Shed Builder Expo attendees and exhibitors report great education, networking, and booth experiences.
Shed Builder Expo organizers work to make each year bigger and better than what came before.
The event that took place at the Knoxville Convention Center Sept. 24-25 was one of the best in the Expo’s five-year history.
“We had a great week at Shed Builder Expo,” says Marty Boltres, show organizer. “It’s been very well attended. It’s been a good turnout.”
Almost 2,500 shed professionals— builders, dealers, haulers, and exhibitors—were on the show floor in Knoxville.
And the more than 150 booths set up on the Shed Builder Expo floor set a show record.
But the numbers mean nothing if attendees don’t gather information, make connections, and dive deeper into the shed industry.
“This has been fantastic,” says Cody Petersheim, general manager of Yoder Storage Sheds, Penrose, Colorado. “I met a lot of great people and put some faces to names for people whom I’ve had contact with through email, phone calls, and was actually able to meet them in person.
“I also made a lot more connections and met more people in the industry and networked well. It was absolutely phenomenal.”
EXHIBITORS & EDUCATION
A total of 154 exhibiting companies were on hand to provide attendees with products, services, and supplies needed to run a successful shed business.
“We love our vendors. We had great exhibits,” says Boltres. “They were very creative with their designs this year. I think we’ve seen more creative input on their booths than we’ve ever seen.
“I think that’s a testament to the attendees. They’re looking for it. That’s what they want to see.”
Some of more creative booths featured a human claw machine and a live kangaroo.
Each day of the two-day event began with seminars, workshops, and product demonstrations so attendees could gain critical industry knowledge before the convention center floor opened.
This year, attendees were particularly keen to hear Charles Hutchins of Shed-N-Carport Pro share “The Ten Core Commitments for Success in the Shed & Carport Industry 2.0,” along with Steve Byler’s two presentations, “Vision, Traction, Healthy: The Path to Entrepreneurial Freedom” and “3 Secrets to Solving Your People Challenges.” If you missed attending or were unable to get a seat at any of these presentations they will be available for viewing online soon at ShedBuilderExpo.com.
SHED WEEK
This year marked the inaugural Shed Week collaboration between Shed Sales Summit, NSRA (National Shed Rental Association) Conference, and Shed Builder Expo.
“I think there’s a sense of camaraderie I’m hearing from people,” says Boltres. “They really look forward to Shed Week, and that’s exciting to hear. We are really a community. It’s a community of like-minded businesses.”
The week kicked off Sept. 22 with the Shed Sales Summit.
“We’re thankful for the opportunity to be part of Shed Week,” says Peter Miller, organizer of the Shed Sales Summit. “We think it’s great. Collaboration is huge. When we work together, we can accomplish so much.
“We started last year in Grand Rapids, Michigan. That was a smaller event, and we stepped it up a little bit here for Knoxville. We’re always trying to grow and get better.”
Shed Sales Summit provided those in attendance with actionable knowledge on improving product sales while equipping attendees with the professional skills and personal motivation needed to excel.
On Tuesday, Sept. 23, the NSRA held its annual conference.
“This (NSRA Conference) was the best one yet,” says Jim Kuhlmann with JMAG and chair of the NSRA. “There’s been a lot of work put into it, more than most people realize goes into this stuff. I think our attendance is record attendance, and there were a lot of new faces here to see this go around.”
The NSRA Conference explored views that promote the general welfare of all those involved in rent to own through keynote speakers and breakout sessions. NSRA’s mission has always been to serve companies in the shed industry, helping them to operate in compliance with regulations and ensure the health of the entire industry.
NEXT YEAR
In 2026, Shed Builder Expo returns to the Knoxville Convention Center on Sept. 23-24.
Watch for information about exhibiting, attending, and making the most of the Expo in the coming months.
Boltres concludes, “We are planning to be back in Knoxville and anticipating another great turnout.”
