Today we’d like to introduce you to Roseli De Paula Marques.
So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I came to USA in 1986 from Brazil and as almost all immigrants I started doing janitorial jobs until I got a job working for a pharmaceutical company as a clinical pharmacy technician, I worked there for 20 years and I became a manager of my department, meanwhile I got my Master of Business Administration.
In 2000 I started a business importing granite from Brazil and India and selling as a whole sale to stone fabricators, I did this as a part time, because I was still working as a researcher, after 2 years of importing I got an opportunity to buy a fabrication shop, same year I was getting my masters graduation, so I decided to quit my job and I brought the shop! At the beginning I had only 4 people working with me, and just me and one more doing sales, the other 3 were doing fabrication and installation, and jobs were not easy to find, but I just went to work, I started with a webpage, advertising, talking to people, phone calls, everything that I could think to get the world out, and I started to get contracts, jobs and only 3 years after in business, I have now 11 guys working with me, and we grew from a $400,000 sales to $1.300.000 and we are busy! Hope this year will be the best year so far and the future looks bright! 30 years ago when I left Brazil I never thought that one day I would have a Master degree and own a shop in USA, but more importantly is to have families that makes a leaving from the work we produce, I feel proud with gratitude to this country that opened a door to a girl that otherwise would not have the same opportunity anywhere else.
Has it been a smooth road?
Nothing has been smooth, getting clients was not easy, making sure that the shop works, I thought, since I just brought the shop that at least I would not have issues with equipment’s, at least for some months, but I had problems since day number one, broken forklift truck, chains saw machines, polisher machine that never worked, compressors, finally nothing worked, I struggled a lot to get everything running and the money was and is always short, but every time I had a problem I just thought, I need to do better, I need to continue and I know if I work hard enough I can make this work, and I just kept going and I will until it takes to make this company a success.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with De Paula Marques Superb Stone – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
We do fabricate and install granite, quartz, including caesarstone, silestone, cambria, counter tops, for kitchens, bathroom, fireplace, outside grills, facades etc, we are know because of our quality and the detailed job we do, we can make mitered edges for islands, fireplaces or anything else that need to be mitered that looks seamless and we have had many compliments about this kind of jobs we do, and we are very proud of this because few fabricators can do what we do around Chicago area.
Let’s touch on your thoughts about our city – what do you like the most and least?
The best thing I like about Chicago is that Chicago is a cosmopolitan city; here we can find people from all over the world, I like this mixture because you can get richer knowing other people’s culture, not to mention that to me Chicago is the most beautiful city in USA, the skyline is very impressive, you never get bored to look at it, not to mention the arts scene, is easy to reach and plain beautiful, the museums, the Art Institute, always something to do in Chicago. The least thing I like about Chicago is the level of criminality, even though nothing ever happened to me, I feel sad when I listen to the news about shootings and brutality in Chicago.
Pricing:
- Our start price for granite counter tops is $29 sf
Contact Info:
- Address: 2400 Delta Lane, Elk Grove Village, IL 60007
- Website: www.superbstone.com
- Phone: 630-475-8644
- Email: roseli@superbstone.com
- Other: homeadviser
Image Credit:
De Paula Marques Superb Stone
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