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A dependable sales engine in a rural market doesn’t come from hacks; it comes from consistent habits that buyers can see. We sit down with dealer and marketing director Jerald Rhodes of Creative Backyards to unpack a full, repeatable playbook for generating shed demand without overspending on ads. Jerald sells larger buildings outside city centers, and he explains why rural buyers are simpler to serve, more profitable to deliver to, and more receptive to clear, professional branding online.

We dig into the details: how to turn a tidy lot into a standout digital presence, why your second Marketplace photo should be a branded micro–business card, and how short, authentic video makes customers feel like they already know you. The centerpiece is Google reviews. Jerald shares the exact 12-hour window to ask, the word-for-word text he sends on delivery day, and the direct link that removes friction. He also breaks down what the data says about trust: respond to every review, aim for 50-plus total reviews, and keep them fresh so Google and customers see you as active, real, and reliable.

You’ll also hear the practical setup tips most businesses miss, like choosing “physical location” over “service area” for your Google Business Profile so customers can navigate to your lot. We talk ethics—no incentives, no cherry-picking—and why authenticity beats polish on social. By the end, you’ll have a simple framework: consistent branding, personable video, thoughtful Marketplace listings, and a delivery-day review sequence that turns happy customers into public proof.

If this playbook helps, follow the show, share it with a fellow dealer, and leave us a review. Your feedback helps more rural sellers find strategies that work.

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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Ready to turn slow season into rocket fuel for spring? We dig into the single biggest lever for shed and steel pros—process—and show how a smarter system can unlock more sales, faster delivery, and fewer headaches. With Tristan from CAL, we walk through a clean, unified workflow that pulls orders from Idea Room or Shed Pro, covers cash or RTO in one checkout, and tracks each building from production to delivery in real time.

We talk straight about the real pain: corrupted spreadsheets, double entry, dealers guessing at status, and RTO that drags for days while customers cool off. CAL compresses that chaos into minutes—select the RTO partner, surface 24/36/48/60-month payments, auto-generate contracts, and send for e-sign without leaving the dashboard. It’s built for how buyers actually decide, and it keeps your team in sync whether you’re on the lot, in the shop, or checking in from the road.

Inventory visibility and dealer-manufacturer alignment are the quiet superpowers here. With one source of truth, your customer service team can answer “where is my building?” instantly, dealers can move deals forward without waiting on callbacks, and owners can see the day’s pipeline at a glance. Pricing stays practical too: plans starting around $300 per month with a simple $10 per deal, a cost you can pass through, absorb, or treat as the price of speed and accuracy.

If you sell sheds, steel buildings, playsets, or mixed lines, this conversation lays out a proven path to scale without adding office staff. Replace spreadsheets with a system that actually sells. Subscribe, share this with your team, and leave a review with your biggest bottleneck—we’ll tackle it in a future episode.

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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Customers don’t just want a shed; they want a backyard solution. We sat down with Pro Tech Trailers in Eagleville, Tennessee to unpack how utility trailers become a powerful second income stream for shed dealers—without turning your lot into a logistics headache. With decades in high-precision automotive integration, the Pro Tech team translates production discipline into clean welds, consistent wiring, LED lighting, and thoughtful features like fold-flat ramps and setback jacks. The result is a lineup that feels tailored to shed buyers: dependable 10-foot utilities, versatile single- and tandem-axle options, and 20-foot equipment haulers for the folks hauling tractors, side-by-sides, or project cars.

The magic is in the model. Pro Tech handles the heavy lifting—literally. They arrive with a telehandler, unload, torque, test, stage, and secure. Dealers get plug-and-play marketing: private asset libraries, rent-to-own signage, seasonal promos, and performance incentives. On the finance side, they’re disciplined about risk with age, license, insurance, address matching, and soft stability checks that keep default rates low in a category known for theft and churn. For the lot, that means fewer headaches and more repeat revenue—especially when a trailer shopper returns to buy a shed.

