Does your shed business have photos, blogs, or even product patents that need to be protected from usage infringement? What is intellectual property (IP)? In business, including the shed-building industry, the most common intellectual property involves brand trademarks, copyrights on creative expressions (marketing copy, photos, etc.), and patents on new[Read More…]
Columnists
Shed Stories
The shed builder business is rife with amusing stories, peculiar customization, and interesting interactions with customers. Just because you have a garage does not guarantee a clutter-free life. Every shed builder understands and lives by this and knows a well-built prefab shed can be quite attractive and conducive for not[Read More…]
Does Your Website Represent Your Brand?
Your website is often the first point of contact potential customers have with your shed business, and as we know, first impressions matter. As soon as they land on your site, you want to show potential customers exactly what your brand is all about. That’s why brand representation is such[Read More…]
Shed Inventory Musings
How did we arrive at the current shed inventory model, and how is it evolving? In the shed industry, there looms a persistent, weighty thought—the substantial costs associated with maintaining inventory. As I reflect on my nearly 13-year journey from my initial introduction to the shed business, eight of which[Read More…]
A Shed Wife Conversation with LeAnn Burkholder
Sitting down with LeAnn Burkholder felt like catching up with an old friend. Her warmth and candor made it easy to dive into a discussion about her life, her work in the shed industry, and the journey that has brought her to where she is today. SHED WIFE: LeAnn, your[Read More…]
‘Grow or Die’: Myth or Reality?
Business growth must be intentional and serve your intended end goal. Many of you have heard and even used the phrase “grow or die” as a motivational call to continued growth in business. It has been used to inspire and motivate our quest to continued progress, to never letting up,[Read More…]
Riding the Business Bus
How is a shed business like a bus trip? The answer might surprise you. Starting and operating a successful business can be both a terrifying and thrilling experience, not unlike the bus ride I experienced many years ago through the Serra do Mar mountains of South America in the middle[Read More…]
Trade Programs and the Shed Industry
A glimpse into what high school and college programs can offer shed builders—and what builders can offer back. You’ve probably heard about, or encountered, the lack of skilled workers in the U.S. labor market.That includes fewer workers skilled in carpentry and construction necessary to build sheds and other portable structures.[Read More…]
Material Prices Seesaw
Examining factors that could affect the prices of lumber and steel. Many factors play into the pricing of sheds and other portable structures, but the cost of building materials has a major impact. Whether you use lumber or metal in your sheds, it’s important to have an idea about how[Read More…]
Old-Fashioned Shed Business
Way back in 1977, when Carter was president, Star Wars was in theaters, and disco was king, Jimmy Lewis was a laid-off ironworker. With some idle time, he decided to build a shed in the backyard. His first attempt was a bit disappointing—so much so that he decided to sell[Read More…]
