In an age where customer service often leaves much to be desired, John Phillips, owner of Earth Element Artisan Concrete, stands apart from the competition. He firmly believes in treating his customers as he would want to be treated: With respect and honesty.
“We are forthright with everything,” Philips says. “We go out of our way to exceed the customers’ expectations. I have to be happy with every project before it is complete, and I’m the hardest critic of our work.
It is that philosophy that has helped Phillips steer Earth Element Artisan Concrete toward continued success. Studying fine arts in college, Phillips worked to pay for school by doing construction, cabinetry, and woodworking. It was during that time he first discovered the world of decorative concrete.
“I thought it was a nice combination of art and function,” he says. “There were not a lot of people doing it, and it seemed like an exciting new field.”
Thus, Earth Element Artisan Concrete was born. That was five years ago. Today, Phillips has amassed a long list of clients in both the residential and commercial sectors. Earth Elements Artisan Concrete, which counts restaurants and nightclubs as typical clientele, offers both indoor and exterior concrete design. 
Among the products Earth Element Artisan Concrete offers include water features, stamped concrete, custom planters, polished floors, concrete countertops, handmade tiles, custom furniture, fireplace surroundings, monolithic islands, hardscapes, bistro bars, and stained floors. Phillips, who secures the majority of his business via word of mouth, likes to “try to bring the indoors outside and vice-versa,” he says.
What also sets Phillips and his team apart from the competition is the way they approach their jobs. While other contractors are strictly contractors, Phillips approaches his business from a more artistic angle and pays close attention to details. As a result, craft and function are the two biggest priorities of products from Earth Element Artisan Concrete.
Phillips’ polished floors are backed by a 20-year warranty while the rest of his products come with a one-year warranty.
Since Earth Element Artisan Concrete first opened its doors, Phillips has worked on countless projects but one, in particular, stands out as his best. “We did a 12,000 square foot residential garage for a client and within that garage was about 7,000 square feet of decorative concrete,” Phillips says. “There was also a 3,000 square foot apartment, and we did all of the flooring, countertops, and a monolithic fireplace that was 10 feet high by 7 feet wide and 5 feet deep.”
“That one definitely was the most exciting,” he says. “It was so industrial looking when it was all finished with the combination of polished floors, countertops, and the fireplace.”
Based in Knoxville, Tennessee, Earth Element Artisan Concrete serves Knoxville, Nashville, Maryville and Chadner.
