Carol Johnson, Southern Indiana Business Report
OOLITIC – A new stone supply company founded by women in Lawrence County is bringing an array of natural stone products to customers in southern Indiana.
Southern Indiana Stone Supply officially launched in June, which also happens to be Limestone Month.
Owners Marci Bennett, Jamie Norman, Danielle Martin and Carrie Stremming saw a void in the retail aspect of stone products and after months of discussion, formed the company. The idea for a woman-owned retail supply company had been tossed around for a couple of years, said Bennett, before the group decided to pursue it in the fall of 2023.
All of the women have a connection to the limestone industry, either through their work or their husbands.
Bennett works in finance and human resources at TexaCon Cut Stone and Bedford Limestone Suppliers Group and her husband owns Diamond Stone Technologies, a Bedford company that makes blades, belts and machines used to cut stone. Norman’s husband owns TexaCon and Bedford Limestone Suppliers Group, Stremming’s husband owns Bedford Limestone Suppliers Group, where she works in the office, and Martin’s husband is a department head of drafting and project manager at TexaCon.
Bennett and Norman spent years traveling to limestone industry events, but Bennett said early on neither of them ever considered starting a stone business. However, as their knowledge and appreciation of stone grew, the notion of starting a retail stone supply business selling various stone types harvested through North America made sense.
“Each of our husbands work in the stone industry,” said Bennett. “The more we talked about getting involved in the stone industry, we said, ‘Why not start a retail natural stone supplier in the Limestone Capital of the World?’”
Southern Indiana Stone Supply not only can supply many types of natural stone such as sandstone, granite, Texas limestone and blue stone, but also work with customers on incorporating stone into the design of a project, whether it’s for a home, commercial building or outdoor living space.
The owners hired Kristen Morgan, a recent graduate of Marian University, as general manager/sales representative. Morgan has a degree in business and marketing and also is connected to the limestone industry. Her grandparents, Dave and Judy Elliott, were the founders and owners of Elliott Stone Company.
“She just started and it’s amazing already what she’s brought to the table,” Bennett said.
The scope of products offered include small jobs like stone address boulders, mailbox surrounds, stair treads, benches and patio pavers to larger products such as lintels, fireplace mantles and exterior stone columns.
The popularity of stone products in homes and landscaping reflects the pride Hoosiers have in their limestone heritage.
“I think we all want some limestone in our homes. Whether you want a natural stone backsplash or an address boulder in your yard. This area is so connected to limestone and we’re so proud of it and knowing the stone to build the Empire State Building came from here,” she said.
The owners plan to keep their current jobs. Southern Indiana Stone Supply will have an office in the main office of Tex-a-Con and BLS on Hoosier Avenue in Oolitic.
“I feel like it’s another layer to an onion,” Bennett said of the new venture. “We’re not competing with them. There’s no retail stone supplier in the area. This is another avenue where we can use our stone industry experience and relationships we’ve procured over the years.”
Both Tex-a-Con and Bedford Limestone Suppliers receive requests for small projects and can accommodate them, but that’s not what they specialize in.
“This is a way we can meet customer needs in a better fashion,” Bennett said.
The owners also plan to become certified as a Women Business Enterprise, which validates that a business is at least 51% owned and operated by a woman or women.
The business will primarily serve southern Indiana.
To find out more about Southern Indiana Stone Supply products, send email to [email protected], call (812) 553-5577 or via our website at www.southernindianastonesupply.com/.