Shed Geek Podcast
The Shed Geek Podcast offers an in depth analysis of the ever growing and robust Shed Industry. Listeners will experience a variety of guests who identify or specialize in particular niche areas of the Shed Industry. You will be engaged as you hear amateur and professional personalities discuss topics such as: Shed hauling, sales, marketing, Rent to Own, shed history, shed faith, and much more. Host Shannon Latham is a self proclaimed "Shed Geek" who attempts to take you through discussions that are as exciting as the industry itself. Listeners of this podcast include those who play a role directly or indirectly with the Shed Industry itself.
Shed Geek Podcast
From Logging to Sheds: Philip Stolzfus’s Journey of Resilience and Innovation
How did a young man transition from the logging industry to become a successful shed entrepreneur? Join us this week on the Shed Geek podcast as we sit down with Philip Stolzfus, the owner of Five Star Sheds. Philip's journey, which began at 18 with his brother Chad, is full of trials and triumphs, including overcoming initial struggles to carve out a niche in the shed-building world. His experience working with refugees in Iraq added a profound layer to his story, deeply shaping his outlook on life and business.
From North Carolina to Phoenix, Arizona, Philip's path is marked by bold moves and unexpected challenges. Hear about his venture into owner-financed land acquisition, battling local regulations, and tirelessly working to make his entrepreneurial dreams come true. Phillip's story is peppered with personal anecdotes, including meeting his spouse in Iraq and their eventual settlement in 2021. The narrative brings to light the resilience required to succeed in an ever-evolving industry and the importance of faith-driven decisions and strong relationships.
Explore the innovative product lines that Philip has introduced to stay ahead in the competitive shed industry. From greenhouse kits to custom finished out sheds, learn how Five Star Sheds has adapted to the changing market, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover the creative solutions and new features Phillip has implemented to keep his business thriving. Reflect on the meaningful international connections he's made and his aspirations for business sustainability. Don’t miss this inspiring episode filled with valuable lessons on resilience, innovation, and the power of human connections.
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To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com.
This episodes Sponsors:
Studio Sponsor: Union Grove Lumber
Versabend
Cold Spring Enterprises
Hey, this is Susan the Shed Gal. Welcome back to this week's episode of the Shed Geek podcast. Thank you for being here and watching us or listening to us this week. We really appreciate it. Today I am in Mayer, Arizona. Very, very hot sunny day. I am with the owner of Five Star Sheds, phillip Stolzfus. Thank you, listeners, for being here. We very much appreciate you, Philip. Thank you for agreeing to be on this week's episode.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Thank you, Susan for having me. Yeah, I wasn't sure if this is what I wanted to do, but you're not the first to tell me that, yeah, I can imagine.
SHED GAL:Yeah, there you go.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:But I do it. We're actually in Dewey, Arizona.
SHED GAL:Okay, yeah, I stand corrected because we drove through mayor, and we are in Dewey, Arizona, and I will tell you this manufacturing plant here has the best views of any manufacturing plant, of any company that I've ever seen. So, Philip, tell me about when did you first get into the shed industry?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I actually don't know the year, but I know I was 18 years old. Okay, Previously before I was working with my dad. We were in the logging business and there was a downturn of, or the prices of the logging was going down and just some hard times, and so we had an opportunity of a friend of ours that was considering going starting to build sheds, and it just seemed like the right time, and so my brother and I yeah, my younger brother, he's a year and a half younger than me- and is that Chad?
SHED GAL:It is Okay, fantastic.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Most people think that he's older than me, but he is younger.
SHED GAL:Well, hey, Chad, he clarified, you're the younger brother.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:No, so that's when we started.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:So he was 17,.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I was 18, and we spent many long days working, slaving away, building sheds.
SHED GAL:Where were you at when you, when you did that?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:originally I was in west virginia.
