First Name: John
Last Name: Smith
Title: Founder and CEO
Company: ABC Company
Website URL: http://www.abc.com
Email: john@abc.com

What does your company do?

Our company builds custom homes for residents, as well as commercial and institutional buildings. We also undertake major renovations and extensions. We offer a design and construct concept service or fixed price tender service. Our operations are geared around listening, understanding and bringing to life the visions of designers and architects and working in partnership with each owner to create unique buildings. We are headquartered in the state of Virginia with locations throughout the state. We have been in business for 27 years.

What is your role? What do you enjoy about your role?

I’m the CEO of ABC Company. It’s an incredible gift to be in this position. I enjoy being able to take an idea and turn it into something that customers value. To design a culture with values that matter. To foster a global community of creatives and innovators. But I think what I enjoy most is seeing the wonderful works of art we are constructing all over the state of Virginia, and going to bed at night knowing we are doing something that is making a difference in people’s lives.

What are the biggest challenges in your business right now?

Our biggest challenge at the moment is the fear of running out or low on materials. We use a special kind of reclaimed wood in the construction of our buildings. Since the wood is reclaimed, our supply and the cost of it always fluctuates depending on how many buildings we are construction. Our customers really value this wood, but unfortunately supply is low. The other challenge is determining how to scale the business and delegate and hire others to create processes and departments to run it more efficiently and allow us to scale and grow larger. 

If you could go back in time, what business advice would you give to a younger version of yourself?

To attract good talent, you have to sell yourself to prospective staff. In a service industry, a company is only as good as their staff. We have some amazing staff here at ABC Company but it has taken a long time to get to this stage. Before becoming an employer, I assumed that when you needed a new member of staff, you would simply place an advert, get loads of CVs and find the perfect person who would have a great attitude and be good at their job. I soon found out that recruiting and retaining the right staff is one of the most challenging tasks for an employer. For a long time, we had to really work hard to sell ABC Company to prospective staff. These days we have great offices and a fantastic client list but this was not always the case.