Grounded with epoxy and polished to perfection, the foundations of Amazing Concrete Finishes (ACF) have withstood the test of time for more than a decade. Formed in 2011, the company which has actively worked to carve out a unique presence in the market has throughout the years witnessed significant growth and is now eyeing plans for further expansion.

Pushed by his knowledge of and experience in the construction industry, founder and CEO Yannick Sharpe moved to take advantage of emerging research data which pointed to a gap in the market along with the vast and lucrative opportunities attached, transforming what is often viewed as ordinary into extraordinary finishes including stamped, polished and stained concrete, cementitious overlays, epoxy floors, artificial rocks and waterfall as well as concrete slabs.

“I saw the need to fill a gap for providing decorative concrete finishes to both individuals and companies locally. This was not a very popular product at the time, which was approximately 12 years ago, and so with the support of my mother, Angela Amir, Amazing Concrete Finishes was born. Since I was working in the construction industry at the time and wanted to make a further impact in the area, it was the launching of this business that gave me the opportunity to do just that,” Sharpe recalled.

Navigating a rough start-up phase, the CEO said his company, like many others, had to deal with the range of ebbs and flows that came with owning and operating a business. He said that while he exuded a natural passion and had a clear vision of how he would grow the business, as a young entrepreneur he had to work long and hard to secure the financial backing of partners, who weren’t initially sold on his idea.

“I was very young at the time when I started Amazing Concrete, and so while I had this great passion and vision for my business, I had to work twice as hard to gain the trust and respect from others and to also get their buy-in,” he noted.

Fast-forward to more than a decade later, the company having earned its place as a leader in the decorative finishes segment of the building industry, today offers service to a raft of residential and commercial clients. Through its expanded project portfolio, ACF transforms hard cold concrete into beautiful works of art by staining, stamping and polishing a number of surfaces.

“From residential driveways, pool decks and office floors to hotel spaces, we will make your concrete great again!” its mission statement outlined.

“Amazing Concrete is committed to providing unique, artistic, superior quality and durable finishes to clients across the island. With our variety of designs and services, we are prepared to please the customer by making their dream renovations come to life,” it further stated.

From operations in Kingston, and more recently Montego Bay, the company executes jobs all over the island catering to a growing network of clients including an increasing number of public and private sector corporates. At its 400-square-foot facility situated on a two-acre property opened in MoBay last November, the company now boasts a complete showroom and ready-mix plant.

“This new location is an important part of our strategy of expanding our distribution channels, and hence expanding our reach to other areas in Jamaica,” Sharpe noted, further pointing to his sharpened focus on the plans for growth, including those geared towards regional expansion.

“As the demand for decorative concrete finishes continues to increase, Amazing Concrete will continue to build on this and to find other innovative ways to serve our customers. Since our inception in 2011, the business has grown in revenues incrementally in the early years and significantly over the last three years. As we look to the future and also building out our footprint not only locally but regionally, there are plans to add a new location in Mandeville, Manchester and also to build out operations in Guyana and other areas in the Caribbean region,” Sharpe said.

“We also have plans to include other business lines under the Amazing Concrete Finishes Group. The future is bright for Amazing Concrete and we are actively working to build out our medium- to long-term strategic and expansion plans,” he added.

Even after copping the coveted Young Entrepreneur Association (YEA) Entrepreneur of the Year award in 2018, the company’s management remains proudest about its achievement for being a source of employment for individuals mainly from inner-city and depressed communities. Through the many opportunities and interventions it has been able to provide, Sharpe said he is even more elated that his company gets the chance to help youth from these communities to hone their skills and talents and to contribute to society in a positive and meaningful way.

Currently working to establish a training institute soon, the CEO further said that his company through this facility will offer skills training and certification in the decorative finishes industry. An initiative to be fuelled by partnerships with key players in the training industry as it moves to replenish an in-demand skill set.

“This will also widen the pool of job opportunities for employable skilled labourers in the concrete finishes market even as we continue to pursue other strategic partnerships in line with our long-term goals and plans,” Sharpe said.