SHED GAL:Okay, yeah, and all right, wonderful, and so you just started building that and they were portable, or were they okay, so how did that go? What I mean was it did you know what you were doing at the beginning, or did you have a few challenges?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Oh, my yeah, it was yeah. So we were used to destroying things Right In the logging. In the logging industry, you're wrecking down trees and stuff, but this you're building something new which is gives you a satisfying feeling. Yes To to create something new. But we had three days of training. We went to a company in Tennessee, I believe, and three days of training and by the time we get back we basically forgot everything. We struggled, struggled away and yeah, even my parents, I think, wandered sometimes in those first couple of months because our paychecks were pretty low, because it was piecework, but we eventually figured it out.
SHED GAL:So it sounds like you may have and many of us in this industry have gone through that where you're kind of learning as you go and putting out fires.
SHED GAL:Yeah, yeah, unfortunately, yes, and it is unfortunate, it's rough, Yet it allows us a lot of growth of what not to do and what to share with people, I suppose of what you know here. Try this, or people need more training for sure. So okay, so you started building sheds when you were 18, along with your brother and your younger brother right, Much younger brother a whole year, and so how did it progress? How did we get to today? What's your story?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:what's your story? Yeah, so uh. Interestingly enough, when I was 21, I actually went overseas for um to help with an ngo like refugees and that sort of thing, oh my goodness, yeah. So wow, I actually went to iraq. I was off and on there for two years wow yeah, it was. It was pretty amazing experience, yeah um, I I'm just thinking.
SHED GAL:I literally cannot even imagine. But how cool did it? Did that? That in and of itself give you a different uh perspective on maybe that we're we're spoiled here in the united states most definitely, yeah, most definitely, yeah.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I mean for me, um, the business side of things, it's not so much about the money, it's more about people and relationships and working toward a common goal. I'm trying to create something here, right? I mean values and that sort of thing, which can be tough sometimes to do. I mean, it's a struggle, but that is the goal is to put God first in the business and recognize that everything that I have is from him.
SHED GAL:Absolutely.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:He's the one who brought me to this point, like if it would have been up to me, I probably would have stayed in Iraq for a lot longer, but it was up to him to bring me back from there, and because of that, I obviously lost my job in the shed industry that I was working for three years, which I didn't mind because I needed a new phase in life, and that's when I moved to North Carolina which my brother had already moved to North Carolina then and he was working for a shed company down there and so I just kind of moved down and kind of I worked with him some and then I was still going back and forth between a few mission trips and that sort of.
SHED GAL:Thing.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:And then I went into a little bit into sales, but I didn't do super well with it at the time. I was still super young. I didn't have a lot of confidence and I've learned in my journey that in the sales confidence is huge If you know what you're talking about. Or even if you don't know what you're talking about, the confidence people just gravitate.
SHED GAL:Isn't that the truth? That is true. Just own it, Philip, own it right.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yep, yeah, and and for me, it's that's when, um, when I have um, basically I just don't care and I'm just confident. Hey, this is this is what I believe in. I know my product is a good product yeah, the the competition, they have good products as well, but I believe in what I am doing, a that I feel like my time is up here soon, and I actually went to Bangladesh for a month.
SHED GAL:Oh my goodness. Yeah, you picked the top vacation destinations to do. That's incredible, though.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:There was a million refugees. I think they're still there. Actually, that came over from the country of Burma. I believe it was Right.
SHED GAL:A million.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, it's like one of the biggest refugees camps in Bangladesh no food.
SHED GAL:Yeah, it's pretty crazy oh hey, listeners, we are so blessed of what we have and I think this is a good reminder because I'm literally getting goosebumps of. We ought to be thankful. Every morning we wake up Bangladesh. So tell me about Bangladesh just for a minute, and then we'll go on to moving to North Carolina, because I want to hear about this how do you even start to help when there's that much need?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:for help. You just start with doing the one thing that you know that you can do and in this situation, what we were doing over there is we were drilling wells or repairing wells.
SHED GAL:Okay.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:So a lot of NGOs would go over there, they would dig a well and then they would take their pictures and they would leave right, well, a month down the road these wells would stop functioning and so then their use was not what it was intended for, and so we were repairing wells constantly.
SHED GAL:So they had a continuous supply of water rather than well, you had water for a month. Good luck.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Wow, and they had like I don't know how many districts at least 12 districts, maybe more and then each district had multiple wells there. I mean, we're talking a million people, so if one well broke down well, then they would have to obviously go to, I mean, half a mile sometimes, maybe more, to get their water.
