Fabricator Profile: AGF Marble and Granite

agfMarbleGranite2Elizabeth and Anacleto Groberio made their mutual dream a reality when they opened AGF Marble and Granite in Worcester, Mass., and their goal now is to help make the dreams of their customers come true. The couple says that many of their customers save for years to be able to afford granite countertops, and they both respect and value them for choosing AGF.

Anacleto arrived in the United States from his native Brazil in 2003, and he met Elizabeth, a U.S.-born daughter of Portuguese immigrants, in 2005. One of Anacleto’s first jobs in the country was for a fabricator and installer of granite countertops, but he and Elizabeth decided that they had to open their own business to achieve their goals as a couple.

When AGF was founded in 2006, Acleto and Elizabeth operated the business out of their apartment, but they were soon able to open a dedicated shop and purchase new equipment. Although the economy didn’t support many new businesses at this time, they discovered that the recession could work in their favor. Many homeowners in the area couldn’t sell their homes because the mortgage was higher than the value of the home, so they were open to upgrading and remodeling. Elizabeth states that they chose granite for three reasons:

  1. It is attractive.
  2. It is profitable.
  3. It is fun to work with.

Elizabeth serves as president of the company and focuses on design and customer service while Anacleto serves as vice president and runs the fabrication side of the business.

In addition to consumers, AGF Marble and Granite also works with contractors who buy old buildings, renovate them and turn them into condos. By 2012, the business was handling 20 to 25 jobs each week with very little in the way of automation because they simply can’t afford the software and equipment. However, they continue to grow by providing honest work, keeping prices affordable and paying attention to detail.

Read more of this Fabricator Profile here: AGF Marble and Granite