Originally sent June 17, 2026. This is Eric’s note, edited only to remove recipient-specific greetings, contact information, tracking links, and the email footer, and to format emphasis and service references for web reading. Operational details reflect what Fox communicated at that time.
I wanted to send a June update on where things stand at Fox Marble and what we’re focused on as we continue building the company.
My biggest surprise since joining Fox as CEO in February after the acquisition by Fireclay Tile has been simple: the people.
I knew Fox had a strong reputation. I knew the work was beautiful, and that the quality and consistency were best-in-class. But I have been genuinely blown away by the depth of expertise, care, sophistication, and pride inside this team.
Across Fox, we have more than 1,100 years of combined team tenure. Even more importantly, 100% of the team we wanted to retain remains in place.
That matters.
From our newest hires to teammates who have been here 30+ years, this is a group that cares deeply about the work. They know stone, tile, fabrication, installation, restoration, jobsite conditions, client expectations, and the small details that determine whether a project goes smoothly or becomes painful.
That is the foundation we are building on.
Stone, tile, and surface work is highly visible. It is expensive to redo. It affects schedule, client confidence, and the final impression of a project. For GCs, builders, architects, and designers, our job is to make that part of the project easier—better planned, better communicated, safer, cleaner, and done right the first time.
That is the reason to work with Fox.
We are not a brokered network of unknown crews. Our field teams are W2 employees. They are background checked, safety screened, and trained. For high-profile residential and commercial work, that should matter. You should know who is walking onto your jobsite, how they have been trained, and whether the company behind them is taking safety seriously.
Safety continues to be one of our biggest areas of focus, especially around silica exposure. With increasing regulatory attention on engineered stone, crystalline silica, and worker safety in California, we believe this is an area where the industry needs to raise the bar. In the shop, we have been pushing wet sanding, wet cutting, dust reduction, air sampling, and stronger silica protocols. Recent air sampling after our transition to wet sanding came in below required exposure thresholds—a real win for the fabrication team and an important part of how we want to lead in this industry.
One of the first things we invested in was our Fox Training Academy, a dedicated training center at our Richmond HQ. Craft only scales when people are taught, coached, and supported. The Tile Installation team has already used lighter weeks to sharpen installation skills, improve methods, and build consistency across crews. Our Stone Care team recently hosted a training to discuss site preparation standards. The Fox Training Academy is one of the clearest examples of what we are trying to build: not just more capacity, but better prepared teams so that your projects are delivered correctly and on time.
For Custom Stone Fabrication, we are focused on better handoffs, stronger project readiness, improved shop-to-field coordination, and tighter production systems. The goal is to make sure that when expensive, complex material moves through our shop and into the field, the plan is clear and the work is executed with confidence.
For Tile Installation, we are continuing to build a more disciplined, professional installation partner for detailed, design-forward work. That means training, layout planning, clean mobilization, communication, and consistency in the field.
For Stone and Concrete Care and Restoration, the team is seeing strong momentum. May was Stone Care’s best month of 2026, and we have added technicians to support growing demand. This part of the business is increasingly important because many clients do not need to replace beautiful stone or concrete—they need the right team to restore it, protect it, and keep it performing over time.
Behind the scenes, we are also making Fox easier to work with. We have completed our Google Workspace migration, added production tools to reduce manual steps and errors, and continue to improve scheduling, documentation, and internal communication. None of that is flashy, but it matters. Better systems create better handoffs. Better handoffs create fewer surprises. Fewer surprises make your job easier.
I also want to be candid about where we can work better together: understanding real project schedules earlier and more consistently.
This is one of the hardest parts of being a subcontractor. We are expected to arrive on the exact day we are needed. But when a project shifts, we cannot instantly create another perfect place for that crew, technician, or fabrication slot to go unless we have a detailed understanding of the broader project pipeline.
That is why I am pushing our team to be in deeper contact with you and your teams around project timing. The more visibility we have into your real schedules—even when they are moving—the better we can plan labor, protect capacity, and meet your needs.
Your responsiveness here makes a real difference.
If a project is moving, tell us. If a date is soft, tell us. If you see something coming in 30, 60, or 90 days, bring us in earlier. We can be a much better partner when we are planning alongside you instead of reacting at the last minute.
We are not perfect yet. We still have work to do around responsiveness, schedule predictability when volume spikes, and making every handoff as clean as it should be. We heard that clearly in the first few months, and we are addressing it every week through better roles, better systems, more training, and more disciplined project management.
But the direction is clear.
Fox Marble is becoming a stronger, safer, more dependable partner across Custom Stone Fabrication, Tile Installation, and Stone and Concrete Care & Restoration. The craftsmanship that made Fox special is still here. The team is still here. Now we are building the systems around them to support your projects with more consistency and confidence.
Our goal is simple:
When the work is complex, visible, and needs to be done right the first time, Fox should be the partner you call.
If you have upcoming work, send us your plans, timelines, or schedule updates early. The earlier we are involved, the more we can help with planning, sequencing, material considerations, labor planning, and avoiding surprises in the field.
And if you have feedback—good, bad, or direct—I want to hear it. The partners who are honest with us are helping shape the company we are building.
Appreciate the partnership and trust.
Fox Strong All Day Long,
Eric