tently clean, dry, shiny car."
Dan Kramer of Huntington Woods is
technical director.
Stone Soap's carwash supply business
shot up to about 85 percent in the mid-
1990s, with 50 percent yearly revenue
increases, thanks largely to business
arrangements with GM and Shell Oil. But
that has fallen back to 60 percent currently
because of high oil prices, hikes in raw
material prices and the overall sagging
Michigan economy.
"Many people just can't afford to get
their vehicles washed as often as they used
to, and many just aren't driving as much
as they did before Steven observed. "How
many times can the oil companies keep
raising gas prices without a big impact on
drivers?"
Kenneth said, "We continue to experi-
ence a steady annual growth, selling to
many large wash chains in Michigan and
nearby states through distributors, plus
some Ford plants, and personal care soaps
for hotels, restaurants and health clubs."
A carwash industry publication places
r
Stone Soap's yearly sales "in the millions."
The company's soap manufacturing
systems are thoroughly computerized
and done by "computerized batching," the
brothers explain. "We're known as com-
pound blenders:' they add. "Everything is
mixed to exact specifications."
Most of the formulas were developed
by their father and many added later by
Steven. The company buys $3 million
to $5 million worth of materials a year
from about 100 vendors, who deliver the
ingredients in trucks and pipe it right into
Stone Soap's system.
Israel Connection
For the past 25 years, the brothers have
been helping Israel's economy by buying
about $4 million a year in soap chemicals
and raw materials from two Israeli compa-
nies. One is Haifa Chemical, with plants in
the Haifa Bay area and the Negev Desert,
employing a total of 200 people. The other
is Zohar Dalia, with 100 employees in a
plant located on Kibbutz Dalia, about 20
miles from Haifa. The firm invented the
S03 gaseous sulfonation process to pro-
duce DDBSA, a sulfonic acid. Both have
sales agents around the world.
Barry Reichenberg of American Metals
& Chemical Corp. in Hollywood, Fla., is the
sales agent for Stone Soap's business with
the Israeli companies, handling about 100
such firms worldwide.
"I've been doing business with the
Stones for 25 years, and they're very smart
and ethical businessmen; wonderful to
work with:' he said. "Their business means
a lot to Israel's economy. Even one $20,000
truckload of chemicals provides a number
of jobs for a day. I know they would do
anything to help Israel's economy. Stone
Soap may not be as well known nationally
as some brands, but they certainly have
competitive products and compete well in
this business."
Kenneth Stone said, "We're proud to be
spending money in Israel and aiding the
country's economy. Haifa Chemical and
Zohar Dalia produce high-quality chemi-
cals, which help make them leaders in the
cleaning product industry."
China Ties
The brothers recently returned from
China, where they signed joint ventures to
make and sell carwash detergents to two
companies for the Asian market: One is a
50-50 deal with a company now known
as E.M. Stone, Ltd., which is part of E.M.
Group, and the other is an arrangement
with Zhongda International Holdings, a
leading Chinese auto equipment manufac-
turer, that gives Stone Soap a 20 peicent
stake among several investors.
"We were looking for ways to expand
and re-invent ourselves, and this cer-
tainly is a big step forward:' Steven Stone
explained.
"A distributor in Hong Kong put us in
touch with these two organizations, and
we worked out amicable deals. The auto
market is growing rapidly in China and
the rest of Asia as the American manufac-
turers build more plants there. We're glad
to have the cooperation of the E.M Group
and Zhongda in producing our high-qual-
ity, environmentally friendly detergents
over there." ❑
Nissen Hardware company
FINE DOOR & CABINH HARDWARI
PLUMBING & BATH ACCESSORIES
Since 1919
Jay and Becky Levine were never happy with the deck on the home they built four years
ago. It was too small. It was high maintenance. It wasn't what they wanted so, they called
Gittleman Construction, Inc.
"I love their work," said Becky. "They brought out their team and were really helpful."
Gittleman addressed the Levine's request for more outdoor deck time by including a hot
tub for year round use in the redesign. They made the tub flush with the deck to ease
access and create an uninterrupted horizon. Below, the deck is enclosed to hide the tub and
provide storage the couple didn't even know they wanted — until they got it.
Now constructed entirely of maintenance-free
Trex and accented by wrought iron spindles and
handrails, the new deck is everything the old one
wasn't — big, carefree and good looking.
"The old deck was way too small, the new one is
so much bigger," said Becky. "I love how it looks."
So, when you think you're stuck with something
you don't like, call Gittleman and discover how
a fresh eye can lead to a great new plan for
your lifestyle.
Just ask the Levine's.
BALDWIN .
ARCHETYPES
www russellhardware com
36280 Woodward Ave., Bloomfield Hills, MI
(248) 644-0100 • Fax: (248) 644-6056
2605 Charlevoix Ave. (US 31), Petoskey, MI
(23 I) 348-8 100 • Fax: (231) 348-81 18
G ITTLEMAN
CONSTRUCTION inc
CUSTOM
28580 ORCHARD LAE
K R D., SUITE 102
FARMINGTON HILLS, MI 48334
248.538.5400
www.gittieman.net
RENOVATIONS
January 10 • 2008
A29