Meet Joe Giacalone of Arch Painting in Woburn

Today we’d like to introduce you to Joe Giacalone.

Joe, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
I was first introduced to painting by a cousin when I was in high school, and painted during my summers as a way to help my mother pay the bills. With my father and brother both permanently disabled, my cousin became a father figure to me, and he instilled in me a good sense and an even better work ethic.

While doing work at Harvard University, I found that being on the campus inspired me, and so I decided to attend college. I continued painting while I went on to become the first member of my family to earn a degree, even earning a Masters from Boston University.

After graduating college, I realized that I had a true passion for the construction industry, specifically painting. I established Arch Painting in 1997 with the idea of taking an unprofessional, fly-by-night trade and applying a more traditional business model. I wanted it to be a new kind of painting company, one that set out to offer a consistent and predictable level of quality while still maintaining affordable prices for its customers. Twenty years later, it is a philosophy to which Arch Painting still remains true.

It took over a decade of 15+ hour days and unrelenting dedication, but my hard work paid off, as Arch Painting flourished into one of New England’s leading commercial and residential painters.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has not been all smooth; initially it was very long days working from 6am until 11pm trying to wear many hats, from cold calling, project managing, office work and painting. I did sacrifice lots of family time when my children were young to build the business up.

Then when I thought I had stability and structure to focus on further growth, a long time, trusted employee (who I considered a friend) embezzled almost $250,000 from the business. This almost caused us to lose loyal employees and downsize and I had to mortgage my house to put funds back into the business.

So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Arch Painting story. Tell us more about the business.
Since 1997, Arch Painting has been known for providing the attentiveness and accessibility of a small painting company with the resources and capabilities unrivaled even by larger competitors. Headquartered in Woburn, we have grown to include four additional offices in Massachusetts, New Hampshire, and Rhode Island.

We specialize in interior and exterior painting for both the residential and commercial markets, as well as floor and ceiling coatings, wallcoverings, and other specialized coatings.

What sets us apart from our competitors, and what I am most proud of, is our people. Our employees take tremendous pride in doing an outstanding job and always honoring our commitments. They are dedicated, professional, and truly passionate about providing the best possible service and experience to our customers. From the office staff to our project managers and painters in the field, I am proud to have these people representing Arch Painting.

How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
In the northeast, the construction industry continues to boom which has led to an increase in many fly-by-night contractors, both painters and other trades. The joke of the Honda with a ladder strapped to its roof calling themselves a painting company is sadly a reality.

I have seen firsthand a decline in craftsmanship due to the increase in these types of companies. We repeatedly see homeowners and businesses left with substandard work due to lack of product knowledge and application, and instances where a deposit has been given only for the painter to disappear and never to return. This is why at Arch we never ask for money down and many times do not even collect a cent until the job is complete and our clients are completely satisfied.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.archpainting.com
• Phone: 844.272.4724
• Email: customerservice@archpainting.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archpaintinginc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/archpainting/
• Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArchPainting
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/arch-painting-inc-woburn-2

Image Credit:
Joyce Vincent Photography (foyer photo only)

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