OK Stone Changes the Game for Distributors’ Business Model

OK Stone, a US-owned manufacturing company in Texas, will be offering engineered quartz products (Bioquartz and Chromia), the innovative thin-slab technology (Kreos-Plus) for vertical applications, and the strategic advantages of a new business model for distributors. The products include retail brands such as Deon Surfaces, Radical Surfaces, and Italic.

Stage 1: Main Products (Bioquartz and Chromia) for Kitchens and Bathrooms

The engineered quartz products offered by OK Stone capture the integrity and aesthetic of natural stone while capitalizing on cutting-edge technology. These surfaces represent an Italian upgrade to the raw beauty of stone, reimagined and perfected through American design and timeless values. They deliver timeless beauty, unmatched performance, and versatility, making them ideal for kitchen and bathroom spaces.

The technology being used is founded on 10 years of research and development by Breton of Italy, the number one stone manufacturing firm in the world. It breaks through the limitations of traditional quartz countertops, which have been criticized for aging technology, bland patterns, and lifeless colours.

Key Product Features:

• Aesthetics and Performance: The surfaces offer the most natural look ever. They feature bolder veins, dramatic patterns inspired by rare stone, and richer colours with deep contrasts and vibrant hues. They are maintenance-free, easy to clean, hygienic, and exceptionally durable, meeting the demands of modern living. Their durability allows them to endure and last a lifetime.

• Bioquartz®: This product utilizes next-generation technology to offer a superior product at a decreased cost. Bioquartz uses advanced three-dimensional printing, which provides an unlimited range of aesthetic features, including intricate veining, color, and motion. These effects perfectly replicate the highest quality natural quartz. Bioquartz ensures a safe, reliable supply of engineered quartz slabs because it uses domestically sourced raw materials and manufacturing processes. Bioquartz also allows for 100% silica-free engineered quartz.

• Chromia: This is OK Stone's most elegant offering, tailored for the most discriminating consumer. Engineered with rapid three-dimensional processing, Chromia displays the most complex, high-value aesthetic effects in the industry. Chromia is designed to showcase veining, motion, depth, and a full-bodied stone appearance that "No robot can replicate". Its superior quality is intended to open new markets and is expected to be featured as a game changer for the industry.

Stage 2: New Products for Wall Cladding (Kreos-Plus)

The introduction of Kreos-Plus represents a significant technological advancement specifically for vertical applications.

Kreos-Plus Details:

• Technology and Thickness: Kreos-Plus is an ultra-thin sheet of Bioquartz® developed using fourth-generation technology. It is engineered at a thickness of just 5–7 millimeters.

• Vertical Applications: This ultra-thin format "obliterates all previous boundaries for stone slab applications," opening up the vertical dimension for product use. Because it is lightweight, Kreos-Plus can be used for ceilings, backsplashes, and walls.

• Design Freedom: Kreos-Plus allows the beauty of stone to be applied to surfaces that cannot support traditional stone slabs. This innovative product opens doors for new business opportunities in wall cladding. The manufacturing process allows for engineered stone in 7mm thickness for commercial applications like hotel lobby walls and restaurants, as well as showers, backsplashes, and fireplaces.

Stage 3: Benefits to the Business Model for Distributors

OK Stone is disrupting the engineered stone surfaces business by manufacturing engineered stone in the USA, capable of producing 300 slabs a day. This domestic, high-tech approach resolves several major issues prevalent in the traditional distribution model, offering substantial benefits to distributors.

Problems with the Traditional Model:

• Inventory Burden: Distributors currently operate by importing inventory from overseas (such as China, India, and Vietnam) and stocking those slabs. Even in a good year, where inventory turns four times, roughly 30% of the stock often remains unsold. This excess supply is sometimes dumped onto the market by low-end distributors, a practice Congress is attempting to stop with proposed legislation.

• Design and Tariffs: Because distributors rely on overseas imports, they usually receive last year's designs. Furthermore, products from India often feature Indian-inspired designs that do not integrate well with US-based designers and architects. India also currently has high tariffs.

Benefits of the OK Stone Model:

• Reduced Inventory Risk: Distributors using OK Stone's model do not have to stock inventory or be stuck with slabs that fail to sell. This results in minimal cash tied up in stock.

• Rapid Lead Times: Distributors receive their supply within 2-3 weeks of placing an order. This lead time is reliable, allowing distributors to bypass expensive stockpiling.

• Current and Consistent Design: Because distributors order a U.S. finished product, they receive current designs, eliminating the issue of being stuck with last year's designs. The domestic manufacturing guarantees consistent quality and a reliable supply chain.

• Customization and Scale: For commercial accounts like home builders of multifamily units, OK Stone can cut countertops to order and deliver them ready for installation at the jobsite. The company offers precision at scale, ensuring consistent veining and colour for large-format applications and multi-site rollouts.

• Building Long Term Relationships: Each and every stone slab design is stored in an archive. That means if a customer needs to extend the stone surface years later or have the same style for a wall cladding or other application, the distributor can have the surface manufactured with the same styling as the original – no vein matching or bookmatching needed. 

This approach transforms the distributor experience by providing a U.S. finished product with reliable lead times, reduced cash tied up in inventory, and certainty on colours and designs. For distributor enquiries: call Jeremiah 405-532-3180