As Shed Business Journal continues entering into and developing its coverage of the carport market, it makes sense to ask a lot of questions.
Therefore, over the next few issues, we’re going to do Q&A sessions with several industry folks who have added carports to their product lineup and learn from their stories, challenges, and successes.
This time, we communicated with Liz Wood of Southwest Portable Buildings in New Mexico.
Tell us about how and why you started offering carports.
I started helping Pat Walker at her Alamogordo lot in May 2014 to pay for my daughter’s wedding. Pat had lost her husband at the end of 2013.
She had two lots, one in Alamogordo, New Mexico, and one in Alto, New Mexico. She sold Graceland Portable Buildings and Eagle Carports.
The reason you will see wood and metal structures at the same location is it gives the customer a lot of options for sizes and installation on the property.
If one is not selling like the wooden, the other is selling.
What kind of marketing is viable for a carport business?
I have a Facebook page, and we have Google as both businesses advertise for their lots.
I do have my own website, which has been down for three years now. Changing from southwest-pb.com to southwestpb.com was a big problem.
What would you consider to be important first steps in starting to sell carports?
You have to understand or have training in the product you are selling. Having the right understanding of the product is key to selling anything.
Every company has its own delivery or install method. Also, every company has a program or login for selling the product. Commission is how you get paid, and that would depend on the company.
I would call and talk with another dealer of the product you are interested in. Ask questions about installation or delivery, commission, and permits for that company.
I have sold other brands, but some were hard to get the permits done for installation. You need to pick a company that will work to help with state or local permits.
What changes have you noticed as you’ve sold carports over the past decade?
Over the years, I have seen a lot of changes with online signing of purchases or sale orders. There is more done online than with in-person paperwork.
You will need to have a business as you will get a 1099 at the end of the year.
Please share any other advice for starting up carport sales.
Highway frontage is the best for advertising with signs and displays on the lot.
Please have a way for your customers to contact you, with a phone number to a cell phone that you have with you or be at your lot because some customers still like to meet in person.
If you do not like what you are doing or the company that you are working with, just stop and ask yourself if it is the right fit.
I did and I am no longer with one company. It was not the product, but the company itself. Our morals did not align.
