Pre-made/assembled sheds and playhouses. Interest?

lendaddy · 05-15-2006, 05:07 PM

I have an idea to supplement our current business by building and selling and delivering assembled smallish storage buildings and playhouses. Think 8 x 10' or maybe even 10' x 12', but you should get the picture.

Made in my factory, we could could pump these out like pancakes. So assume manufacture/delivery are not a problem.

Then comes what I feel is my biggest advantage, free marketing. My current building (attractivish, stone exterior) is 21k+ sq ft with a 26' high flat rooftop. It is right next to one of the busiest four lanes in the area. There is an intersection maybe 1000 yards away in which my building is VERY visible. The area is in wealthyish West Michigan and chock full of subdivisions, both new and old.

Anyway, I put a couple of these sheds/playhouses with signage on the roof and I would get tens of thousands of views a day for free. This I am thinking is a killer setup and would be yet another way to get less dependant on the auto industry.

So, I have determined that I MUST use this advertising space to my advantage one way or another, so if you have any other product ideas let me know. Or if you think I am being too optimistic about my "marketing advantage" I would love to hear that too.

See, we've never sold anything to the public, so I'm more than willing to be educated.

Thanks in advance.

lendaddy · 05-15-2006, 05:56 PM

I'm sensing a lack of interest, what about enclosed trailers?

The product isn't really the focal point of my theory, it just has to be something that sells visually leading to local word of mouth.

rcecale · rcecale's Garage

There are a few places down here in Marietta, GA doing the same kind of thing you've just described. Three for sure that I know of...all in the same city. Each one has about a half-dozen or so different sized buildings set up for display as you drive past.

Marietta and the surrounding un-incorporated area has a population of around 100,000, plus surrounding cities. You're looking at maybe 150,000 people. If this size population can support 3 businesses like this, I would think yours should do a pretty good job for you up there too.

Good luck!

Randy

lendaddy · 05-15-2006, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by rcecale
There are a few places down here in Marietta, GA doing the same kind of thing you've just described. Three for sure that I know of...all in the same city. Each one has about a half-dozen or so different sized buildings set up for display as you drive past.

Marietta and the surrounding un-incorporated area has a population of around 100,000, plus surrounding cities. You're looking at maybe 150,000 people. If this size population can support 3 businesses like this, I would think yours should do a pretty good job for you up there too.

Good luck!

Randy

Interesting Randy, good to know it's been proven. Grand Rapids is similar at 200k with several populated suburbs of which I am in one. So maybe 300k.

I really think these are something that sells visually. Also, I have ideas for "painless delivery" where I can pick and place these on their lot without scarring their lawn.

One main problem is my lack of experience in public sales. I'm pretty sure the markups are out of this world compared to what I am use to. Not to mention actually selling one on one

Flatbutt1 · 05-15-2006, 06:10 PM

just make sure you respond to the folks calling. I've called three of these shed specialist in the last coupla months based on such free advertising, and am now building my own shed. None of them ever called me. AND consider one off type sizes. mine is fitting into an odd size space 7.5 ft X 7 ft.

lendaddy · 05-15-2006, 06:14 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Flatbutt1
just make sure you respond to the folks calling. I've called three of these shed specialist in the last coupla months based on such free advertising, and am now building my own shed. None of them ever called me. AND consider one off type sizes. mine is fitting into an odd size space 7.5 ft X 7 ft.

Also good info, thanks. And yes I already considered a "custom option" for folks that need special sizes and/or want them to have a certain look (match their home, etc..).

Moneyguy1 · 05-15-2006, 06:32 PM

KD might be the way to go....4 walls and two roof sections...just erect and you're done. Shipping becomes a whole lot easier. And, if sold like that, transportable in a pickup truck!! Moving pre-assembled, you run into the problem of on-site impediments like the guy with an 8 foot sideyard who wants a ten foot shed in the backyard!!

Make the design modular if possible the 8' long wall on an 6 x 8 shed becomes the short wall on a 8 x 10.

VaSteve · 05-15-2006, 06:33 PM

Len

I don't know squat about your area, but figure that the same people will drive by all the time. That will be your market ... for a while. After they have seen you enough and bought their fill, you will need to start marketing beyound the drivebys.

MY additonal $.02. I wouldn't want a metal shed, they rust and many subdivisions won't let you put it up. I just bought a nice small shed (about 2.5 x 4 feet x 6 high) made of plastic for about $220 from Sears. Required no tools to assemble. I would never want a metal playhouse for my kids. Fear of them cutting themselves.

lendaddy · 05-15-2006, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Moneyguy1
KD might be the way to go....4 walls and two roof sections...just erect and you're done. Shipping becomes a whole lot easier. And, if sold like that, transportable in a pickup truck!! Moving pre-assembled, you run into the problem of on-site impediments like the guy with an 8 foot sideyard who wants a ten foot shed in the backyard!!

Make the design modular if possible the 8' long wall on an 6 x 8 shed becomes the short wall on a 8 x 10.