SHED GAL:Boy. That is humbling. When I complain about getting off the couch and having to walk 10 feet to get something out of my refrigerator, I mean, this is really putting things into perspective in my head right this moment, that the things we take for granted. I woke up this morning and I had a thought. I almost posted it on Facebook, because those of you that follow me personally know I post everything on Facebook and I was just like I thought gosh. In my head I complain in the morning if I wake up before the alarm clock, and in my head every morning I complain if the alarm clock wakes me up. And I decided to make a conscious decision of starting immediately. I'm just going to be thankful I woke up, but going back, so you've, you're in Bangladesh. How long were you there for?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I was actually only there for a month okay, yeah. It was one of my shorter stays In my other countries. I stayed a little bit longer, but that one was only a month. But I knew what I went there for. I did what I intended. I believed, but I did know that that's not where God wanted me to be. So I came back to North Carolina, went back, was working at the barn shop there.
SHED GAL:So when you, when you went to your brother and said you know, I know that changes are coming, I need, I'm being led to make changes, what? What was his response to you, if?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:you don't mind sharing. Well, actually he didn't really say much, but he came back to me actually that very same day and he's like I have a job offer in Phoenix, Arizona, and he had worked for a friend of his for just a weekend four days I think it was at his barn shop just to help him out and one of his bosses had come through at that time and he had seen my brother working there through at that time and he had seen my brother working there.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:And so a year later, that boss went and called him up and offered him a job, and he was not able to do that because he had a contract with a company in Washington State, and so he was like I can't do it, but I think my brother would be interested in this.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Not what you know it, you know right, yeah that's right especially in this industry okay, and so my brother came to me and, uh, he was like, are you interested? And I just knew immediately, like this is, this is what I needed to do. And I thought about it for a couple days and those feelings didn't change and me and my younger brother another brother that I have came out to Phoenix Arizona, packed my possessions in my car and we came out here without ever even yeah, without ever coming out here.
SHED GAL:I've done things like that.
SHED GAL:I get it yeah.
SHED GAL:So your first time out here was literally when you moved here.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yes, correct.
SHED GAL:Yeah, wow, and that was how long ago.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:That was in 2018.
SHED GAL:Okay, so six years ago, yeah, all right. Well, you're still here in Arizona.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:That's correct.
SHED GAL:So you got to Arizona and let's talk about, let's talk about from then till now.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, so. So I worked for a company for about eight months and then things didn't work out, but I didn't feel like my time was up in Arizona and so I decided well, why not try something myself? And it's just been a lot of God moments. It's just been a lot of God moments.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I came up north to visit my uncle and I happened to—so in Phoenix they have a lot of pallets that people pick up pallets and they take them in for extra money. Granted, I didn't have a job at this point and I needed a little bit extra money. So I was like, well, I'll just drive my truck over to this certain place, because I saw advertised on Facebook about these pallets that free you can take them. I drove over there and they weren't the right size, so I ended up not getting them. But I saw a piece of property there and I just messaged the realtor and I was just like, hey, are you willing to owner finance this, or will the owner be willing to do that? And they were, and so I didn't really have the money at the time and I ended up actually flying out to Washington and working for my brother for let's two weeks I think it was and I actually made the money it was actually the most money I ever made um in the building department.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Granted, I did work 20 hours a day for five days a week but, um yeah.
SHED GAL:I had a purpose, you had a purpose. That's right.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, so that was pretty crazy, but we did. So. I put a down payment on that land. Interestingly enough, I was on that land for a couple months and it didn't have a building on it. It didn't have, it was barrel land. And the county shut me down and they're like you're not allowed to do this, you have to develop the land. And I'm like, okay. So I ended up moving to mayor um and there was a plot of land there which happened to be my uncle knew the, the, the land owner, and does your uncle live here?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:he lives in mayor. Okay, off grid.
