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Home & Garden Articles
Granite Worktops and the Credit Crunch
Mon 12 Jan 2009 - 13:36
Granite Worktops and the Credit Crunch
By [http://ezinearticles.com/?expert=Alan_Bottomley]Alan Bottomley
I have been speaking to a quite a number of fabricators and UK based suppliers of stone over the past few months and the majority have been saying the same, that the credit crunch has affected them in some way shape or form.
Its fascinating how so many of them have not prepared for the worst, given how only 15 years back, we saw another similar situation with our economy.
But, what does this really all mean for the consumer, other than that they may have also been affected by our present economic standing and may be cutting back on expenditure?
I have identified a number of key areas, which are logical outcomes of such a situation.
Right; British suppliers of stone kitchen worktops may reduce their prices so as to stay competitive, this having two issues associated with it. One, the suppliers are able to do this with old stock, as they can cut back on some costs and still make a profit and two, with rising importing costs, the first point is becoming a problem - given what colleagues have said from an industry point-of-view, this is more like the case.
European and world stone prices have become unstable, the value of British currency against that of other currencies, has forced some suppliers of stone to either lower their profit estimations, or cut back on staff so as to accommodate for the rising prices of stone; if the latter were the case, then it would eventually have a knock-on effect. Their service ability would drop and their over-all profits would probably lower too, with a probable outcome that their power to buy in bulk would diminish.
Another outcome (and I have seen it first hand), is that granite worktops and kitchen suppliers have been forced to close, this also leading to a knock-on effect - the remainder suppliers can, to some degree, set the prices!
How does a customer benefit from such a situation?
Well, as I stated before; some of the stone fabricators will have old stock available, so you could get in quick and get a really good deal on a worktop for your kitchen, especially at this time of year too.
A number of the suppliers that I have spoken to, have staff working on an ad-hoc basis, so as to still keep them in work, but to reduce their overall staff costs - this seems to be working; they have also reduced their profit margins, so as to stay consumer competitive, so the option of having a granite worktop could still be viable.
External factors such as rising quarry prices, or currency differences, can not be helped at present, but with a little careful management, some of the stone suppliers for kitchens are still operating to full steam!
Granite Worktops can be purchased from HartGranite.co.uk. They are based in Broxbourne, on the border of Hertfordshire and Essex, but are able to supply and install worktops and work surfaces to many locations throughout the UK.
Alan Bottomley is a Granite Worktops Designer for HartGranite; who import,
fabricate and supply many home and industrial stone products - their URL is: http://www.hartgranite.co.uk if you would like more information.
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alan_Bottomley http://EzineArticles.com/?Granite-Worktops-and-the-Credit-Crunch&id=1862818
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