Creativity Leads to Success in Economic Recession

The construction industry may arguably be the worst hit industry affected by the economic recession. Now small and mid-sized companies in the construction and remodeling business are looking to use innovative new ideas to survive and also strengthen their position for the upcoming years.

Being a strong competitor among a struggling market, innovation is an upside of any economic, according to Ed Rogers Director of Business Development for CaesarStone in Van Nuys, one of the largest producers of quartz countertops and surfacing the world.

The company, which has been rooted in innovation since its, is responding to the economic downturn by preparing to launch two new lines of products early next year that anticipate changes in the industry as a result of the recession.

“Houses will be smaller, people will be staying in them longer, the days of the “McMansion” are over;” he said. “Products will be used longer, hotels are not going to be remodeling their rooms every few months, they’re going to be looking for durable materials that can withstand the test of time,” he added. “And ‘recycled’ is a huge deal, it’s something consumers can really connect with.”

The company will be introducing new colors of quartz countertops and surfacing material made out of recycled glass, mirrors and scraps of quartz, that still maintains the overall integrity of quartz countertops surfacing.

CaesarStone will also be launching a limited option of colors at a lower price point, to help builders and consumers looking to lower costs in the short term as well as the long term through durable products. Along with a continued focus on greening their products and sustainability, these strategic efforts will hopefully allow the company to continue having a strong foothold in the countertops market as it recovers.

CAESARSTONE NAMES 30 WINNERS IN THEIR DREAM DESIGN CONTEST

$45,000 in Cash Prizes Awarded

One 1^st, 2^nd and 3rd Prize Winners Named

Six 4^th Place and Twenty-One 5th Place Winners Named

Van Nuys, CA (October 8, 2009) – CeasarStone, the original quartz countertops & surfaces manufacturer, named 30 winners in their online Dream Design Contest which began April 1, 2009 and ended September 30, 2009.

CaesarStone president Arik Tendler announced the following winners:

1^st Place: $5,000

Stephanie Boldon, Environetics

2^nd Place: $4,000

Bruce Benning, Benning Design

3^rd Place: $3,000

Jorge A. Martinez, Designer Kitchens L.A.

4^th Place: $2,000

Karen Kassen, Kitchens Unlimited

Sandy Hayes, Hayes Designs LLC

Chris Donaghy, Kitchen Brokers

Mike Hui, M-Studio

Jerrid Greenbaum, Southland Kitchen Design Studio

Micky Yannay, Best of Italy Designer Kitchens

5^th Place: $1,000

Rochelle Silberman, McCutcheon Construction

Sol Quintana Wagoner, Jackson Design and Remodeling

Laurie Belinda Haefele, Haefele Design

Michael Borrelli, Borrelli Design + Cabinetry

Michel Embry & Jeff Mahon, Studio Snaidero Naples

Shimon Garibi, Elite Kitchens

Phyllis Paul, Phyllis Paul Interior Design ASID

Michael Stauffer, Excel Interior Concepts & Construction

David Ebers, Domus Ojai

Jason Landau and Susanne Mordoh, Amazing Spaces LLC

Susan Jay, Susan Jay Design

Daren Doss, Chadbourne + Doss Architects

Chet Basher, Sparta Trades Kitchens and Baths

Brittney Fischbeck, Abodwell

Cheryl Kees Clendenon, In Detail

Meghan Lewellyn, Kitchen and Bath Galleries of Wilmington

Lori Freeman, KDI Elements

Jo Ann Hartley, Hershon Hartley Design, Inc.

Lisa Wilson-Wirth, Arclinea San Diego

Judy A. McCaffrey, Etc. Kitchens and Baths

Carmina Dumitru, DMD Marble & Granite, Inc.

“We literally had hundreds of incredibly stunning entries in the Dream Design Contest,” said Tendler. “We sincerely thank all who entered the contest and shared their designs. I’m thrilled by the response and proud to see the many different applications of our beautiful product.”

CaesarStone created the Dream Design Contest to showcase the work of innovative designers using the versatile quartz countertops surface. For the competition, designers were asked to go to the CaesarStone website and enter their projects by uploading at least five photos and a brief description of their design in order to win cash prizes. The entries could be residential or commercial projects as long as CaesarStone was the sole material utilized.

The 30 winners were chosen for the quality and beauty of their designs by a panel of judges. A broad range of creative uses of CaesarStone were represented in the winning selections, from residential bathrooms, kitchens and bedrooms, to commercial applications and even furniture design.

All the winning designs are featured on the CaesarStone website, www.CaesarStoneUS.com/dreamdesign.

About CaesarStone

CaesarStone is the original quartz countertops manufacturer. The company is headquartered in Southern California with offices in Los Angeles, San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Miami, New York and Atlanta. CaesarStone produces premium quartz surfaces, complementing any design application, from traditional to contemporary, for both home and commercial applications. CaesarStone products are available through kitchen and bath retailers, fabricators, architects, designers, builders and distributors nationwide.

Featuring a residential lifetime warranty, CaesarStone countertops are nonporous, stain, scratch and heat resistant. CaesarStone has earned the respected Good Housekeeping Seal from The Good Housekeeping Research Institute and is compliant with international environment standards ISO 14001 (environmental management system) and ISO 9002 (quality management standard). CaesarStone also has GREENGUARD and NSF (public health and safety) certification and is a member of The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC).

For more information about CaesarStone and its products, please visit www.CaesarStoneUS.com, or call toll-free 877-9QUARTZ (877-978-2789).