SHED GAL:Uh yeah, back in, so okay was thinking well, I thought maybe he lived way out in the east. I'm thinking, wait, he knew someone.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Okay, no, he lives in Mayer and he knows the guy there, and so it was like a godsend for $450 a month. Yeah, I did the exact same thing that I was doing there at my other place that I was building. I just moved my operation, kept building, built there for a year, I believe it was.
SHED GAL:Sheds, yes, building sheds. So Phoenix said Phillip, you've got to go, dewey. Oh well, but in Phoenix they said you've got to go and it wouldn't work and shut you down. And then up here they said okay, but in Phoenix they said you've got to go and it wouldn't work and shut you down, and then up here.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:they said okay or no so so here, let's, let's go back, yes, okay, so I was living in Phoenix. I came up here to visit my uncle Gotcha. I saw my the land in Dewey, okay, which I did buy, actually, and and it is, and it's just a couple miles from here, yes, but that didn't work out, and so we moved to Mayer and we stayed there for a year, building outside, yeah, in the hot weather.
SHED GAL:Oh, my goodness.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Interestingly enough, it was a drought that year and it rained twice.
SHED GAL:We had one of those last year too, I think. Well, of course you may get a little more rain up here than what we we refer to in Arizona as the Valley, but I'll think about that, folks. For most, most of us across the country, it rained two times that year. That's crazy.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, my brother says I use. I usually send videos to my brother saying oh, it's raining here, and he's like oh, you're done for the year now? Yeah, exactly, yep, is that the brother in?
SHED GAL:Washington, where he's used to rain pretty much every day? Yeah, yeah, so. And then when did you get to the property that we're on now?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, so um, let's see. In 2021 is when I moved to this property. Interestingly enough, it was like oh, two weeks before my wedding.
SHED GAL:Okay, and I was going to ask you. I know you're married, I was going to.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I was going to get to that. Now I know how long we actually met in Iraq. She was on a group over there, yeah, with the NGO helping with refugees as well, and then we connected together that not one of our listeners had.
SHED GAL:Well, I won't. I won't bet anything. I it's very unlikely that any of our listeners or anyone watching met their wife in Iraq. That's cool, that's really cool.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah it is
SHED GAL:Okay, sorry.
SHED GAL:I got distracted because I thought that I do. I think that's so cool. So 2021, get married.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, so yeah, that's when we moved here into the shop and we've been here ever since. And then, hopefully by next year, we'll actually be moving into our new shop that we're building on that land that I had actually purchased in the beginning Interesting, so not the Phoenix property, or yes, okay.
SHED GAL:So some of the things that I took from that story that you just said is you don't stop, I can't, yeah, well, and we do have a choice that we can, but some of our personalities, like yours or mine, we don't, we choose not to. In our minds we can't, we just it's who we are right. Is that what you mean? You can't Because it's who you are, it's who, well?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:it's for me, it's what God has me doing. It's for me. It's not so much about sheds right, it's what God wants me to do in my life. If God wants me out of sheds like, I don't have a problem leaving the shed industry. That's not my problem. I'm more concerned about well, where does God want me?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:And so I'm actually more concerned about am I learning here today what God wants me to learn? Am I being the leader that I need to be? Yeah, I mess up time and time and time again Like I wish I wouldn't. Time and time and time again Like I wish I wouldn't mess up so many times often, and I even think. Oftentimes I think like somebody else could probably do this better than I could, but at the end of the day, like you said, I just can't quit Like I have to keep going because this is where God has put me, this is where he has called me, and I have to keep doing that until he takes me to to my next place, my next step, wherever he wants me to
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:go to.
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SHED GAL:I love the fact that when you said you saw this, you know you're out looking for pallets. You see this piece property, you have no money and you call the realtor and ask if they'll do it on an owner contract. There are those of us who get things done and there are those of us that don't ask the questions, and I think one of the things that sets you apart about being a doer being a you get things done, you're a doer and a shaker is that you'll put yourself out there to just ask. The answer is always no if we don't ask, and it's okay if it's no if we do. I love that, because there's a lot of people that aren't willing to take what they would consider that to be a risk. I think you and I wouldn't even consider it a risk. It's just what we do Correct, right? Yeah, right. Let's talk about Hannah. Okay, so you met her in Iraq, married in 2021. Yes, so three years. I won't ask your anniversary date, because that could go May the 7th, okay, good.