I thought of that and really didn't have an answer. Having the modular option wouldn't be that difficult to do, so thanks for the idea.

And Steve, I wouldn't be making these from steel. I might have to do a metal base frame (to facilitate transport), but the structures would be wood.

Moneyguy1 · 05-15-2006, 06:42 PM

I just built a "potting shed" for my wife; 6 x 8. I built a frame from 2 x 2 and 2 x 3 dimensional lumber, a base of 4 x 4 PT anchored into the ground with concrete, corrugated aluminum for the vertical walls, and I bought a product called "Suntuf" for the roof..a tinted UV resistant polycarbonate. Can't give you a price for duplicating it, since the aluminum came from a neighbor that didn't want it any more.

The addition of the "transparent" roof made it much more useful without the necessity of electrical power.

lendaddy · 06:57 PM

Steve,

I didn't mean to gloss over your comments regarding a limited audience/customer base. This is true, but we are talking about a big area and my sales "needs" are quite low really. I mean, if I sold one a day 5 days a week I would only be at 260 units a year.

That's less than .01% based on population. I mean, car lots only sell local for the most part. Who knows though, like I said, this is new to me.

VaSteve · 05-16-2006, 04:19 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
Steve,

I didn't mean to gloss over your comments regarding a limited audience/customer base. This is true, but we are talking about a big area and my sales "needs" are quite low really. I mean, if I sold one a day 5 days a week I would only be at 260 units a year.

That's less than .01% based on population. I mean, car lots only sell local for the most part. Who knows though, like I said, this is new to me.

Then it definitely sounds like a no brainer. Go for it!

For whatever reason I thought you worked in metals. You said something about the auto industry...not a lot of wood there.

lendaddy · 05-16-2006, 04:28 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by VaSteve
Then it definitely sounds like a no brainer. Go for it!

For whatever reason I thought you worked in metals. You said something about the auto industry...not a lot of wood there.

I do work with metal, but that doesn't mean I can't work with wood as well. Though, like I said, I may do a metal base frame or interior perimeter to make them easy to crane into place without structural concerns.

MotoSook · 05:21 AM

Len,

When I was planning and designing my garage, I searched and searched for a "modular" wood structure that would come in panel or sections that I would bolt together on my concrete pad. I have seen similar construction on television building shows, but I couldn't find a supplier. And I would gamble that if I had found them, they would be rediculously priced.

SO! If you have an architect or structural engineer on staff that can design for the above (in small to medium size buildings) you may be getting into a market that lacks selection and variety.

I don't know your company's manufacturing cabablity, but I've run into a lot of construction "needs." That that have gone unfilled.

("see a need!" ... )

Evans, Marv · 05-16-2006, 08:03 AM

Len,
There is a company named Tuff Shed (sp?) in this area that sells what you are describing. I believe they deliver them in panels to be assembled, and maybe they deliver them assembled also. They have different designs and are very attractive. You can build panels, roof sections and floors that can be assembled easily on site. Near where I live there was one that was 8 ft. x 12 ft. that had a 4 to 5 foot wide door was going to be torn down. I was drooling over it & offered to tear it down for them. Supposedly they were going to keep it, but ended just tearing it down & trashing it. I think you could do great by offering different sizes with different windows & adornments on them that could be easily delivered & assembledd

kmhemi · 05-16-2006, 08:08 AM

There is a local guy doing small storage buildings all the way up to single stall garages. He delivers them on a tilt bed truck. Even in this small area he stays so busy that he opened a second one to keep up with demand. Now there is a copycat selling them rent to own. He seems to be doing more repo work than building.

Rot 911 · 05-16-2006, 08:09 AM

There are two or three local companies that sell preassembled sheds around here. The largest is something like 16' x 24' and they all deliver. Hell even Lowes sells them now although they seem to charge around 30% more than the local guys.

lendaddy · 05-16-2006, 08:20 AM

Thanks guys, good info again. I have seen them at Home Depot and Lowes, but the price was high and quality kinda low.

I'm gioing to do some more research on this.

Paul_Heery · Paul_Heery's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by lendaddy
TI have seen them at Home Depot and Lowes...

Bingo! That's where to further research your market. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and start asking questions.

Hmm...I may be interested in one of these. Who makes these? What's the warranty? How many do you sell a week, month, year? If I placed an order today, how long until it is delivered? How do they get it into my yard?

Until people start seeing these things on your roof, most people will be shopping for these at the local home center.

lendaddy · 05-16-2006, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Paul_Heery
Bingo! That's where to further research your market. Go to Home Depot or Lowes and start asking questions.

Hmm...I may be interested in one of these. Who makes these? What's the warranty? How many do you sell a week, month, year? If I placed an order today, how long until it is delivered? How do they get it into my yard?

Until people start seeing these things on your roof, most people will be shopping for these at the local home center.

We think alike

I'm headed over there as soon as I can get away today. Another question I am going to ask is how they receive them, are they assembled/modular from a third party, etc...? Something tells me they have Ricky and Dwayne air nailing these things together in the back.