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Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 10:17 am
by Tony McC
I have some clients from that America landing tomorrow (Saturday) and they want to see how we source, sell, distribute and install natural stone paving so they can nick all the best ideas and take them back to their stone business in snow-bound Minnesota.
I have a loose itinerary which includes some NW-based distributors and notable civic works in Liverpool, but has anyone got any suggestions for locations that should not be missed, as long as time permits?
They're only with me until Sunday evening before heading back to Hedgerow airport to fly back, so trips to, say, Newcastle are not going to happen.
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 12:55 pm
by mickg
I am installing a 70m2 patio using marshalls king size sawn paving which is local, is that any use to you
Give me a ring if it is
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 5:11 pm
by London Stone Paving
They were down at our place on Tuesday. Very decent people !
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 9:27 am
by Tony McC
They are, Steven. I've had a lot of fun talking with them on the Skypey thing, but today will be the first time we meet face-to-face.
Hoping to get out to MickG's job, time permitting, and then get a decent dinner in Liverpool tonight.
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 8:43 am
by ilovesettsonmondays
Would of recommended the blob shop to show them good old Liverpool drinking pub . John smiths and fosters 1. 69 a pint all day everyday. All the horse racing on everyday using the bookies above it sis system. Would of been an eye opener for them . Hope street would of been a good street to show them . Old yorks tone and new fine sawn York plus Chinese granite kerbs and plenty of bush hammered setts
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 6:24 pm
by Tony McC
We had our tea on Saturday night at Il Forno on Duke St. Lovely Italian food but very generous portions. The starter alone would have done me for the rest of the night. Busy, noisy, but friendly staff and very good value.
On Sunday, we had dinner (proper dinner, as in the middle of the day) at Alma De Cuba on Seel St which was just incredible. A converted church from 1788 where you sit on a mezzanine floor tucking into traditional sunday dinner or a good selection of alternative dishes while being entertained by a gospel-type singing group. It's *not* all churchy and religious, just unbelievably powerful singing of gospel/soul from two ladies and two blokes, one of who has an electric piano. It is the best venue for a Sunday dinner I've ever seen.
In between, we saw Mick G's superlative work on a job in Bolton, Chris Price's Landscape World yard in Widnes, my old job at St George's plateau/William Brown St in the centre of Liverpool, Pier Head, a good crawl around the city and then the tunnel over to Port Sunlight. Finished it off by taking them over to Flint Mountain in Welsh Wales so they get to see Liverpool at dusk but, more importantly, they get two countries into their short trip!
Now the follow-up work starts. I know they were*very* impressed with everything they saw, not just up here in the civilised part of the country, but also what they saw in Lower Britain, not least of which was Steve's yard, so hopefully my task of convincing them that Britain is a good place for paving will have been made that much easier thanks to all those who helped with the "entertainment"! 
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:34 pm
by lutonlagerlout
mickg conquers america!
news headline
LLL :;):
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:25 pm
by rab1
what with a crap car and van. lol :p
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:35 pm
by mickg
>>>mickg conquers america!
ha ha
they are very nice people and certainly up to speed with the stone related industry and products, It was a pleasure to meet them and always a pleasure to meet Tony Mc
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 9:36 pm
by mickg
rab1 wrote:what with a crap car and van. lol :p
ha ha nice one rab
Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 10:17 pm
by London Stone Paving
They spent a bit of time at our showroom in Stanwell first with my brother and sister. I'm based over at Langley at the depot and I got a call from my becs saying they were on there way over. I was quite busy that day so it was a bit of an interuption but once they got there they just blew me away with "soundness" and I happily spent quite a bit of time with them and it was a real pleasure. Great people !
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:54 am
by Tony McC
They are safely back in Minneapolis now and enormously grateful. Photies of Mick's work are up on the wall in their showroom and they are still buzzing off all the ideas and inspiration they got from the various stockists and suppliers they met while over here.
I'm really proud that The Brew Cabin turned up trumps for them.
Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 2:32 pm
by Bec@LondonStone
John and Nicole were really lovely, I really enjoyed chatting with them. I have exchanged a couple of emails with Nicole since they came and am very much hoping to stay in touch.
Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 9:48 am
by Tony McC
If anyone wants to see their website... Orijin Stone ... they specialise in Pennsylvania Bluestone.
John won quite a few awards for his landscaping and stonework before setting up his supply and distribution business.