By Chelsea Pyne  ~

Marble Granite World has been designing, manufacturing, and installing natural stone in private homes and commercial properties since 1999.  What began as a young man’s small business venture soon grew into Kernersville’s go-to manufacturer for dream kitchens, bathrooms, fireplace surrounds, and other natural stone amenities.  Currently being run by father and son—Joseph and Anise Hage—who, combined, have over 50 years of experience in the industry, Marble Granite World (MGW) is always striving to deliver the best marble, granite, quartz, and other natural stone to homes around the Triad.

It all started with a move.  Upon realizing the potential of urban development in North Carolina during the late 1990s, Joseph Hage, a professional stone sculptor, relocated his family from upstate New York to Kernersville, NC in pursuit of new possibilities.  “My father saw it as a great opportunity and picked Kernersville because it was such a prime location within the Triad,” Anise says.  Prior to moving to North Carolina, Joseph had his own stone business overseas and spent over 10 years working in various sectors of the stone industry here at home.  Since establishing itself in Kernersville, MGW has maintained that all of its stone products are locally fabricated and custom-cut, with zero outsourcing.

After receiving his Master’s degree from UNC Greensboro and working in accounting, Anise shifted tracks and started running Marble Granite World.  Joseph started focusing more on consulting once Anise came in and became a certified stone consultant in 2012.  Anise states, “It was a hard time for everyone in 2010, so I decided to focus on further building and sustaining my father’s business.  Having spent years working with my father as a teen and throughout my college years, I gained hands-on experience which made the transition into running the business smooth.”  In addition to focusing much of his energy on bringing new and updated technology to MGW, Anise incorporated innovative marketing and communications strategies into the business operations.  The website was enhanced and MGW became much more competitive and integrated into the Kernersville community.

Since moving to the Triad, MGW has fully incorporated the community into sustaining its business.  Already a part of the Chamber of Commerce, and actively sponsoring events and volunteering in the Greensboro and Winston-Salem Builders Associations, MGW is constantly pursuing ways to be a part of the locale.  “It is so important to be involved in the community.  Anise and I are both from a small town so we understand the value and quaintness of living and working in one,” states Sales Manager Nadine Khazzaka.

Quality is key, and with a small experienced staff MGW added Nadine’s unique marketing and design perspective to the team in 2014.  Emphasizing the importance of work ethic and quality customer care, Nadine adds, “Immediately, I put a lot of effort into getting Marble Granite World’s name out there.  We had been around for a long time, but not everyone in the area was familiar with us.  We have definitely had more growth in recent years, and we are striving to enhance our small business feel.  We value our customers more than anything.”

Having a committed and passionate staff can make all the difference in a business venture.  According to Anise, “Nadine was vital in networking our growth.  She got us more involved in the Triad–beyond just advertising and commercials.  Nadine has made real connections with people, and now they know her name and face.  Through this, we have really gotten to know Kernersville.”

To further the credibility of Marble Granite World as a whole, Nadine began her pursuit of an interior design degree to better educate herself to assist customers at all stages of the process.  She shares, “One reason I went into sales is because I love working with people; looking at what they are trying to do and helping them solve their problems.  That is what inspired me to go into the residential and commercial design field.  I want to know the ins and outs of the whole business.”

Marble Granite World bases its high standards on an exceptional personal customer experience.  “Customers are so happy with our service because it is such an interactive experience.  We will show them the granite slab yard so they actually see what will be used in their home,” Nadine says.  Going to major big-box distributors proves risky because customers only get to view a sample of what their countertops will look like.  She adds, “It puts people at ease.  The movements in the natural stones vary, so there are no surprises, each customer gets exactly what they want.”

With a diverse selection of edges and a wide variety of colors, personalizing your kitchen is easy and accessible just by scrolling through the website (www.MarbleGraniteWorld.com).  It offers the ability to test out different style combinations before entering the store.  Even if you do not know what you are looking for, MGW employees will help narrow down the search; a tailor-made room can be designed, installed, and enjoyed within two weeks of the first click.  MGW stocks over 50 granite colors, backsplashes, sinks, and faucets.  Although the website makes upgrading a home much less difficult, MGW encourages coming out to the yard to actually see the stones so that choosing the perfect fit for each customer is guaranteed.  Nadine advises that a clean, contemporary style is trending in the market, and with a broad supply, no one kitchen has to be alike.

Customer Kevin Boysel says, “We had a wonderful experience working with Marble Granite World.  They made the process easy, and answered any and all questions we had.  We got to go directly to one of their suppliers to pick out our own slab.  Overall, Marble Granite World was very well priced, had great customer service, and exceeded our expectations.”

Marble Granite World will soon be expanded to a new showroom with upgraded displays that offer more space and is better seen from the road.  For more information or to inquire about enriching your home with natural stone, stop by 317 E Bodenhamer St, Kernersville, NC 27284.  You can also go online to www.MarbleGraniteWorld.com or call 336-992-5214.