Stone Consultant Membership

Stone Consultants play an integral role in the stone industry. When it comes to needing expertise on a variety of subjects, Natural Stone Institute members turn to fellow stone consultant members. Natural Stone Institute consultant members advise on:

• Appraisals
• Architectural Design
• Expert Testimony
• Forensic Analysis
• Market Research / Business Planning
• Production Flow / Lean Manufacturing
• Safety
• Shop Drawings
• Specification Writing
• Stone Selection
• Stone Testing
• Training
• Value Engineering
• Website Optimization
• And much more.

Natural Stone Institute membership and consequently the benefits provided to fabricators are plentiful. The Natural Stone Institute sets the stone industry standards for fabrication/installation and provides many services to assist you! Whether it is offering support with a technical question, providing you with sales & showroom videos or brochures, or offering training resources to help run a safe fabrication shop, the Natural Stone Institute can make a difference in your success. Don't forget that the Natural Stone Institute represents the entire natural stone supply chain (from the quarries to maintenance) — which means it is highly likely that many of your suppliers are Natural Stone Institute members too.

Access to industry peers, networking, technical support, education, promotion, discounts, referrals, money savings business services, and supporting the industry are among the top benefits enjoyed by fabricator members.

If you have any questions about Natural Stone Institute member benefits, feel free to contact our member services team at membership@naturalstoneinstitute.org or 440-250-9222.

Natural Stone Institute membership is powerful. It affords the industry the power to collectively address issues that no one company can tackle on their own. Members subscribe to a code of ethics, proudly display the member logo as the symbol of trust and authority in the natural stone industry, and look to Natural Stone Institute membership as a way to give back to the industry. The natural stone industry needs a strong association to help it to fully succeed and grow. Member firms build a better industry through the Natural Stone Institute.

The Dimension Stone Design Manual is the U.S. stone industry's single-source reference for dimensional stone design and construction specs and details. The Natural Stone Institute's technical department responds to thousands of inquiries annually from fabricators and others. Access to the Institute's technical staff, standards, and technical bulletins is annually ranked the #1 member benefit.

Many stone consultants lend their technical expertise on Natural Stone Institute technical committees and assist with writing Natural Stone Institute Technical Bulletins. These bulletins provide an ongoing educational resource to Natural Stone Institute members and the design community at large. Upcoming topics cover such subjects as joint sealant design use, air barriers, insulation, crack isolation products, portland cement, flashing designs, and more.

To compliment open access to other Natural Stone Institute members, Natural Stone Institute provides fabricators with a number of networking opportunities to connect with other fabricators, suppliers, and industry leaders. The Natural Stone Institute holds many face-to-face events at several industry trade shows and regional educational seminars around the country.

The online membership directory, social media sites, and other electronic communication tools also can connect consumers with fabricator members.

As part of the Natural Stone Institute "community," members stay informed, explore new markets, and showcase their business to fellow Natural Stone Institute members worldwide. Stone Consultants utilize the Institute's newsletter, technical publications, and industry reports to stay informed. Learn more.

Stone consultants get their essential continuing education about natural stone from Natural Stone Institute regional seminars, workshops, and sessions offered at major trade shows.

They also take advantage of several dozen items available from the Natural Stone Institute bookstore. Products include technical standards, stone source references, health & safety materials, sales & marketing (includes consumer brochures and showroom posters) resources, reference materials, training & education, design, and business management publications & videos. Natural Stone Institute Members generally save up to 50% off the non-member price.

Stone Consultants have the opportunity to receive worldwide exposure when named a winner of any of the different awards that are available to members. The Natural Stone Institute's coveted Awards programs honor and recognize natural stone companies, natural stone professionals, and architects from around the globe. The Natural Stone Institute Natural Stone Scholarship program also recognizes a young professional in the industry with an all-expense paid trip to StonExpo. Learn more.

Shipping
Save money on shipping costs by using the services of FedEx®, Yellow Transportation, and UPS Freight. Even if you ship only occasionally, the Natural Stone Institute Discount Shipping Program is free to Natural Stone Institute members. When signing up you may also want to inquire about the standard, select, and special trade show shipping program. Learn more.

Other Business Programs
The Natural Stone Institute also offers discounts on collections, credit card processing fees, employment practice liability insurance, office supplies and print services, utility audit, and website optimization. Learn more.