Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Derek Robbins. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Derek, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?
From the start of my career, I’ve always had the goal of owning and managing my own construction company. As I worked my way up the ladder at previous organizations, this goal was constantly in the background, empowering me to learn and perfect my craft.
I realized that my contributions and “out of the box” approach weren’t valued in these previous companies. I was often laughed at with my thoughts and ideas perpetually ignored – the same ideas that have brought me success today.
With significant industry experience under my belt and the “out of the box” approach that previous companies didn’t take seriously, I founded Robbins Construction Group. With great economic conditions, I realized that it was the perfect moment to launch my construction business.
I started from scratch with no projects and no clients. My mantra was, “eat what you kill.” Several business associates at the time gave me some critical and very accurate advice: “Enjoy the early days. They will mean most later in your career.”
I quickly learned that clients discounted my 30+ years of experience and only saw a brand-new company without an established clientele. This drove me even more to prove my worth. Honestly, the beginning was tough. We fought for every project. However, through this challenging time, Robbins Construction Group earned its’ stripes.
We started executing any projects we had the opportunity for, ranging from $5,000 and up. These early projects remain a crucial part of our growth, just like my business associates had said. Once we had the opportunity to prove our ability through more minor projects, it opened the door to larger ones. Floor & Décor quickly became a core client in our portfolio. We completed five stores and contracted for another three stores in South Carolina, North Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, and Alabama. We also established a relationship with several national industrial developers during this time.
When I think about the initial struggle but later success, it’s easy to feel that I should have started my business earlier. However, when I reflect on my entrepreneurial experience more deeply, I know I wasn’t ready. I believe that the exact timing of my business was the hand of God preparing me and guiding me; my timing was perfect!
I also want to recognize that the success of Robbins Construction Group, and any company, rests on the shoulders of our employees, subcontractors, and business partners. These key people are necessary to reach this level of success. Each and every employee/partner brings something valuable to the table, and we treat them as such.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?
Robbins Construction Group is a commercial general contracting firm specializing in design-build construction throughout the Southeast region.
Our team brings a high level of experience and diverse backgrounds in various construction projects and delivery types. As a full-service design-build construction firm, we focus on site selection, preconstruction, and project management.
Our process is remarkably client-centric, utilizing our combined knowledge to build strong relationships through strong structures and provide guidance throughout the construction process. While we are based in Charleston, South Carolina, we can manage projects in the Southeast and across the country without sacrificing quality.
We’ve been delivering design-build, design-assist, and negotiated construction services to our clients for over twenty-five years. The design-build delivery approach offers a turnkey solution with design, specification, consultancy, project management, and construction services all under one roof.
The procurement process speeds up your relocation or refurbishment program, delivering a more time-efficient and cost-effective design solution. Using this modern procurement method, our clients can hire a single company to execute all construction tasks in a single contract.
I’m also incredibly proud that Robbins Construction Group has been recognized three years in a row as the “Best Commercial General Contractor” in the Charleston region. Additionally, we have recently earned a spot in the “Top 20 in the Roaring Twenties” and the “Top 50 Fastest Growing in South Carolina.” The exact placement has not yet been released for either category, but we look forward to it!
How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?
Our reputation is built on trust, open communication, and integrity. Our clients/project owners can range from novice to advanced. We’ve noticed regardless of their construction experience, owners want to know what’s going on with their project. Therefore, open and honest communication is key to building strong relationships with our clients.
We help our clients achieve their dreams by offering incredibly personal and expedient customer service. We help our clients resolve inquiries with their projects and provide them with helpful advice throughout the process whenever possible. We believe we should treat each client as our most important and valued customer – it’s how we earn their trust.
And that’s how I’ve built my reputation; through an unwavering pursuit of building relationships with clients. In my experience, this is even more important than the transaction itself. Fostering these connections boils down to building trust and ensuring the clients’ needs come before ours. This trust ensures a clients’ long-term business is earned rather than a one-time transaction. We like to say, “Every project is an interview for the next.”
In the end, building a solid reputation is directly connected to being accountable and taking charge of whatever the situation is, even if it means having to share bad news, raising your hand to tackle a tough assignment, or probing to find out the root of the issue. This all feeds into our willingness to take ownership at Robbins Construction Group.
Finally, no matter the project type or size, every owner can contact me 24/7, regardless of the situation. While many construction companies defer to other management team members, as President/CEO, I am always available.
What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?
My goal of starting a construction company included the dream of working with my son(s). Thomas has a wonderful outgoing personality and expressed interest in working alongside me in construction. However, he needed more construction experience. Initially, Thomas started learning construction in the field by managing small projects. Then, as I was chatting with a veteran Business Development Manager in the industry and I had a lightbulb moment. She explained that she also didn’t have construction knowledge; what she did know was how to find and meet prospects.
I moved Thomas to business development, tasking him with client development and project tracking. His ability to generate high-quality leads and foster relationships with prospects is truly amazing. Thomas’ work ripples through our business daily, positively impacting both prospective and current clients. His contributions to the company have been key to its success and our ability to grow our clientele.
We focus on providing our clients with intangible items like trust, reputation, integrity, and exceptional customer service. When a client contacts us, we respond. We communicate with our customers openly and frequently, ensuring they are always in the loop and satisfied.
We have also developed strategic partnerships with local, regional, and nationwide developers to assist our growth. I personally hold an unlimited license in 26 states, allowing us to travel for our clients wherever they may need us. This helps provide consistency in the construction process and a network of trusted partners who can count on us to exceed client expectations.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.robbinsconstructiongroup.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/robbinsconstructiongroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Robbins-Construction-Group/100063067429260/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/robbins-construction-group/
Image Credits
Inndor Imaging