We were lucky to catch up with Joe Nicoletti recently and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Joe thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Getting that first client is always an exciting milestone. Can you talk to us about how you got your first customer who wasn’t a friend, family, or acquaintance?

While attending School of Visual Arts in New York City, studying graphic design I opted in to have my work displayed at Studio 54 a noted nightclub in New York City at the time. I had a great show and had a great time, even had my Dad and my Grandma show up at the club! People were interested in my graphics and while talking to a random person who asked me about my professional interests, I became more interested in what he had to say. He was opening up a nightclub in NYC, The Manhattan Monster. He said he was interested in hiring a lead person who can put together a team of artisan painters and decorators to outfit his new gay nightclub. The task was a little out of my league but I could envision myself doing this, pulling together a tribe of talent, directing and organizing to complete a creative directive comprised of all creative departments regarding interior design. With a spec and a scope of work established I went to work, developing further designs for the walls and ceilings, creating a vibe, finding subcontractors and assistants, applicator’s and implementors. Looking for talent that was “their word” and not flaky! I pulled together a budget, proposed it and went to work. The job was a success, the club was and still is a success and it brought me much joy to see the creative project realized from just a chance meeting. That feeling of taking responsibility and sticking to creative projects has taken me all over the world. To this day there is nothing more professionally fulfilling than the creative process of transforming a space for a client and see how it affects their lifestyle. The forever magic of who you meet and how you can be of service is also a wonderful feeling. Be your word.

Joe, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Well… I really do not have a Brand. Branding these days almost seems more important than what you’re actually doing. I named the company Chameleon Paintworks Inc. some 30 years ago because we have engaged in on a vast variety of creative projects. I remember people NOT asking me to do a creative task because I did not include it in my “branding”. I did lose a few projects because of this. But, I felt it was because of the lack of insight on behalf of the prospective client. Our scope of completed projects has varied from historical restorations of all the murals in Los Angeles City Hall, including the Mayors office for over 3 decades, to the repaints of luxury homes like Rod Stewarts house in Beverly Park, doing all to finish paint in countless banks, nightclubs, churches, apartment buildings, restaurant’s, and on and on. We do painting and decorating. No job too big or small kind of attitude. We have painted human bodies for photoshoots, We manage homes. We have built homes in Brentwood. We have a thing for organization and have also converted and stylized many garages and sheds into living, work spaces. Thought there are different pricing and quality levels, we establish that level with the client. We are fair with pricing and clients are consistently happy as we take pride in being attentive and proactive.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

Quite simply, I surrounded myself with conversations, lectures, people, meetings, attended networking groups, anything that related to business of Painting, Restoration and Design in general. I consistently expressed my passion and when the opportunity arose, I said… “Yes! I could do that for you” and I got it done. I got paid, and paid my support. I also supported local artisans, made charitable contributions, and on occasion worked for free.

How do you keep your team’s morale high?

Not only does one project leader has to Find the right talent with the right qualifications, availability and so on, but one must access their “team player abilities”. Putting the right team together for the project varies from project to project and is a project in itself. The best way to keep the right players happy is to appreciate them, praise them, reward them, respect their input, treat them as an equal, pay them well, give them an additional financial incentives. If treating someone this way does not work towards the good of the projects advancement…Then you know what to do.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.paintworks.us
• Instagram: chameleonpaintworksinc
• Linkedin: Chameleon paintworks Inc/Joe Nicoletti

Image Credits
Joe Nicoletti