ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME recently reached out to several leading kitchen and design firms to discover their point of view on top trends and new developments in their industry. Their thoughtful responses delve into what motivates, inspires and excites these design pros, and how that passion ultimately breeds success.
From Nash Stone Group, we spoke with VP of Sales Gabriela Cruz.
ASPIRE DESIGN AND HOME: Are any of your stone products sourced from exotic locations?
Gabriela Cruz: Yes. Much of our stone is sourced from all over the world. Nash has relationships with European quarries, some in Italy and Spain, throughout the African and Asian continents, and in countries across North and South America, such as Brazil, Canada, and the USA!
ADH: What are some of your top-selling products for countertops?
GC: Marble, quartzite and quartz are currently the top sellers. Why? Because of the look! For the same reason people buy designer brands, people buy these stones because they love the rich, clean, and contemporary look. It’s all about the look!
ADH: What are popular choices for floors?
GC: Marble, ceramic tile, limestone and porcelain are always wonderful options.
ADH: Do your customers tend to choose neutral colors or are they looking at more vibrant color schemes?
GC: Most tend to use neutral colors. Every so often a client or designer specifies something bold and unique and we are always pleasantly surprised how beautiful it looks. We love out-of-the-box use of color.
ADH: Do you have any design consultants on staff to assist your customers? Or do your customers generally know exactly what they want?
GC: Anyone from our staff is well versed in stone and surfaces so we can certainly assist with design if a homeowner comes to Nash. When designers come to Nash we naturally assist them with what they are looking to specify. Oftentimes, we show both the homeowner and the designer the new inventory, irrelevant if it was what they originally had in mind, just to give them some design inspiration and keep them fully aware of what has just come into the yard.
ADH: Does your company also offer stone products for outdoors?
GC: Yes. Nash offers a large selection of porcelain tiles, pavers and outdoor kitchen surfaces. This spring and summer, beautifying yards and outdoor spaces was very popular.
ADH: What is the best or most enjoyable part of your position?
GC: As the VP of Sales, I truly enjoy the relationships I have made over the years with the design community and homeowners and the best is when I get a personal referral. Also, when designers send me the professional photos of the project it makes me very happy.
ADH: What is the most challenging part of your position?
GC: Making certain that designers and homeowners are up to date with our ever-changing inventory and new product introductions. We do this by sending out a newsletter with the latest and throwing events to show off the inventory in our showroom. It is a great way to make connections with clients and at the same time, physically show the yard and the inventory. We love events at NASH. Last fall we had a rebranding event with Tango dancers and a live band. It was quite a hit. Moving forward, we will do smaller, socially distanced events that follow protocol, but we want to continue our close connections with our clients!
ADH: If you could choose any countertop in your showroom for your kitchen and baths, what would you choose?
GC: Wow! That is a very difficult question since I am in love with so many different surfaces it would be super hard to choose one over the others. Marbles are what my eye draws to most, and ones with very little veins because I like a sleek, clean look; but overall, my choice would depend upon the style I am going for and be even more specific to what room the slab will be in.
ADH: How about flooring, what would be your top choice for your own home?
GC: I love porcelain! I love limestone! I also love large square pavers for the outside. So much to choose from. It’s like asking a parent which child is their favorite LOL, again, it is a difficult choic to make.
ADH: What are some of the most exciting innovations you’ve seen in today’s stone styles?
GC: We go bonkers for the use of porcelain and now some quartz on walls for fireplaces and accent walls. It’s a show-stopper when done correctly!
ADH: What are some popular stone design trends your clients are requesting this year?
GC: Designers and homeowners are getting very creative as to where they are using quartzite. Some of the new and interesting applications I’ve seen are for custom coffee table tops and luxe walk-in closet designs!
ADH: What 2020 stone trends do you think will be long-lasting?
GC: Marble, marble, and marble. Timeless and classic with endless possibilities of color and design application; marble is truly a stone that never disappoints.
ADH: Which stone styles aren’t as popular as they used to be?
GC: Granite for sure. It has taken a backseat to the beautiful and popular natural stone due to the uniqueness of every slab.
ADH: What are some features your company offers that set you apart?
GC: Nash stands by its mission to provide clients LUXURIOUS, RARE, and EXOTIC surfaces. The wide range of curated stone in our yards, sourced from quarries around the world, is what has allowed Nash to hold up this mission. In addition, the attention given to the presentation of our slabs, the love and individualized attention dedicated to each client and their project, and the strong relationships with the many quarries around the world are our differentiators.
ADH: How would you describe your work style?
GC: You mean, eating, breathing and sleeping with stone-on-the-brain is not normal?
ADH: What is the best piece of professional advice you ever received?
GC: A chunk of stone is worth it’s weight in gold.
ADH: If you weren’t in this business, what career would you choose?
GC: Design, design, design.
ADH: Tell us a little about your company history.
GC: NASH Stone Group was founded in 2005 by entrepreneur Daniel Gupta. From the very beginning Daniel has committed to acquiring premium stone.
NASH stone experts travel the globe to conduct detailed inspections for stone quality prior to considering stones for their massive showroom. Each stone is carefully handpicked. This dedication has led this family business to grow into the renowned high end natural stone distributor it is today, located on Long Island, in Farmingdale.
Our team cultivates lasting relationships within a realm of customer types (homeowners, designers, architects and builders) in order to forecast future design trends – this has become Nash’s gateway to keeping up with changing times. The individualized attention dedicated to each project sets Nash’s customer service apart from all the rest. If you are looking for LUXURIOUS, RARE or EXOTIC surfaces you can count on Nash to have it.
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