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Beautifully
crafted mantels by Omega Mantels of Stone transform fireplaces into
eye-catching focal points.
Written By Sharon Sanders
Photography By Boje Pedersen
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Leo Montagnese (left) and Henry Medeiros, co-owners of Omega Mantels of Stone |
Any hearth dealer will tell you that even the finest fireplace isn’t complete without the perfect mantel. Omega Mantels of Stone, based near Toronto, Ontario, couldn’t agree more. It’s been outfitting some of the most beautiful homes in the United States with stunning stone mantels since 2006. Patio & Hearth Products Report sat down with Leo Montagnese, co-owner of Omega Mantels of Stone, to find out what this vibrant company is up to and how it’s working to help its dealers sell in 2010.
P&HPR: Please share a little bit about the history of Omega Mantels of Stone.
A: Omega Mantels & Moulding (founded in 1980) started its stone-mantel division, Omega Mantels of Stone, in 1994. It wasn’t long before stone mantels became one of the company’s biggest growth product lines. In 2006, we entered the United States through specialty hearth dealers, and they quickly became our focus because their showrooms were the perfect settings to showcase what Omega had to offer.
P&HPR: How has Omega made a name for itself?
A: What sets Omega apart from other mantel companies is the fact that we can do anything a customer wants. We can customize any mantel to fit in any situation, no matter how unusual the location may be. I often say that dealing with us is like dealing with a custom wood shop, because anything that can be drawn on paper, we can do. We have become the leading source for custom, thin cast-stone fireplace mantels, surrounds, and overmantels in North America.
P&HPR: How have you seen the market for mantels change recently?
A: Up until about five years ago, a mantel was too often the last thing in the living room on which homeowners spent time or money. It’s now become a focal point in the home. Mantels are frequently popping up in front foyers, kitchens, bedrooms, and bathrooms. Locally, here in Toronto, they are been used more and more as selling features by builders.
P&HPR: What do you think today’s consumers are looking for in mantels? How does Omega meet those needs?
A: Consumers are looking for mantels that add upscale sophistication to their homes and reflect their personal style. They want high-end, unique materials that give their hearths a custom, one-of-a-kind look. Omega is really big on feedback from its dealers and customers. We’re always asking them what they want to see and creating designs based on their thoughts.
Our new contemporary line was developed directly from ideas our dealers jotted down on paper. We were getting requests for the straight-block look and other contemporary designs, so we created a contemporary line (with four mantels) that appears in our new catalog, which came out in January 2010.
P&HPR: Speaking of new products, what’s up for 2010?
A: It’s a big year for us. We have added 13 new mantels and six new customizable overmantels to our current offerings. We’ve introduced a gorgeous new stone (called diamond stone) that has fine flecks in it that shine like diamonds. It comes in two finishes: chocolate and sahara. Our stones will be available in some new finishes, including olive, gray honed, and gray cast. We’ve also expanded our selection of edges for our hearth and inset panels to include not only half-round and square edges, but ogee and beveled edges as well.
P&HPR: Omega is known for its timeless designs. What is good mantel design, in your opinion?
A: Good mantel design is being able to design for everybody and making everybody happy. We design our products so all of the legs and mantelpieces can be easily mixed and matched. The stone we use, much of which no other company uses, adds to the beauty of our mantel designs.
P&HPR: How are you making selling easier for your dealers in 2010?
A: Our goal is to make it easier for our dealers to sell, any way we can. One way we are doing this is by making our 2010 catalog (volume 2) friendlier than ever before. Based on feedback from our dealers, beginning this year, we will not only include images of our mantels, but the dimensions of every mantel in our catalog as well. In the past, we have only included specifications for selected mantels.
Thanks to feedback from our dealers, we will also be sending out our first suggested retail price list. Previously, we only included the wholesale price, but because many dealers called asking for pricing suggestions, we are now giving them our suggestions. In terms of our products, we have had a large number of requests for wall slabs over the past year. While we offered the slabs before in a limited selection, they are now available in any size and finish that we offer for our mantels. We’ve also added more personnel to provide better service to our dealers.
P&HPR: What do you see as your biggest opportunity for 2010 and beyond?
A: Our biggest opportunity is diversification. Not only are we selling products to enhance fireplaces, but we are stepping into kitchens with our dramatic stone range hoods. In the past year, the interest in our hoods has doubled, and I see that interest continuing to grow. It is a great opportunity for our dealers who are hoping to broaden their horizons with different—yet complementary—products. We have a lot of dealers showing range hoods on their showroom floors, and they’re generating a lot of interest.
P&HPR: In what direction do you see the mantel industry heading?
A: Five years ago, if you picked up any home magazine, it was rare to see a stone mantel; not any more. Stone mantels are everywhere, and not only in luxury homes. They’re even becoming a standard with quantity homebuilders. I think Omega is just starting to tap into that U.S. market, and people are just starting to become aware of what is available. It’s really early in the curve, but I predict a big stone-mantel movement coming.
PHPR January/February 2010
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