Have you got anything that looks like . . . ?
How many times do you call us for, say, Winter Cloud, only to find out it is not currently available? (Winter Cloud, for those who are waiting, will dock in New York on 9/27). The price we pay for original and unique materials, is periodic troubles with supply. For instance, anyone who has watched the news knows that the monsoons in the Philippines and Taiwan recently, are bound to affect Fall and Winter marble availability from those regions.
To assist some of our current shortages, we offer both this list of close alternates, and our apologies;
Why am I offering Music CD's?
In the past, I shared some thoughts on successful showrooms. I keep coming back to one as more important than any other; atmosphere is everything. Classical music goes a long way toward establishing atmosphere. Soft, and in the background, it projects an elegance clients aspire to, and adds to the total experience, like the smell of spiced candles in a country store. Even New York's Penn Station has switched to playing classical music, in what is otherwise a hectic environment.
But what music to play. Not all of us are classical music experts. To solve that problem, I am now offering a few pre-selected CD's for sale.
Beth Cunningham, of Interior Intentions, in Bucks County, PA, makes perfect use of this trick. Her showroom always looks great, and provides a soothing retreat through gentle classical sound in the background. Beth's recommended best CD; Relax with the Classics" - a four volume set, or sold separately. Available now at $44.98 for the complete 4 CD's, or $14.98 each.
Another recommendation is my own distant cousin, Thomas Linley, who was a friend of Mozart, a rival of Handel, and one of England's foremost composers. Had his life not been cut short by a freak boating accident at 22, who knows what he would have accomplished. Two different CD's of his music exist at $17.99 each.
For more detailed info on both, call me at 212-580-9704, or visit http://www.linley.com/musiccd.htm
Monocibec; the merits to porcelain
As you know, I represent Monocibec through Ohio Tile & Marble in Cincinnati (513-541-4211). Sean and his family there continue to add to the items they are stocking, and those of you who know this line, understand why.
Olympo, a porcelain tile, remarkably similar in appearance to tumbled marble, has met with dramatic success. Launched last year, at the show, it has grown to be our most popular offering. 
In July of this year, I got a chance to visit the Monocibec factory in Sassuolo, Italy. Vittorio Borelli, of the Export Department, shown in photo, was kind enough to pose with me, in front of the main office.
New additions now include the Akropolis series, and from Iris, the Petra series. Each line sports three new colors, and samples are available at no charge
We finally have a large inventory of architectural binders in five lines. If you service this kind of market, make sure you give me a call, so we can send you some. The increasing use of porcelain with a stone natural look, is perfectly timed with Monocibec's dominance in this category. Call me to find out more.
Latco is proud to announce the arrival of IMPRONTA, a new floor and wall series now in stock (not available in all markets), destined to become a trend setter in the ceramic tile industry.
Impronta's LATINA Series reproduces a turn of the century favorite; the encaustic tile. Eleven field colors and numerous coordinated borders and inserts provide intricate design options with delicate floral and geometric motifs. All are available in 8"x8" size. Designers and other professional who have seen the samples and literature are very enthusiastic, and we are confident that IMPRONTA will be extremely successful in the market. In fact, in the recent blockbuster movie "Evita", the use of encaustic tile was prevalent in many of the major scenes. Impronta comes in; Art de Vivre series, 8x8s for wall use, with full trim and decoratives. Latina series in 8x8s for floor use, with decorative borders and full trim. Mexico series , in 8x8 wall tiles, and 12x12 and 17x17 floor tiles with a full range of trims and accessories
Latco has designed a series of display boards to show this line effectively, and are available through your rep or customer service.
Bringing the price list into the 21 century, Westchester is currently mailing to customers on file, a whole new concept in price lists. Any one of these changes, you might not be surprised by . . . but taken together as a whole . . . wow!
Shortly, existing accounts in good standing, will be receiving a ring binder from Westchester, containing loose pages, divided by tabs. Each tab differentiates by product, and along with a table of contents, helps to navigate our enormous line. Products are divided by type of stone, and then type of item (ie; tiles together, then moldings, etc). Listed next to each tile item, is an indication if we stock a matching slab.
Using scanning technology, we have added color images of our borders, moldings, mosaics, limestone patterns and many specialty items, to help in identification and as a sales aid. Future additions will have all of our tiles similarly displayed. Given the complexity of our line, and the unique materials we stock, names are rarely enough. Since no showroom in the world could display our whole line, this imagery is invaluable. For those of you who do design work on the computer, these images can be sent to you as a computer file.