SHED GAL:Alright, Hannah, you got a good one here. Didn't want to put you on the spot there. Do you have any children?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:No, not yet.
SHED GAL:No children yet who knows, maybe we'll do another podcast in five or ten years, and who knows?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, that's right.
SHED GAL:You'll have taken in ten children from somewhere I almost could see, you know.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I don't think I could take ten children. Well yeah, I come from a family of eleven. Okay, yeah, so I have six brothers and four sisters.
SHED GAL:Okay.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:So that's, a lot of work.
SHED GAL:I had a friend he was actually a driver for Graceland up in Washington State Super nice guy named Tim and he was one of 21 children Whoa, yes, With the baits or something. He was number 11. I'm not sure what. I'm not sure that's a lot of children, he was number 11. So he had 10 older and 10 younger and I'm kind of embarrassed to admit it, but when he first told me I thought he was joking because I'm not familiar with families that large and I think it was just incredible. Just incredible, his story. I need to contact him and get him on a podcast too. I'm sure he has a lot to say.
SHED GAL:How you cook meals for 21 children. I mean that in and of itself is just amazing. Yeah, so is Hannah involved in the business at all?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, she does some of like the paperwork side of things more of counting. That sort of thing pays my workers, okay, yeah.
SHED GAL:Excellent, so it's a team. Yeah, I mean, we all have our roles in different things. Do you have a brother, Chad? Uh, up in Washington. He has Genesis Sheds? Yes, and he is in Winlock, Washington, I believe. Uh and I. I really had hoped I was up there a couple weeks ago and I'd really hoped that I was going to have time to get down and meet him in person and possibly do a podcast. Chad, I'd love to do a podcast with you if you'd give me that honor, maybe the next time I'm up there, but I didn't have a chance. I've seen on. You know I'm friends with Greg and April. You know Sheds AZ, fantastic people, so I'm familiar with your buildings. You know we have some things in the works, behind the scenes, working together, but what I see is creativity, and I saw it from Chad and I'm seeing it from you. Let's talk about you. Have a new shed with a copper roof and I don't know the model.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:It's an A-frame, correct A-frame, with dormers. Yes, with dormers.
SHED GAL:Now, there may be something else like it in Arizona, but I've never seen it. No, I don't think so. Okay. it's very, very unique. You have the ability, as the business owner, to step outside the box, right, correct? And you're doing that. What are you seeing? I noticed you're offering some beautiful greenhouses some some portable porches, also known as portable decks. Also known as portable decks. What's leading you to step outside the box of maybe what you were doing even two or three years ago?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Well, it's more the shed economy slowing down a little bit and a lot of competition has risen in the last year or two of competition has has risen in the last year or two. Um, and in my in my opinion about.
SHED GAL:Anybody can build a shed right, but it's except for my husband and for those of you that know, you know it's, it's more.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:It's more about, um, being creative, and, uh, it's the people with the money that are still spending it. Right. The wealthy are still. They want what they want, and so they want new things. They don't want just your average shed, they want a nice looking shed and they're willing to pay for it. So when the economy is slow, then it's the wealthy that buy, and then, uh, which would be your higher dollar buildings?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:and then you're, you're the cheapest of the cheap buildings, is that's kind of how I I look at it, because most people are trying to save their money, uh, and so they go the cheapest possible way, right, yeah?
SHED GAL:so and it is true, and I'm and I'm nationwide. I mean I think that, for the most part, all companies are having the same issues and dealers are having the same issues. April and I had talked about this a little bit, and Greg and I've talked to many, many other dealers about it. One of the things I think that's in addition to the economy and it being an election year and you know the government isn't writing us these big checks anymore, and COVID being not what it was a few years ago I think it comes down to everybody's marketing the same too. Are you seeing that at all?
