Originally sent April 16, 2026. This is Eric’s note, edited only to remove recipient-specific greetings, contact information, tracking links, and the email footer, and to format its headings and lists for web reading. Operational details reflect what Fox communicated at that time.
I wanted to share a quick update now that we’re about nine weeks into bringing Fox Marble and Fireclay together.
For those who may have missed the initial announcement—Fireclay Tile has acquired Fox Marble. Fox Marble is continuing to operate under its own name and identity. The team, relationships, and brand you know remain in place.
We’ve attached the press release for additional context.
Our job is simple: make your projects run smoother, more predictable, and easier to manage. To get there, we’re seeing what’s working, what’s not, and we’re bringing the best of Fireclay to support that—including people, accounting, manufacturing discipline, safety standards, and operational rigor.
The goal is simple: keep what makes Fox great, and strengthen it with better systems and support.
What we’re seeing so far
The foundation here is strong. The Fox team is best-in-class—craftsmanship, care for the work, and pride in execution really stand out. We’ve retained the team, and we’re leaning into better support around them—systems, safety, and communication.
We’re also seeing early wins:
- Strong feedback from partners on installation quality and execution
- Improved visibility into pipeline, backlog, and scheduling
- Better organization and throughput in the shop
- Continued momentum across stone fabrication, tile installation, and stone care & concrete restoration
At the same time, we’re not yet where we want to be operationally.
Where we’re focused on improving
A few areas we’re actively working on right now:
- Responsiveness & communication. We’ve heard clearly that we can be slow to respond when things get busy. That’s real, and we’re addressing it through better systems, clearer roles, and tighter internal coordination.
- Install timing & predictability. On-time completion and lead times need to improve. We’re working on scheduling discipline, capacity planning, and field execution.
- Process clarity. Estimating, handoffs, and job flow between shop and field are being tightened to reduce friction and rework.
We’re not trying to hide this—this is the work of integration, and we’re pushing on it every week. But it will take time.
Technology we’re rolling out
We’re also investing heavily in the systems that sit behind the work—because better tools drive better coordination and faster response times.
- Tile Installation → Buildertrend. We’ve moved all tile installation onto Buildertrend. Many of you already use it. This will give you clearer, real-time visibility into schedules, progress, and communication on your projects.
- Stone Care & Concrete Restoration → Jobber. This division is now running on Jobber, improving scheduling, coordination, and payments—making it easier to plan and manage ongoing work.
- Custom Stone (in progress). This is a more complex workflow, and there’s no single off-the-shelf solution. We’re actively evaluating options to improve estimating, production flow, and coordination between shop and field.
The reality is these are different businesses with different needs—there isn’t a one-size-fits-all system. We’re leaning into a mix of best-in-class tools and AI where it makes sense, while keeping craftsmanship at the center of how we operate.
What we’re building
Stepping back, our goal is simple but ambitious:
To become the most dependable, disciplined, and capable hard surface partner in the Bay Area—across stone fabrication, tile installation, and long-term care.
We want to be the partner you measure others against—and to help move the industry forward. That means:
- Better care for our people and safer jobsites
- Real investment in training the next generation of installers and technicians
- Smarter use of technology to improve speed, visibility, and coordination
- Doing it right the first time—reducing rework and surprises
- Clear, proactive communication and full transparency
We’re also committed to learning from others and sharing what works. Where we can, we’ll open up our playbook so peers—and even competitors—can raise the bar with us.
A few things we’re investing in to get there:
- A new Fox Training Academy (launching shortly in Richmond) to train the next generation of installers and technicians
- Modern field and shop technology to improve coordination and speed
- Continued investment in safety, both in the shop (including silica protocols) and in the field. If you don’t know what your other stone partners are doing for silica safety, you should.
- Expanding capacity across fabrication, installation, and care
The long-term vision is a true one-stop partner that reduces friction on your jobs—fewer handoffs, better coordination, and more predictable execution.
What this means for you
In the near term, this should translate into real, tangible improvements on your jobs:
- Faster responses when you need answers or decisions
- Clearer visibility into schedules, job status, and progress
- Fewer breakdowns between shop fabrication and field execution
- A more coordinated partner that can take ownership across tile, stone, and care
The team you work with remains in place—now with better systems and support behind them.
And candidly—we’re not perfect yet, but we’re improving quickly and with a lot of focus.
We want your input
We’ve already had the chance to spend time with many of you, and that feedback has been incredibly valuable.
If there are areas where we’re falling short—responsiveness, pricing, execution, anything—I want to hear it directly. The partners we’re working closely with are already shaping how we operate, and we want to build this alongside you.
We’d also love to host you at the Richmond facility. We’ve been doing regular tours, and it’s the best way to see what we’re building.
One ask
We’re actively hiring—project managers, estimators, installers, and technicians. Importantly, we’ve retained the core Fox team and are proud of the craftsmanship and experience already in place. Hiring is about building for the future—adding capacity, strengthening the team, and continuing to raise the bar on what we can deliver for you.
If you know great people, we’d love the referral.
You can also view open roles here: https://www.fox-marble.com/careers/
Appreciate the partnership and the trust. We’re building this for the long term and are committed to being a better partner to you every month.
Fox Strong All Day Long!
Eric