its outstanding qualities.. I'm not stepping back. Just about to launch a SS campaign stay tuned.
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KCWOOD
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| 21 Feb 2011 10:33 PM |
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Posted By Jon Olson on 21 Feb 2011 03:40 PM
We do need to promote it better. I don't have a problem with the name Solid Surface. Perhaps I'm missing something. We promote SS the best talking about its outstanding qualities.. I'm not stepping back. Just about to launch a SS campaign stay tuned.
Jon.. you really don't get it do you? You mentioned starting a SS campaign.. are you talking about the old school solid surface, or the new and improved, unlimited design potential of one of the many brands of Seamless Surfaces?  |
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Gene McDonald
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| 21 Feb 2011 10:46 PM |
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John, my friend..the MFG's dont hafta call it seamless surface...we know the defintion...its us that hafta call it that to help residential business a little more...(everywhere but ur area)  ..The seam is filled and defined as seamless...plus Its really not solid anyway...EOS is solid surface...normal SS is only 1/2" solid...hahaha tawk about stirring the pot hey but anyway..if youse guys dont have a problem with it..great, ya just gotta understand SS is not in Magazines, not on DIY< HGTV's etc...the only time they hear about it is when they meet us..and I tell you this is not a concept..its sick and tired experience...Havent you withnessed the world change from engineered stone to quartz...leaving people to thinks its solid quartz the MFgs still say that stuff is non porous, etc...we are juts doingthe same..and hey guys..if it doesnt work we can always return to same ole lame name and say at least we tried to make a change maybe you should take a survey at some event or restayurant and ask them what they think Solid Surface is...when you get the replies...that is what we have been dealing with..love youse guys Im typing happy BTW |
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KCWOOD
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| 22 Feb 2011 12:16 AM |
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gene... having a little cocktail are ya?? ... throwing a little love around the FabNet...that will raise a few eyebrows... however... I like it that you are typing the way green gene was when he arrived on the scene...
Only you can tawk to juts youse guys ...
BTW.. i forgot to thank you for the St pete.. referral... the Vinoy was awesome, the dining around was fantastic,,, the Ceviche Tapas Bar and restaurant was probably one of the finest dining experiences We've had in years!
We sat on the porch of the Vinoy and watched all the guest arrive for the New Years Eve party. I have never seen so many Ferrari's, Lamborginnis, 2 Rolls Royce, and a multitude of Limo's. Most girls dresses were so short if they inhaled you could see... well nevermind... and their cups were runneth over...
It was a quick trip, next time down, I promise to hook up with you and Norm!! |
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