SHED GAL:I know I see some posts from dealers and I'll use April, and she's not paying me for this promotion. I'll use her, their posts. Some of them are so unique, I love it, and they're not without their challenges. I get that too, but so many dealers, no matter what company they're, with their posts all look the same and I'm wondering if that isn't it's just another thing that's adding to it, Because we know that more dealers I mean I was about the only dealer in Washington State advertising portable buildings, you know starting August 1st of 17. Gotcha, I'd do a free post in 10 Facebook groups and I am not exaggerating. I'd have 10 or 12 people reaching out through Facebook. It was almost a joke like I had to watch when I posted.
SHED GAL:Those days are long gone, right right yeah uh, but the ads that all look the same, um, I think that I think it all plays a part in this I agree, I agree and, uh, greg and april have done a wonderful job yes, they have yeah, they, they make a great addition to our team, like they're I guess I shouldn't say addition, because they are the team Like we are the team.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:So, yeah, they have helped.
SHED GAL:Five Star tremendously, yeah, and I think great things are coming for them. I know they have some things in the works that are just that. I think it's going to turn things around. One of the things that you do, that most of the companies that I talked to or that I've dealt with in the past that do on-site builds um, you do something a little bit different. What do you charge extra for an on-site build?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:um, we're only about at five percent now. Um, if it's, if it's super local, we're even willing to waive that cost.
SHED GAL:You do know that that's very unique. You might not be the only one that low, but when April told me I was like wait, what did you say? I couldn't believe it and I know you had a special a couple months ago. Where will you go in the state of Arizona Number one? Where will you go to deliver buildings to? Are you all over the entire state?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, we'll go all over the state and if somebody's willing to pay, like I know, we had an inquiry in Texas, which would be eight hours from here, for like those A-frames that you were talking about in Texas, which would be eight hours from here, for like those A-frames that you were talking about and like, as long as my driver's willing, to deliver it like we'll do it if the customer's willing to pay for it. Yes, yeah, but generally we're in the state of Arizona, okay, wonderful.
SHED GAL:So as far as on-site builds with restrictions on, you know there might be certain areas or limited areas in the state, but do you do on-site builds in the entire state too, or do you do them within a 30-mile region?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:So I would more or less say so within 100 miles. I would be willing to do that. That even no cost extra. Wow, but anything more than that. That's when I should at least get a five percent fee just to cover for gas and some of that well, I want to let you know I am that that blows me away.
SHED GAL:I mean, it blows me away how low that cost is and what it tells me is you're also your on-site build team's very efficient. They know what they're doing, because the other companies that are out there are charging way way more, and so that's certainly a competitive advantage and it might be something that some of those companies may want to consider. You know, thinking about what they're charging Now, I understand, at the end of the day, everybody needs to make money you know Um but I, I just think for you and your, your business, it's brilliant.
SHED GAL:It's brilliant. You also offer uh, tell me, tell me the style. Some different things about sizes. What size do you start out? What size do you go to? Different things about sizes what?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:size do you start at? What size do you go to? I mean, I have built as small as a I don't know four by six or something oh, those are fun to deliver well, actually most of those, I've just kind of um put them on my flatbed yes, myself but the general rule is an eight by eight all the way up to a 16x56. Wow.
SHED GAL:Yeah, wow, and I know DOT has some restrictions of certain areas anywhere. I mean that's not unique to here or anywhere else, but that's a big building. That's huge, yeah.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:And Arizona just passed a law recently making it easier to do casitas or ADUs.
SHED GAL:Yes.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Accessory dwelling units.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, so that actually could potentially help us as well to where somebody can take our deluxe model and finish it out, or just buy an A-frame that's finished out for an extra bedroom. I think that could be a possibility.
SHED GAL:Oh, I think it's huge. Yeah, I think it's huge and I think getting the word out there that the laws of Arizona have changed. Folks check your local rules, but here's an option for you where they're not having to hire a contractor and that sort of thing you mentioned finished out. Let's talk about that. What do you think? Is there a big market for folks who are wanting buildings that are finished out and what does that include? Does that include, like wiring? I mean, we're sitting in your office here and I came in and I'm like this is so awesome. I mean this is awesome, I love it, I love the way it's done. What does finished out mean?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, so finished out would be you have insulation, and then wiring, which obviously your receptacles, your lights enough to run an air conditioner and then your paneling on the inside, which what we have been doing for like our A-frames, is we actually use the lap siding that you'd normally use on the outside of the building and, because they have beveled edges, we just put them up against each other and then it actually looks like your shiplap with grooves on it, which makes it perfect oh, absolutely which makes it easier to to install as well and quicker um.
