Interior Components Group

Steven Barthelemy and his partner Steven Prom established Interior Components Group in 2005 after purchasing the business from a previous owner. Barthelemy manages Interior Components Group, while Prom manages the duo’s other business, Alpine Cabinetry, which has operated since 1998.

Alpine Cabinetry constructs multi-dwelling and residential cabinetry and shares a similar record for quality and growth. Many of the relationships carry over between the two businesses and contractors often find that between the two operations, Barthelemy, Prom and the pair’s teams can take care of all the interior fit-out needs of a project.

“I spent most of my life in the construction industry,” Barthelemy explains. “I went to school for hotel and restaurant management, but I didn’t see a future there for myself. I changed professions and have been in the construction industry ever since. I worked for a long time building convention displays and store fixtures and trimming houses before we started this business.”

After 10 years in business, Interior Components Group has built a reputation in Minnesota for quality and service in commercial caseworks, retail fixtures, office furniture and architectural woodwork.

In 2015, Barthelemy employs 17 people at the company’s single shop in St. Cloud, Minnesota. The business serves a range of customers throughout the state. Interior Components Group has strong partnerships with contractors and architects who call on the team to provide integrated interior solutions for businesses.

 “There are a few contractors who use us exclusively, and we really enjoy the mutual benefits from those relationships,” details Barthelemy. “We bid on the open market; it is all about price in our game, so we bid it tight and according to specifications per job.”

Diverse capabilities

While Interior Components Group provides services for customers on projects throughout the United States, the company’s core business is concentrated within Minnesota. The team has been busy over the last few years. In order to accommodate this continued growth, Barthelemy has recently moved the operation into a newly remodeled facility with more room. Increased production space has allowed the business to take on more contracts and larger tasks, better serving the company’s growing market.

The team’s growing portfolio includes a number of unique and complicated interiors projects. Interior Components Group has provided furniture, casework, architectural millwork, as well as retail components for businesses, such as banks, medical centers, assisted-living facilities and other commercial spaces.

While the crew designs and builds customized casework, fixtures and furniture, Barthelemy notes that his crew is generally not involved in the installation. This task is left to qualified subcontractors, of either Interior Components Group’s choice, or appointed by the general contractor.

“We have done a lot of work with government buildings recently,” Barthelemy elaborates. “We are currently working on a large Army National Guard Housing project out in Camp Ripley, Minnesota. We are also doing all of the casework for the Minnesota National Guard Readiness Center in Stillwater, Minnesota.”

One of Barthelemy’s personal favorite projects has been working with a company in Scottsdale, Arizona, called Global Med. “Global Med manufactures hardware and software for medical hospitals like the VA and other major health care providers,” he elaborates. “We build part of their cart for them out of HDPE plastic. They add the monitors, computers and other accessories for use in the health care industry. We have been working with Global Med for seven or eight years now and that is a mutual ongoing relationship.”

Maintaining a growing market share

Interior Components Group strives to provide leading value for customers, no matter what size the project. By closely managing expenses and relationships with suppliers, the business is able to create quality interior finishes and furnishings while building margins that have allowed the company to grow continuously since 2005.

“At all times, we focus on our bottom line,” he explains. “We take a great sense of pride in our ability to keep growing and provide lucrative jobs for our employees.”

The company’s recent move to a larger facility has made a major difference for the business’ future growth. “One of our greatest challenges over the last few years has been building sustainable growth with the existing shop,” Barthelemy says. “For a long time, we did not have the room to take on any new employees and had to limit the work we could take on. Moving the company into our newly remodeled 40,000-square-foot location has been a big leap forward for our team.”

In 2015, Interior Components Group is celebrating 10 years in business. A strengthening market will contribute to the overall growth of the business moving forward. In the new location, Barthelemy plans to keep growing, bringing on new staff and utilizing increased floor space to take on more work. Interior Components Group will continue to offer high-quality interior finishes, furniture and fixtures for projects in Minnesota and the 48 states for years to come.