MATT JOHNSON SET AN AMBITIOUS GOAL FOR ARTISANS OF Atlanta: to redefine the construction experience, not only for his clients but for his team and trade partners.
There’s a whole spectrum of operations and service packed into that statement. The goal is a seamless blend of creative artistry and practical construction.
Johnson acknowledges that the construction industry’s reputation historically has been marred by somewhat less-than-conscientious operations. “Unfortunately, construction has not always been perceived as a very professional, upstanding career path,” he says. “What I’ve tried to do, and believe at my core, is that construction can be done honestly and with integrity. How we treat our clients extends to our employees and subcontractors. My whole goal in running the business is to flip that narrative of construction on its head.”
Johnson says Artisans of Atlanta displays a relationship culture, offering a different experience for its construction clients. “When it comes to the employees and subcontractors, historically our industry has not always respected employees,” he says. “They have not always been treated fairly by employers. Because of this, there’s a lot of turnover in the industry. Again, I’ve tried to flip that script and treat people with respect, working in such a way that our trade is valued, where we’re given an opportunity to grow and learn more, as well as providing fair compensation for the time and effort we put into this.”
Johnson’s interest in construction began as a youth. His father did woodworking as a hobby. But it was not Johnson’s original career aim. Having earned a degree in business from Mercer University in 2005, he initially sought to enter real estate and architecture. He got his license, thinking this was his intended path, until the realities of the market at the time persuaded him otherwise.
While still a student, Johnson was an employee of Artisans, learning the ins and outs of the profession. After a time, he left to start his own small business, Johnson Home Services, doing custom trim and millwork. “Artisans then hired me as a subcontractor, and from there the relationship grew. Over time, the owner approached me about acquiring his business to take it to the next level. Artisans was started on a solid foundation of quality and care for its clients, and I knew with those qualities there was only room for growth.”
Johnson found that he thoroughly enjoyed the renovation side of the industry and was certain he could continue that growth. It didn’t hurt that he already had a solid, dependable team of craftspeople in place. Several employees had been there for some time, meaning Johnson didn’t have to go out and do a lot of recruiting in the early years.
Meanwhile, he continued his professional education, attending different conferences and workshops, traveling and getting further training. “Eighteen years ago, there wasn’t a whole lot of collaboration in the business,” he says. “For me, it began with studying books and trade magazines, which led to the conferences. That grew into being involved with smaller roundtable groups in this industry to learn and grow with others.”
Today, Artisans specializes in medium- to large-size renovations and new custom home construction. Not all builders are comfortable with renovations and typically prefer new construction. “It can be challenging to be successful doing renovations and new construction; however, our team is set up to handle both very well,” he says.
Artisans has also been fortunate to develop relationships with clients outside of Atlanta, specifically Lake Oconee. “Oconee has seen incredible growth recently, and we’re excited to grow our company in that area,” Johnson says. “Although Oconee has several great builders, not many of them enjoy the renovation side of construction. This has been an untapped market which is perfect for our team to fill that space and provide the same great experience Artisans is known for in Atlanta. We have a local team already in place and can handle any renovation you can dream of.”
Johnson believes what distinguishes Artisans is its focus on building relationships and providing a client experience that leaves a raving client. “If I could coin an unofficial slogan, I’d say, ‘We are a relationship contractor.’ When we meet a new client, we’re not just signing for dollars but for a relationship that, hopefully, will last for many years. That partnership is one of trust in our quality, our care for your home and the value this investment will provide. Creating lasting relationships with our employees and trade partners is also central to Artisans. Many of our clients call us back for multiple projects, and we love it!”
The process of consultation is straightforward but thorough. Artisans starts by asking a battery of questions, determining what is not working for a client in their home and how that can be addressed. Most owners aren’t familiar with construction budgeting, so Artisans puts together a preliminary budget for them many times before any specs or drawings are created. “We’ve been in the industry for so long we can tell a client pretty quickly what their project is likely to cost, which is very helpful,” Johnson notes.
Next comes a site visit to ensure the scope and budget are realistic. “After that, we discuss the practicalities of the project. If they already have a design, we can move quicker into the construction lane, but we can also provide design in-house if a client wants the one-stop shop package,” Johnson says.
Planning is the indispensable element. “We’re big on the planning side,” he says. “A well-planned project will be a well-executed project. If we take the next steps together, we’ve learned over the years that having adequate time up front to do the preconstruction phase puts all of the different elements in place prior to starting a project. When we do start, our team is guaranteed a level of success we would not have otherwise.”
There is no standard project style or design in an Artisans project. “This is the client’s home, and we want to make it perfect for their lifestyle,” Johnson explains. “We enjoy taking on highly custom projects.”
Although Artisans has grown significantly, Johnson believes its core principles remain the same and will allow the company continued success. Personally, he enjoys casting vision and participating in the training needed to help each department at Artisans run seamlessly. The team at Artisans of Atlanta is committed to bringing each customer’s vision to life.
“Our hope is that by getting to know us a little better and seeing our work, you can have confidence that your home renovation project will one day be realized without all the stress you usually hear about in construction,” Johnson says. “Artisans truly does exist to create raving clients!” *
Bill Thompson covers the arts, books and design.
