VCMG LLC

Since 2006, VCMG LLC has primarily provided turnkey, retail construction services to some of the country’s best-recognized brands. Founded by Michael Beck and John Reitano, the business excels at establishing long-term relationships and turning around efficient, high- quality projects that meet the needs and brand identities of its customers. VCMG is based in Fort Pierce, Florida, and maintains additional offices and remote project sites throughout the country.

“We perform retail construction projects throughout the U.S.,” says Beck, co-founder and company president. “We tend to work with the same clients time and again. We are not the kind of company that deals with one store and moves on — we’re in it for the long haul.”

Some of VCMG’s customer relationships span nearly a decade. For example, the firm has been involved with 173 locations for Teavana over the last seven years; 60 projects for The Walking Company over the last eight Years, 50 Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics projects over the last nine years; and 60 projects for Francesca’s over the last four years. These corporate clients rely on Beck and his colleagues to bring the experience, knowledge and skills to perform reliable and efficient remodels, expansions, relocations and interior fit-outs.

Trust comes first

“Our motto is, ‘The First Thing We Build Is Trust,’” Beck notes. “Everything we do revolves around that. We don’t strive to get by doing the minimal amount. We want to do what’s right; we don’t cut corners. We do what we can if we see ways our clients can save money — we present them with those options, but quality comes first.”

Because of this constant focus on quality delivery, the lion’s share of VCMG’s business comes through repeat customers. Beck and his team make these return clients the focal point of the operation, although the business is always open to building new relationships.

“We are not here to do one project and turn a large profit,” he explains. “We’re in it for the duration and that’s how it should be. There are plenty of companies in this industry that are willing to take a single contract for a high dollar and get out. I’d rather make less each project but do 20 to 30 a year for that same client and keep taking care of them.”

Long-term relationships with customers benefit both VCMG and its clients. When one brand slows down, another picks up, allowing the contractor to pivot and refocus resources to more profitable undertakings. Because of the repeat nature of many of these clients’ projects, VCMG is able to better anticipate their needs as opposed to a single-project contractor. The team is more familiar with brand identity and layout and materials preferences, making the business able to better recognize issues on-site early on.

Premier partnerships

In addition to the firm’s ongoing relationship with a select few clients, VCMG is one of the general contractors for LUSH Cosmetics and at one time, the business was building every one of the company’s stores in the United States. “It’s an exciting feeling to be involved with a growing company,” Beck adds.

“Party City is our newest addition to our client list that we work with on a regular basis,” he continues. “We look to find a company that we can get in with and to be honest, we know that the first few projects for a new client will have things we need to learn, so we never expect a profit on these in the beginning. We strive to build a trusting working relationship with each and every client while maintaining the small company feel and are very personable.”

These relationships extend beyond initial construction. VCMG provides ongoing support for the life cycle of a store. If a store has any issues with plumbing, cabinetry, wall repairs, HVAC or electricity, Beck and his team have subcontractor partners, all over the country, on call to provide service 24/ 7.

Subcontractors are critical to the firm’s success. VCMG maintains long-term partnerships with skilled trades throughout the U.S. and returns to these partners time and again when work pops up in the region. “For the last six years, we have worked with the same plumbers, electricians and HVAC contractors for every store we’ve built in California,” Beck explains. “Every project is a fast-track project, so having the right team in place helps us maintain efficiencies. We put our faith and trust into our subs and hold them to the same high standards we hold ourselves to.”

Continued success

Long-term relationships are the lifeblood of VCMG. While the business has grown large enough to tackle major brand projects all over the country, Beck and his colleagues refuse to compromise personal attention and client satisfaction. “We keep that mom-and-pop feel, however we still have the backing and financial support to be one of the bigger guys,” says Beck. “If one of my clients sends an email they will get a response that day or the next the day at the latest.”

These relationships kept VCMG going, even through the worst of the recession. By running lean and maintaining a hands-on approach to projects, the business stuck it out and is all the better for it moving ahead. Beck enjoys the challenges of the industry and remains committed to the growth of the business and the satisfaction of his clients. It comes as no surprise that VCMG LLC is the contractor of choice for several leading retail brands.