The shed industry spans many different business aspects, and the recent industry-specific quarterly Small Business Economic Trends report released by the NFIB Research Center covers four related industries: construction, manufacturing, retail, and services. The data from this report will help shed business operators determine where they stand in terms of[Read More…]
Columnists
OSHA Highlights Safe Construction Practices
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) held its 13th annual National Safety Stand-Down to Prevent Falls in Construction event May 4-8. The nationwide event focuses on preventing falls, the leading cause of fatalities in the construction industry, and reinforces the importance of planning, training, and[Read More…]
Building from the Inside Out
Most shed businesses are built to survive. The owner shows up every day, keeps things moving, puts out fires, and hopes the numbers work at the end of the month. That’s not criticism; it’s just reality for many operators across the industry. But surviving and building something sustainable are two[Read More…]
The Leadership Signal
I am writing this month’s column from a cabin in Highland County, Virginia, in the sort of surroundings that seem increasingly rare in modern life. Our cabin sits in the heart of one of America’s radio quiet zones, where cell phone service is almost nonexistent. Broadcast signals are limited. The[Read More…]
The Lift: Shed Business Marketing
This edition’s column has been a tough one. As I often say, there is no shortage of opportunity, ideas, or direction in the shed industry. That’s the problem when I sit down to write; there are too many good topics competing for attention. Each time I start a column, I[Read More…]
Boring Wins
The manufacturers with the best margins usually look the least ambitious quarter to quarter. The biggest operational improvements rarely begin as big decisions. The most enviable manufacturers are those that look the most boring and understated from the outside. They aren’t running big programs. They aren’t making big claims. They’re[Read More…]
RTO Advertising Statutes
Let’s talk about rent-to-own advertising statutes, which are often overlooked but have recently come into the compliance crosshairs. You already know that when you begin operations in a new state, you should verify that your lease contract complies with that state’s requirements. This is one thing that seems to come[Read More…]
On A Mission: Wilderness Cabins
Like most shed builders, Travis Bunch was a busy man this spring. But he was probably busier than others this year. That’s because he and his crew from Wilderness Cabins spent 10 days in early June relocating the business to a new facility in Barbourville, Kentucky. But there’s much more[Read More…]
Lessons in Recovery
Talk to most businesspeople who have been around for more than six years, and they will often discuss their operations in terms of pre-COVID and post-COVID. That’s true for builders in the shed industry. “(Pre-COVID) business was stable, but the pandemic brought a surge in demand,” says Orlando Penner, founder[Read More…]
Unique Requests
Like many niche markets, the way each day unfolds can be unpredictable for those in the shed industry. We spoke with several folks in a variety of shed businesses to find about some uncommon situations that involved custom products, special features, or delivery glitches. A few even came with some[Read More…]
