Quality and Sustainability: What do they really mean?

The word “quality” comes up as often as “sustainable” on most business websites.  The funny thing is, it’s usually just talk, not walk.  We, as a society, are becoming so numb to these descriptors that they’ve lost their impact.  Both words have a broad interpretation, and that coupled with their status as marketing buzzwords have enabled many to claim them without actually embodying them.

I don’t believe in this practice whatsoever.  If you claim something, you certainly better be able to back it up.  For example, if Stamping Ground Studios, our local concrete countertop company, claimed to be a General Contractor we would most certainly have more customers calling us. But, if we showed up at your house and didn’t have the slightest clue what we were talking about regarding your entire remodel, you wouldn’t put much faith in us and probably wouldn’t hire us even to do what we do know how to do.

For me, quality is demonstrated when a friend says he will help me with a home project, then follows through on it. Quality or lack thereof shows in how you treat other people, no matter what their relation is to you.  Quality is realizing that there is a better way to do something and striving to get there, even if you can’t at that exact moment.  Quality is spending the few extra cents it costs to use supplies made in America and made sustainably. Quality is paying attention to every step along the way, so the customer doesn’t have to guess whether or not they are getting the best value for their money. Quality is handcrafted, locally supported, and created in the most sustainable way possible.

Sustainability is having the foresight to examine and minimize your impact on natural resources into the future, not just now. It’s that simple, but requires diligence, focus and deliberate choices.

I can tell you what I think quality and sustainability are so that you know where I am coming from, but why would you just take me at my word? After all, I am using the same words that everyone else uses and we aren’t all coming from the same place or embracing the same values or motivations. How do I walk the walk?  If you saw me walking around with a bucket of concrete mix, the walk wouldn’t look very pretty, but at least it would be authentic.  Instead of subjecting you to the dirty and awkward reality of the functional and beautiful concrete medium, I’ve opted for something else:

Over the next few weeks, I will focus on specific aspects of crafting an Angle 33 Wine Thermal and try to explain why we do it the way we do. Then you can decide if we walk the walk.  I hope you’ll join me.

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