Business t entrepreneurships
Still Cleaning Up from page A27
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Stone Soap Co. - the original building in Eastern Market in Detroit, 1932.
"We've been operating on the cutting
edge of chemistry, combined with old-
fashioned customer service said Kenneth
Stone. He entered the business after
studying accounting at Eastern Michigan
University and is complemented by Steven
Stone, who obtained a chemistry degree
from the University of Michigan and
has been a chemistry teacher. They both
learned the ropes in the manufacturing
part of the business and by driving trucks.
Their older brother, Jeffrey, also joined the
company at that time, but he later moved
to California and started a janitorial sup-
ply business.
With Ralph's retirement in the mid-
1990s, Kenneth and Steven realized "we
had to refine our business plan, begin
partnering with distributors and custom-
ers and direct our main efforts to the
booming carwash market while still main-
taining our other accounts," said Kenneth.
"We already had top-quality products, but
we wanted to give our customers added
value and be recognized as the industry
leader:"
Facilities To Training
Stone Soap has made substantial capital
investments, relocating nine years ago
to a 150,000-square-foot former beer
distributorship purchased for $2 mil-
lion, plus investing another $2 million in
renovations, including raw material stor-
age, blending, packaging and distribution
equipment. The facility, with 40 employ-
ees, is situated in parts of three communi-
ties, Pontiac, Bloomfield Township and
Sylvan Lake, "and we go all out to avoid
potentially hazardous chemicals and meet
the stringent environmental regulations of
all three," Kenneth pointed out.
Another 30,000-square-foot building
houses an automatic conveyor and rollover
wash for testing and research, a conference
center and a major innovation in the car-
wash industry: the world's first carwash
training academy.
"We're really proud of this training
center;' said Steven. "We bring in distribu-
tors and carwash owners and managers
for extensive training on how to maintain
their wash facilities and produce a consis-
pulse220 is ecstatic to applaud and celebrate
our community's successful entrepreneurs.
Thank you, Ken and Steve Stone, for MAKING
GREAT THINGS HAPPEN in the Detroit area.
As an experiential agency born and raised in the Detroit area, we get what it takes. After all,
our collection of the coolest, most creative people on the planet are helping some of the world's
leading companies by creating experiences that increase sales, elevate brands, and improve
and reward performance every day. If you don't believe us, you should ask our moms:'
*or ask Gatorade. Microsoft. Comerica. Quicken Loans, Ford, Daimler AG, Chrysler LLC. Tropicana, Quaker Oats,
ESPN. Pepsi. Masco, American Greetings, Lear the DIA, St. John Hospital, Credit Acceptance. National City, etc...
ulse 220
1326010
an experiential agency
248.200.3900
A28
January 10 • 2008
JN
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