Cleaning Up with Commercial Asset Maintenance
John Caruso meets an entrepreneur who’s laying foundations for future growth and prioritising professionalism in a sector where complacency was a frustrating norm.
Adam Mercer’s journey in the commercial maintenance industry is a testament to identifying and capitalising on market gaps to grow a sustainable and successful business.
As Development and Operations Manager for the company he started – Commercial Asset Maintenance – Adam brings decades of experience working in the industry.
This allowed him to identify a void in servicing specific needs for the likes of strata buildings and shopping centres.
But Adam’s vision goes beyond simply filling a gap. He aims to offer a level of professionalism unmatched by competitors.
From response times to advanced equipment, Adam has prioritised efficiency and quality and addressed the industry’s reliability issues by building a large, reliable workforce, ensuring projects are completed on time and to a high standard.
This commitment to excellence is what Adam wants to share with others and my time spent with him was a textbook study of what successful businesses should be doing.
“We’ve experienced a lot of growth since starting – and we’re projecting a four-fold growth on what we turned over in our first year,” he shares.
“Prior to setting up Commercial Asset Maintenance I recognised there were a lot of gaps in the type of industries that were being serviced.
“For example the cleaning and maintenance of strata titled buildings and shopping centres presented liability issues for others, but we were prepared to take those jobs on with a holistic approach to servicing, and filling that niche.
“I’m not convinced others are doing it anywhere near as professionally as what we are with anywhere near the response times with the advanced machinery and equipment that we’ve invested in.”
Together with his son Ben, who manages the business, Adam moved to the Sunshine Coast from Sydney two and a half years ago.
“Sydney, and even Brisbane, are saturated with a migrant workforce, especially in the industry we operate in,”
he says. “However in this part of Queensland that migrant workforce is scarce, and that’s why we set up here.”
Another gap or shortfall Adam was aware of and it’s a lament you hear often, especially when the surf’s pumping, is that workers or tradies simply fail to show up!
“Yeah, I was hearing that a lot.
Again, and again,” he says.
“I wanted to take all these things I knew about the industry, and I wanted to deliver a more sophisticated approach to winning contracts and completing work to a very high level of client satisfaction.
“For example, I want to make sure clients are aware of what’s going on with their investments, so we report maintenance issues to body corporate or facility managers early which means any problems can be rectified before repair bills get out of hand.
“That’s another example of how we’re proactive with the people we work with, and I can confidently say I don’t think a lot of other tradies or workers in similar industries would do the same.”
Sixty-five people are part of the team covering south-east Queensland to the Gold Coast, dealing only in large volumes and big brands.
“The end goal for me is to build a high end, consistent and reliable model with our three pillars being: Commit, Appoint, and Maintain – or CAM – as some of our clients are calling us,” he says. “Those letters are also an acronym of our brand – Commercial Asset Maintenance – so it works both ways.”
Adam’s success story isn’t just about filling a void in the market, it’s about exceeding expectations. By identifying the shortcomings of existing companies, he’s continuing to build his on a foundation of professionalism, efficiency, and reliability.
His commitment to communication and proactive problem-solving ensures clients remain informed and empowered, a stark contrast to the frustrations and failings clients may have experienced with other brands, businesses and individuals in a similar landscape.
While Commercial Asset Maintenance thrives in the commercial sphere, its core principles, responsiveness, expertise, and a client-centric approach, hold valuable lessons for any business.
Adam’s journey is more than just an impressive feat of entrepreneurial spirit, it’s a blueprint for exceeding expectations and achieving sustainable growth and success.