SHED GAL:So that's, that's pretty much what it would be, uh for yeah yeah, obviously your trim and stuff so with you can they customize like, if they want, do you have just like a, an electrical package?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:or can they say well, I want extra outlets and yeah, yeah, they can definitely do uh extra outlets, yeah, yeah I'm.
SHED GAL:I'm seeing a lot more of that and it's, you know, a lot of our listeners are not on. There's fewer listeners on the west coast because there's fewer of us in the industry on the West Coast. And I travel to all these other states and I just see lots and options and buildings that just we don't see out here. So I think out here we forget that we are not the universe. I'm seeing a lot more companies getting more creative and finishing off buildings and offering different options, and I don't know what's your opinion. Do you think? I think here's my opinion? I think that companies are going to have to adapt and do that, or I think they're going to get eaten up.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, I think it's going to be where people like to. They like a company that can do as much as possible for them.
SHED GAL:Yes. All in one.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:All in one type deal, whereas if you're buying a shed and then you're getting somebody else to finish out, then you have to hire the electrician. You're at three people right there and it adds up really quickly to whereas they're willing to pay a little bit extra if you can just do it all yourself and in in arizona. It's probably this way in other states as well, but in arizona people have a really hard time trusting contractors because they'll call uh, they'll call 10 contractors. Um, five of them won't respond back to you and three of them will schedule a time to meet and they won't show up, and then the other two. Finally, they're expensive, but then they're the ones who will get it done Right.
SHED GAL:And I'm giggling here in my head and out loud because I am in so many Facebook pages and I and I, as you know, more so in Arizona than anywhere else, but a lot nationwide and I see comments just like that all the time. I mean it's bad enough that they don't answer return calls, it's even worse that they scheduled to go out there, yeah, and then not show up. And I wonder about the people that do that, because the economy is cyclical, it's up and down, it's always been up and down. And I wonder about we'll just use contractors, because you mentioned that If they have so much business today that they're able to treat people that way, they might be having a rough time in five years, when it's just not the same and we're not even in a rough economy. I mean, we're in a really rough economy right now. You would almost think that these folks would be bending over backwards more to help people.
Speaker 1:So it's so interesting.
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Speaker 1:it. Yes, it is, it's really involving.
SHED GAL:And I even remember telling folks that would ask me well, can you do electrical, or can you do insulation, or can you finish them off? Well, you know, even though the companies are licensed contractors, unlike a contractor that you would hire, you know we stay within that box to keep our prices low and that works. But I don't think it's going to work in the future. And that works, but I don't think it's going to work in the future. I mean, yes, if I had to hire a contractor to build me, if I just went out and hired ABC contractor to build me the same, that beautiful A-frame with the dormers that you build, it's going to cost me more with them.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Almost likely, definitely, oh it is.
SHED GAL:and it's even like the portable decks. In talking to other people in the industry, I'm like, well, okay, I don't know about building costs. So if I was going to hire a contractor locally to come out and build that, what percentage more? And I've heard anywhere from 20% to 40% more. Well, that's a lot of money. I mean, if you can save a person 20% to 40% or even 10% or 5%, I think it's amazing. It's really interesting to me about how this industry is evolving.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah exactly. And for us? I mean, I don't want to just do what the competition is doing. I want to be on the edge of doing new things.
SHED GAL:Well, you're leading the pack in Arizona, so there's no, well, that's good to hear. No, you are leading the pack in Arizona. So and kudos to you for doing that.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:But that is also my goal is because if I'm going to be in the shed business, I want to do, I want to do good work right now. Do we always do that? Uh, I mean, we definitely try, um, but we make mistakes, like anybody?