We also dive into materials, specs, and why fit-and-finish matters when you’re selling to neighbors who notice details. Steel is U.S.-sourced from the recycling stream, floors are treated pine, couplers are standardized, and the lineup balances utility with rent-to-own realities. Territory is performance-led rather than rigidly exclusive, enabling growth across Tennessee and neighboring states while protecting clean dealer channels. If you’ve been searching for a consignment product that complements sheds, draws drive-by traffic, and protects margins, this playbook delivers.

Ready to own the backyard? Subscribe for more conversations with operators who share practical tactics, and leave a review to help other shed pros find the show. If today’s episode sparked an idea for your lot, share it with a dealer friend and tell us which trailer sizes you’d stock first.

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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A single job listing changed everything. Tyler Barrett went from a stressed-out carpenter with six kids and no steady work to a shed builder who runs orders, deliveries, and product development—and along the way discovered a deeper purpose that shaped his leadership, his team, and his community. We get into the gritty parts of the shed business that most people never see: the jump from bench work to managing lumber orders, the “too pretty to scale” $5,000 chicken coop, and the hard decision to consolidate lots so inventory moves and doors stay true.

We share the practical playbook that’s working now. Tyler explains how post-COVID pricing resets opened room for smarter SKUs, why color trends from new homes sell more sheds, and how on-site deliveries double as customer research that tightens quality and reduces returns. We explore a balanced product mix—classic storage, light-filled studios, dog kennels, and chicken coops—and why rural buyers respond to options that fit real life. Then we zoom out to diversification: steel carports, garages, and a clever hybrid using two secure containers with a raised center bay for tractors and work space. It’s a flexible, durable answer to the “repair the old barn or build new” question so many families face.

Through it all, Tyler’s faith anchors the work. He talks about learning to trust, mentoring new builders, and turning everyday installs into moments of service. The result is a grounded, growth-minded approach that any shed dealer or manufacturer can apply: consolidate to regain control, price with today’s costs, mirror residential design cues, and cross-train so your team can speak confidently across sheds, carports, and hybrids. If this conversation helps you rethink your product line or your purpose, share it with a friend, subscribe for more grounded industry insights, and leave a review with the one change you’ll make this week.

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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Ready for a clearer path through post-frame and metal buildings? We dig into what actually builds trust—real accreditation, transparent design tools, and partnerships you can visit, walk, and verify. Fresh from a plant tour at Graber Post and gearing up for the NFBA Conference, we map out how dealers can stay indispensable while manufacturers inch toward direct sales.

We start with the practical: NFBA dates, hotel tips, and why the association’s classes and accreditation raise the bar for pole barns. Then we get hands-on. SmartBuild lets us design to the screw so change orders don’t derail budgets, and IdeaRoom brings customers into the 3D process without confusing the scope. Watching trusses move from pre-cut lumber to finished assemblies inside a clean, organized facility made one point impossible to miss—quality is a system. When your operations, subs, and suppliers are aligned, turnkey stops being a promise and becomes the only way you work.

We also face the hard truths. In a market where four quotes cluster around 20k and one outlier dangles 16.5k, the risk isn’t just price—it’s lost time, weak engineering, and vanished refunds. That’s why we push for standards in metal buildings and sheds, similar to what NFBA has done for post-frame. Until a strong association exists, dealers must self-govern with clear scopes, milestone payments, documented engineering, and consistent updates. Pair that with disciplined geography, vetted subs, and SEO that brings in qualified buyers, and you’ve got an engine that survives manufacturer shifts.

Along the way we share new partnerships sparked at trade shows, our expanding content plans, and a few personal notes on community work and staying focused through slow season. If you sell sheds, carports, or pole barns, this is a roadmap for 2026: get accredited where possible, design transparently, manage projects tightly, and build alliances that last. Enjoy the ride, then help us raise the standard across the industry.
For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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Tired of hearing “quality” without seeing the difference? We dig into how small, family-run shed businesses win by diversifying into what rural customers truly need—safe rooms, metal buildings, shipping containers, and even culverts—while keeping service at the center. Instead of chasing every opportunity, we talk through how to add products that align with current logistics, training, and equipment so teams can scale without chaos. You’ll hear why on‑lot displays and side‑by‑side examples sell complex options better than slogans, and how a focused CRM and clean follow‑up turn walk‑ins into long‑term customers.

