Today we’d like to introduce you to Joseph Focil.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Joseph. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My passion since I was a little kid was admiring beautiful structures, architecture, and design. I was obsessed with design, simplicity, and organization. I can’t recall the exact age but I would say I was around 7-8 years old when I realized that small details were the most important aspects in design. At such a young age, I couldn’t understand why certain homes were built with such awful design. Doors opened the wrong way, cabinets hitting each other, narrow hallways, terrible choice of colors, windows in places that made no sense, the list just went on and on. Not to mention the bad workmanship that magnified the mistakes.
Interestingly, as I got older and went to college I worked in different industries not related to construction. I started in healthcare and then banking. On the side, I would also work as an intern in a construction company which I did all sorts of jobs such as carpentry, plumbing, to even being a driver. I had a great mentor who was willing to teach me everything about running a construction company. I was lucky to have had great people in my life that were supportive and helpful.
Several years ago, I decided to start my own construction company. I wanted to build a business that really focused on design and details. Luckily, a few clients trusted me, believed in my work ethic, and vision. We started a few remodel projects for several investors and as our remodeled homes hit the market local residents loved our work. Calls started coming in and today we are continuing to grow our business. This year we began to design and build our kitchen showroom. As we decided to move forward with this endeavour we envisioned a place where we could inspire our customers to reimagine how a kitchen is designed. A place where they see first hand that every detail has been carefully thought of from our own handcrafted reception desk, paneled walls, accent lighting, marble or quartz countertops, custom desks, herringbone wood floors, linear reveal baseboards, and most importantly the cabinets and colors we chose to use for our main kitchen. This along with the help from Sub Zero, Wolf and Cove we are able to display custom kitchens that are timless with a true sense of quality and design. I think this has been our biggest accomplishment yet.
Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
It has been very difficult and definitely not a smooth road. Like any small business there are so many unforeseen obstacles that are never planned. From managing a project that took longer than scheduled, expenses that were never budgeted, long hours and working on weekends. Managing client expectations has been one of the most difficult aspects of the business. Some clients have unrealistic expectations which makes the job so much more difficult.
Please tell us about Focil Construction Inc.
We are a design build construction company. We mainly focus on home remodels such as kitchens, bathrooms, additions, and decks. Our passions are kitchens as they have a special place in our heart. Kitchens are a place families share a meal and build memories. Designing a kitchen is our specialty and passion. We love to start from a blank canvas and re-envision the perfect kitchen for that family. Being a cabinet dealer makes this so much easier for our clients as we are able to dedicate the time and resources that our clients demand. Our in house designer is a truly unique advantage we provide to our clients. We don’t push sales or accessories, we strictly focus on design and everything else usually falls in place.
If you had to go back in time and start over, would you have done anything differently?
I would of started this business many years earlier. I am 38 years old and feel I waited too long to start my own business. I should have followed by passion 12 years ago and listened to that gut feeling that so many of us ignore. Perhaps I should of started this business after college when I got married. Starting at a later age with a family is always more difficult. The older you get the more difficult it is to take risks, especially with when you have a family.
Contact Info:
- Address: 2636 Conejo Center Drive
Thousand Oaks, CA 91320 - Website: focilconstruction.com
- Phone: 805-405-9225
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/focil_construction
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/focilconstruction/
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