Abbey Stoneworks, Inc. isn’t the biggest company in the Lansing area, nor has it been operating in the community the longest, but the stone fabrication facility has developed a reputation for quality and service, and found a niche in the community.

“Because we’re a small company, everyone here takes great pride in their production,” says Nancy Cusack, owner of Abbey Stoneworks, Inc. “Our quality workmanship has always been our number one calling card.”

The store opened in 1998 to fill the need for a full-service stone fabrication shop in the Lansing area. “Prior to that, contractors had to travel one to two hours or more to reach any fabricators,” Cusack adds. Born and raised in Hubbardston, 45 miles northwest of Lansing, she finds Lansing an ideal location. Cusack admits the loss of business due to the sour economy but is hopeful for the future. “As long as there is building, remodeling or restoration, there is a place for us.  If people care about quality, they’ll be happy with the product we supply.”

Nancy provided more details on the company and what makes it so unique.

Q:  What services does your company provide?

A:  We are stone fabricators, which means we cut natural stone—like limestone, granite, sandstone and marble—to the specifications of a particular job. For most, that’s countertops. We also offer DuPont™ Zodiaq® for those who prefer a man-made solid surface product.

Q:  What is the process for making such a purchase?

A: We work with a customer to get a plan, then we make a template (usually out of wood) to make sure the measurements are exact—then we cut the stone.

Q:  Are there certain stone products that are designed for use inside or outside of a structure?

A: Limestone is a durable stone and is good for outside. We recently finished a home on Lake Huron that had limestone window surrounds. Granite is the most popular for inside the home.

Q:  What is the cost of these       products?

A: Limestone, which is quarried in Indiana then shipped to us in slabs, is pretty pricey. Granite and marble are high-end too, but not as much.

Q:  For someone looking for a kitchen update, is there a certain type or color of granite that would be less expensive?

A: Price isn’t determined by the quality of the granite or even the color, but rather where it comes from in the world—that’s what drives up the cost of granite before it even gets here. If we pay more to get it, then we have to charge more to sell it.

Q:  Are there ways to update a kitchen without spending too much money?

A: Sure. We often have homeowners come in with a budget and we offer suggestions for making their dollar stretch, perhaps using a less expensive material or just doing an island in granite instead of the whole kitchen. Sometimes a granite top for a dining table will bring new life into a living space. A granite or marble vanity will also brighten any home.

Q:  Why should someone choose your company over another?

A: We have new and updated equipment that has increased our efficiency significantly. Our Titan CNC (computer numerically controlled) machine now allows us to run a number of the same item with the touch of a computer screen. It can do the intricate shaping of items that would have taken us days to do before, or that we are unable to do at all by hand. Since we are a small company, it allows for personalized attention to the customer and quality of production.

Q:  Where is your primary client base?

A: We deal with clients—including homeowners, builders and contractors—in Michigan. We’ve done work recently in Manistee and Charlevoix and we just landed a big deal at a college in west Michigan. We also just finished a job at Michigan State University.

Q:  How has the economy affected your business?

A: Even with winning a couple of big jobs, it looks like we’ll finish the year down about 25 percent in sales this year as compared to last. Without those jobs, it would have been much worse. The granite market is so up and down these days, we’ve had to lay off workers.

Q:  Any other challenges you’ve faced?

A: Getting the word out about what we do. We’ve advertised but still hear back from people that they didn’t even know we are here.

Q:  Has the location of Lansing been a good thing?

A:  It’s been great; it’s exactly what we wanted. We’re centrally located in the state. The roads could use some fixing, but other than that, everything’s been great.

Q:  Any plans in the future for   expansion?

A:  We just did a big expansion in 2001-02, right before the economic downturn started, so we have plenty of room already. In fact, we probably have twice as much room and equipment as we need these days.