This new format also allows us to keep the price list updated. Each loose page has a date of origination, and should we add new items to a particular series, we only need to mail you that particular page.
Further, included with each new price list ring binder, is a computer disk which contains a spread sheet format of the price list. This allows you to enter the full list into your own computer system, or to adjust prices, and print out lists for your customers. Future disks will even contain our computer codes. Since you usually have to create a code for every item for your system, why not use ours. It avoids errors when purchase orders come from you already printed with the codes our staff uses. With all the many types of stones, finishes and sizes, this kind of clarity saves time and money. I promise one of these future disks to any customer who asks me.
Ultimately, when we have completed our first mailing of this new price list, we will test producing special versions based on your own markup. If you wish a special edition for your showroom, and you wish us to produce it with the prices marked up, say, 2.5 times, we will be able to comply. I will announce when we are ready.
For now, we are very excited with the new format, and you will be too. Call me if you don't receive yours shortly!
The only solution is a penetrating sealer which fills the pores near the surface. The best sealer for limestone we have ever found is made by Miracle Sealants of California.
POROUS PLUS is Miracle Sealants new one-step sealer (which replaces the old two-step Pre-Treat & Impregnator), and it is specifically designed for materials with large pores and is cheaper and easier than its predecessor.
WESTCHESTER MARBLE & GRANITE has produced a thorough Guide to sealing, maintaining and general use of French Limestone. For a free copy, call us @ 800-634-0866.
OUTDOOR PAVERS;
With the success of the Jerusalem Stone (Ramon Grey) pavers and pool coping, we have just brought in Amber Rose Flamed Limestone 12"x24"x3cm exterior pavers. Next month we will add the 16"x24"x3cm size to the line. This flame textured finish is ideal for outdoor projects, like pool surrounds, porches, and patios. Amber Rose is also available in slabs 2cm and 3cm and tiles 12"x12"x 3/8" and 16"x16"x 3/8".
For the record, the Jerusalem exterior pieces include 16"x24"x1-1/4" Bush-hammered pavers, and 12"x48"x1-3/4" honed full bullnosed coping, which make ideal pool surrounds. In stock now, these pavers are in the Ramon Grey color, a type of limestone found in the South of Israel, fairly uniform beige with occasional rose pencil veining.
Remember, Westchester Marble is building an Outdoor Collection, that include the following six Slates which can be used safely in a rapid freeze/thaw environment;
For sealing, we recommend 511 Porous Plus, which is a penetrating sealer. Slates also lend themselves to color enhancing (use Mira-matte), thereby bringing out their rich & varied colors.
NEW INDOOR PRODUCTS;
Jerusalem stone tiles and slabs are also now in stock. Match your outdoor work with indoor floors and counters, in five colors; Jerusalem Gold Light and Dark, Jerusalem Cream, and Ramon Grey Light and Dark. All are quarried in the region between Jerusalem and Hebron. These are available in 12x12, and 2 & 3 cm slabs. Would you like samples? Call 1-800-634-0866.
LIMESTONES AND POLISHED STONES;
Our ever popular Montevideo limestone, previously available only in 12x12, is now also stocked in 16x16, with matching 2cm and 3cm slabs.
One of the most interesting additions to our polished line recently is Pompeii Gold, available in tiles and slabs. A lustrous, dark, wheat gold, it is a color your showroom should definitely have on display.
We also have in stock polished Cafe Rosita and Caramel Rose. These were gone for a while, but have returned to popular acclaim.
Also strong are Rose Claire, and its cousins, Rose Nuage, Peach Nuage and Rose Blush. All selections from the same quarry, they share light soft tones with subtle veining. Rose Blush and Rose Nuage are available in 2cm slabs.
Polished Giallo Reale slabs, in 2cm and 3cm, have been remarkably popular. A warm honey gold with red/rose swirls in a high shine, make for a pretty slab.
Black Galaxy slabs are also in stock, and have an extremely dark black background with metallic flecks in a copper/gold color. This is a dramatic stone that really makes a statement.
Verde Butterfly Granite 2cm and 3cm is also a new arrival. This beautiful Brazilian Green granite is similar to Ubatuba yet has larger, more beautiful crystals with hints of ruby red.
SLATE SLABS
New to our slate slab line is Museo Green (Imperial) slate Honed, Multicolor Dark Cleft, and of course, Italian Black Honed and Cleft. These make excellent bar tops.