We also unpack the economics behind big structures. Yes, percentage margins can be thinner, but ticket sizes drive strong absolute profit and stickier relationships. Pair that with rent‑to‑own, and you create a path for families to secure essentials like concrete safe rooms when cash is tight but safety can’t wait. The strategy is simple: be the rural solutions yard where people come to touch, compare, and ask hard questions. If you’re operating inside a 60‑ to 100‑mile radius, this approach builds trust—and repeat business.

Zooming out, we tackle where the industry is headed. Expect more consolidation chatter, with manufacturers eyeing vendors and vice versa, but also a clearer split: national players mass‑producing sheds at scale, and local companies thriving through diversified, community‑minded offerings. Along the way, we share a personal health update that reframes resilience and gratitude, and we lean into generational sustainability—estate planning, leadership transitions, and financial stewardship that keep family enterprises strong. If you believe a rising tide lifts all boats, this conversation is your playbook for growing the pie, not just your slice.

If this resonated, follow the show, share it with a colleague who needs a fresh strategy, and leave a quick review to help more builders and dealers find us. Your feedback shapes future episodes—what should we dive into next?

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up here.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast.

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To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at [email protected].

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Making Sales Simple

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Your inbox is full, your lot is busy, and buyers are slipping away while messages sit unanswered. We sat down with Velocity360’s Joe Ignace and Brandon Tobin to solve the most expensive leak in sheds, steel buildings, and pole barns: slow follow‑up and scattered systems. They lay out a practical sales equation—leads × conversion × average price—and show how to raise the middle term by reaching new inquiries in 60 seconds, following up for days (not minutes), and keeping your best sellers focused on real conversations.

We walk through the “digital lot greeting,” a simple shift that makes online buyers feel the same welcome they’d get on your gravel. Velocity360 centralizes texts, phone, email, and Meta messages in one place, with a native phone system that auto‑texts missed calls, drops voicemails, and assigns leads to the hungriest rep. Once a prospect replies, automations pause so the personal touch takes over. After the sale, a second sequence captures reviews and photos—fuel for local SEO and the next buyer—without another tool or login. E‑signature, calendars, and review replies are built in, so you can ditch stacked subscriptions that drain budget without lifting close rates.

If integrations worry you, we cover how webhooks connect to 3D configurators like Idea Room, Shed Pro, Meta, and Google—plus the reality that open partners make it easy, and closed platforms can be worked around. The payoff is clarity: an analytics dashboard that shows which ads and sources actually convert, letting you double down where ROI is real. Whether you’re a single lot or a 33‑location network, permissions, routing, and white‑glove migration make the switch manageable. The question isn’t how attached you are to your current setup—it’s whether your CRM actually drives revenue.

Ready to stop letting great leads die quietly? Tap to listen, then try a demo at velocity360crm.com. If this helped, follow the show, share it with a builder who needs it, and leave a quick review so more owners can find tools that actually sell.

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form.

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The shed world isn’t living in 2021 anymore, and that’s exactly why this conversation matters. We sit down with Tyler Mayhan of Better Barns to unpack what happens when an industry grows up: the easy leads dry up, product mixes shift, and the real work of building sustainable demand begins. From the early days of cordless phones on tool belts to a modern operation where large metal buildings now account for a major share of revenue, Tyler maps a clear arc from hustle to strategy.

We get honest about rent-to-own. It opened the door for buyers who couldn’t write a big check, and in Oklahoma it still drives a hefty share of sales. But the monthly-payment mindset can also compress margins and tilt designs toward “good enough.” Tyler offers a balanced view: keep RTO because it serves customers, but don’t let it set your whole roadmap. We explore why traditional financing is slower to catch on in rural markets, how demographics and density shape adoption, and what a resilient offer looks like when you sell across cash, RTO, and finance.

