Sherm Cochran founded Cochran’s Inc., a wholesale granite brokerage company in 1976. Initially the company slogan was "Your Man in Barre". It was modified slightly in 1981 to "Your Team in Barre", when Diane Cochran, Sherm’s wife, started working for the company. For several years the company was housed on the couple’s back porch! As the company grew, more space was needed than the back porch could provide.

In 1984, Cochran’s Inc. purchased several sections of the former Cook, Watkins and Patch granite plant for their new location. Two employees were hired after the relocation. The next year, Cochran’s bought their first computer, hired a programmer and began developing a CAD program to perform monumental drafting and stencil cutting. Thus, Cochran’s Quick-Cut System was developed in Barre, Vermont, solely for the monument industry. So, in 1987, (when computers were still new to the monument industry) Cochran’s Inc. began marketing the CAD software and cutting system they developed. More employees were needed to train customers to use Cochran’s Quick-Cut Systems and to provide technical support and assistance.

Cochran’s Inc. opened a fully-automated sandblast in 1989, utilizing the Cochran’s Quick-Cut System to cut the stencil for their sandblast. Computer-drawn designs were created daily and published regularly in a Design Book. This Design Series, (QDD designs) is a well-known design reference for sandblast designs in the Monument Industry. (These can be seen on this web site).

With the Cochran’s Quick-Cut Systems moving smoothly, another challenge was presented. Hand-etching needed to be expedited and modernized. Cochran’s introduced etching by laser in 1995! This was the first time a laser had been used in the monument industry to produce etchings! The result was phenomenal!! Laser-etchings are as detailed and exquisite as hand-etchings, but can be produced faster and more efficiently. portraits and lettering are easy to produce with the Cochran’s Laser-Etching System. Cochran’s have utilized the Laser-Etching system, daily since 1995, at their site in Barre, as well as marketing these throughout the industry.

As the demand for laser-etchings increased, there was a need for large quantities of good-quality black granite. In 1997, Cochran’s established a viable working relationship with a substantial granite manufacturer in China for importing quality black granite. Chinese craftsmanship of all types of stone shapes is excellent. (see this web site for various shapes). Cochran’s imports various granite colors besides black (see granite colors on this web site).

Each new phase of Cochran’s business has brought more employees (now 15), and more services, for our customers throughout the monument industry.