The countertop industry landscape. (Star Wars version)

Apr 1, 2014 | Business

I heard an interesting podcast about how “your product is not the hero of the story“, but instead how “your customer is the hero“. I really like that way of looking at it, and who doesn’t like a good Star Wars analogy?

So, here we go… here’s how I think of our company & products.

Luke Skywalker – the countertop fabricator

Luke_SkywalkerMost of our customers have a story a lot like Luke’s. Rather than a moisture farm on Tatooine, they started out working as craftsmen in the industry, but had their sights set on more. They decided to leave the comfort of a steady job and fend for themselves in their own countertop fabrication shops.

Princess Leia – the homeowner

Princess_Leia's_characteristic_hairstyleAlthough she can be annoying at times, the princess is the one who makes everything happen. Without a homeowner in our story, there’d be no countertop (and no money). Over the years, homeowners have been educated and learned more than ever before, thanks largely to their access to information about countertop choices and remodeling on TV shows and the internet.

Darth Vader – whiteboards & file folders

Darth_VaderAt Moraware, we really hate the fact that businesses have problems that could be avoided. Vader is kind of like a system of whiteboards, folders, and Excel that’s been cobbled together over time. When your countertop business was young it worked okay, but over the years that system becomes more of the problem than the solution.

Lightsaber – Moraware CounterGo

507px-Lightsaber_blue.svgI like to think of CounterGo as an elegant weapon, like a lightsaber. But, instead of slaying bad guys, it cuts through the time you waste doing drawings and quotes. One of the neat things about CounterGo is that it’s technology gives you a huge advantage with your competitors. And, as a bonus it just make you look really cool… or professional.

Darth Maul’s Lightsaber – Moraware JobTracker

acc_darth_maul_lightsaberSo, if CounterGo is a regular lightsaber, then JobTracker is definitely a souped-up weapon. Because it’s so flexible and powerful, it’s a little more dangerous to handle, but the impact to your business is that much greater once you start using it. And, it helps to be a martial-arts master.

Obi-Wan Kenobi – Moraware

Ben_KenobiSure, we’re not quite as cool as Luke Skywalker, but we’re Jedi’s, too… running our own business and scaring away the occasional sandpeople. As Luke is preparing to save the princess and fight Vader, we provide the tools and the training that goes along with them. Plus, I always imagine that we’d be more convincing with British accents.

I’ve got a whole host of other analogies between Star Wars characters and parts of the stone industry, but I think I’ve geeked out enough. This could be the single most nerdy thing I’ve ever written publicly.

Want to know more? At Moraware, we make software for countertop fabricators. CounterGo is countertop drawing, layout, and estimating software. JobTracker is scheduling software that helps you eliminate the time you waste looking for job folders. RemnantSwap is a free place to buy and sell granite remnants with fabricators near you.

And, we’re jedi’s.