The biggest shift is digital. Craigslist had a moment. Facebook Marketplace had a bigger one—until saturation and algorithms made it unreliable. The strongest buyers now arrive through Google to a fast, clear website with real SEO, clean product pages, and simple conversion paths. We talk through rebuilding a site, connecting forms to a CRM, treating online inquiries with the urgency of a phone call, and designing for two realities at once: older buyers who want a human on first ring and younger buyers who prefer forms, text, and self-serve configurators. Add a smart take on verticalization—what to bring in-house, what to leave to specialists—and you have a playbook for staying relevant as the shed industry evolves.

If this conversation helps you sharpen your sales mix, rethink your website, or revisit how you use RTO, share it with a colleague. Subscribe, leave a review, and tell us: where are you seeing the best quality leads right now?

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up here.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast.

To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form.

To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at [email protected].

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What if your worth came before your work—and that changed everything about how you lead, sell, and show up? We sit down with JMAG’s Chief Branding Officer, Craig Felker, to unpack “wild leadership,” a simple framework that starts with identity and turns it into action: know your worth, initiate brave conversations, lead with energy that gives more than it takes, and dare to dream bigger than what’s comfortable.

From the Shed Expo floor to everyday lot life, we explore culture as a practical business strategy. Craig breaks down how JMAG’s family-first values shaped a booth experience people couldn’t stop talking about—ice-cold drinks, a family zone, and the Gravity Grab that sparked real conversations without a hard sell. We dig into disruptive marketing that actually fits: define who you are, then create moments and media that express it. That’s how a rap video about 16” on center (“Flawless”) turned core values—approachable, best-in-class—into shareable momentum. Some loved it, some didn’t, everyone noticed.

We also go personal. Jared shares a sobriety-driven “honesty tour” that reset priorities, deepened partnerships, and brought purpose back to the work. We talk faith, authenticity, and why vulnerability isn’t a tactic but a trust engine. Along the way, the Savannah Bananas show up as a playbook for reimagining “boring” categories: test boldly, keep what works, and be relentlessly present—on your lot, online, and in your community.

By the end, we’re looking ahead: sharpening short-form vertical content, widening the audience beyond sheds and steel while staying true to a service-first mission, and building relationships that last. If you’re a builder, dealer, or leader who wants to stand out without selling out, this conversation will give you clarity, courage, and a few ideas you can ship by Friday. If it resonates, subscribe, share with a friend, and tell us: what’s the bold move you’re making this week?

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

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The loudest thing we brought home from Shed Week wasn’t a new tool—it was a clearer mission. After a week packed with the Shed Sale Summit, NSRA meetings, and an expo floor buzzing with real conversations, we unpack what actually moves the needle: the human element of selling, cleaner workflows from quote to delivery, and a community willing to ask hard questions about bias, standards, and growth.

We walk through standout moments—Rob Ball’s high‑energy kick‑off, sharp insights from Connor Dalen and Joe Ignace, and a panel that tackled RTO, finance, and dealer realities without flinching. We talk openly about NSRA’s evolving role and why this industry’s willingness to collaborate—even among competitors—might be its greatest strength. Then we get personal: receiving an award while staying grounded, the tension between humility and visibility, and how new media forces creators to define fair play, partnerships, and where the line is between influence and integrity.

Here’s the shift: moving from endless one‑off calls to a defined consulting model that actually serves operators. We introduce GrowthOps—fractional C‑suite support for founder‑led companies that have hit their ceiling—and map out what changes next for the show. Expect more structure, clearer boundaries, and new voices stepping behind the mic, all while keeping the same promise: practical insights that help builders, dealers, haulers, and RTO teams win. Less noise, more outcomes.

If you value candid industry talk and useful playbooks, hit follow, share this with a colleague, and tell us what you want solved next. Your feedback shapes the conversations—and the solutions—we bring to the shed community.

If this episode sparks ideas, share it with a builder friend, subscribe for more smart conversations, and leave a review to help others find the show.

For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website.

Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up here.

Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast.

To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form.

To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at [email protected].

This episodes Sponsors:
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