‘Do it once and do it right’: Secrets of a Sydney construction company’s success

What started as a teenage job became a lifelong passion for Michael Kounellis, co-founder of Sydney construction company Trescon.

More than 30 years after he laid his first brick, the seasoned builder still gets a rush out of bringing a project from idea to completion.

“When you see something being created on paper as a concept and see that actually come to life, and then others comment about that building and say, ‘What a great structure’, ‘What a great restaurant’ – being involved with those projects is really rewarding,” Michael tells Kochie’s Business Builders.

The Sydney local first started out as a labourer in his late teens, unaware the job would eventually take him up the ladders of construction management.

“I was a little bit unsure at the beginning,” he admits. “I started doing civil engineering and that flowed into building – and I haven’t looked back since, to be honest. It’s been a very rewarding career working for others and now more so for myself.”

Building it from the ground up

In 2017, Michael teamed up with another experienced construction professional, Nick Rodopoulos, to found Trescon. While their ambitions have always been high, it took some time for their business to pick up momentum and grow from small to medium in size.

“We’ve grown steadily over the last four or five years,” Michael says. “[But] our biggest growth has been in the past 12 months.”

Over the past year alone, they’ve delivered projects as diverse as a Hungry Jacks restaurant, a science and arts building for a Montessori school and a soon-to-open luxury apartment complex in a prime position on Bondi Beach that Michael believes “will open a million doors across Sydney”.

Cementing their reputation

“Quality is a really important facet for us at Trescon because it gives us the guarantee of ongoing work with our clients,” Michael explains. “And there’s a level of trust that they build in us that we’re then allowed to do ongoing projects in the future.”

Behind the scenes, the team need to be meticulous in their approach to everything from safety and compliance through to the smallest design details.

“Our motto at Trescon is ‘Do it once and do it right’,” Michael tells us. “Treat it as if it’s your own project, as if it’s your own home. [It’s] the time it takes to be accountable in what you’re executing… And if you execute it right, that’s the key. So you want to do it right the first time.”

When the various internal teams collaborate effectively, the end result should speak for itself. “A team dynamic will show the success of a project. When everyone’s in sync, the project flows,” he says.

Supplier relationships matter

Another core part of Trescon’s success is how they manage supplier relationships, given the amount of external suppliers needed to bring a building project to fruition.

“The traits that we look for in suppliers and contractors are essentially having a track record, and honesty in our first dealings with them. And just them being transparent,” Michael says. “So if they want to ride the journey with us and grow, then we’re happy to take those guys on board and grow them equally as we are.”

In construction, paying a supplier on time can mean the difference between a project continuing or grinding to a halt.

“Managing cash flow is key because it allows the subcontractors and suppliers to keep continuity on-site and not have any stop-start scenarios. So it’s really important that everyone’s paid in a timely manner and things just progress as they are from start to finish.”

Growing with American Express

For the past five years, Trescon has been paying suppliers each month through the company’s American Express® Platinum Business Card.

“It allows us to pay our suppliers and gain about a three or four-week period where we can pay that Card back¹, which is really good for cash flow month in, month out,” Michael explains.

“It’s actually helped our business immensely. It’s a great Card to have.”

On top of the cash flow benefits, Michael enjoys the rewards earned through putting business spending on his Card. While different Cards offer different benefits, Michael’s American Express Platinum Business Card offers up to 2.25 points per dollar spent and one point per dollar on government-related spend, with uncapped earning potential and no expiry date on points².

Michael’s Card earns him points in the American Express Membership Rewards® loyalty program. These Membership Rewards points can be transferred to travel partner Frequent Flyer programs.

“The rewards that stand out the most for us are the flights – the frequent flyer points,” Michael says. “Getting flights for the group, whether it’s a business trip, or it’s a reward for a staff member.”

Those points are coming in handy for a rare moment of hitting ‘pause’ at Team Trescon.

“We’re looking at taking our staff to Byron Bay in the upcoming months, and that’s all going to be through our Amex Platinum Business Card,” he says. “[It’s] just to bring everyone together in the one space, to have a team-building event and reward the guys for all their hard work and efforts.

“Definitely when people put the hard work in, we want to reward them.”

Find out more

Learn more about how American Express Business Cards can help your business grow, offering many benefits including premium tools, cash flow solutions and membership rewards. Compare cards here to see what’s right for your business.

This article is brought to you by Business Builders in partnership with American Express.

This article is not intended as financial advice and all information has been prepared without taking into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. You should review the product information to decide if any product is suitable for you.

Terms, exclusions and conditions apply on American Express’ products and services, click here for more information.

¹ The American Express Platinum Business Card offers up to 55 days to pay for purchases. Card Members have the option to also pay for purchases prior to the 55 days depending on their business needs.

² Subject to the Terms and Conditions of the Membership Rewards Program, visit https://www.americanexpress.com/en-au/benefits/rewards/membership-rewards/#T&Cs