SHED GAL:What?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, yeah, you're human, come on now, but, um, but if we put our value pretty high in our quality high, then, um, with the new things that we're doing, well, then it's actually going to bring the bar up for everybody else, like they're going to have to bring the bar up, and I've even already.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I've already seen it Like where we were basically the only company who who offered like a radiant barrier siding. Now now there's other companies that that will offer that they might not put it on all of their buildings, but now that some of the competition is doing that, well, I want to take it to the next level and, instead of doing the radiant barrier is, actually do an AstroWrap and have like an R9 value of insulation and just have that pretty much standard for all my buildings.
SHED GAL:And I mean having that standard would really be outside the box, especially out here. Yeah, to me it's crazy because at the end of the day it's just a shed.
SHED GAL:But, it's amazing to me how, like you, I am so vested in this industry and I think it's so amazing and seeing things evolve and companies changing. One of the things that I and you may or may not agree with me on this, one of the things I see a lot in this industry is oftentimes things are 10 years behind, whether it be a technology or. But I've seen vast change in many companies in in in the last couple of years and you know, I encourage everybody um gosh, what you know, what worked 10 years ago probably isn't going to work today. Uh, and it's, it's really not going to work in five or 10 years from now. Um, the technology now that's available to dealers and um haulers and and manufacturers, it's, it's really evolved.
SHED GAL:There's some good, good stuff out there, and so it's a great. It's such a great industry in my opinion and again, at the end of the day, it's just a shed, but it's what we do, it's what we live. I joke with people that if I'm awake, I'm working, and if you follow me, you see me here, there and everywhere. I'm always working. I can work from anywhere, but I literally live this industry and I'm sure you probably do too.
SHED GAL:Yeah, pretty much, yeah, yeah yeah, so you have um how many different styles, or approximately how many, because you have a vast.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:So are you? Are you talking shed styles or what type? Of styles I mean, if you're just talking shed, you're you're looking at four or five different models, okay, but then when you're adding porches and random stuff like that, you could call that a different style.
SHED GAL:But it's the same style with the porch. Yeah, yeah, that's how I look at it, yeah.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, absolutely, but then we have added the A-frame, but then we have added the A-frame, we've added the greenhouse just recently, which is a hybrid from the metal shed, which that's also one that we have done.
SHED GAL:So that's more. The metal sided is more of an economy line.
SHED GAL:Yes, the customer is going to get more square footage for their dollar. I mean, that's just the way it is. But they're very, very nice. Well, I'll tell you a secret. Well, it's not really a secret, it's. It's what I project. You are going to sell a ton of greenhouses in.
SHED GAL:Arizona and, um, you know it's new for you, right? Okay, um, still working out the key, yeah, and and, and they will work themselves out, because you're not going to stop before they do, but when you do, when you're ready to literally blast that off, you're going to sell a ton. Some of you may not realize, but most of Arizona is above 4,500 feet elevation, which is kind of crazy, because down in what we refer to the valley of Maricopa County and Phoenix, it's pretty flat. Yes, but you know, up here, driving up to Dewey today, you know beautiful drive, you know we were going up. We're not super high right here, but if you go a little bit farther north, just to Flagstaff, you're at what? Almost 7,000 feet 7,000,.
SHED GAL:Yeah, You're in beautiful Ponderosa pines and a lot of snow in the winter and I can see people using the greenhouses. They're going to be used for winter in the valley and they're going to be used, you know, most of the rest of the year up in the higher elevations. It's a win-win situation for you.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, that was a situation where I just couldn't wait any longer to to build greenhouses. I'm just like, well, I'm gonna, I'm gonna figure something out. Yes, um, and I guess I just winged it.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yes, I came up with an idea in my head, uh, just took my metal version and just redid it a little bit yeah put some clear plastic on it and, interestingly enough, I I built my first one and greg took a few pictures of it and he sold it before it ever got to his lot. I heard that and, and then another customer bought a uh, uh like a 10 by 16 greenhouse and and this was without it, ever even like. People aren't even able to see these right things because they're sailing.
SHED GAL:So now we we're, we're in the process, we've got like another four that we're about ready to send out, so well, I I think you ought to get ready, uh, because I think once uh, your dealers start uh and you start promoting those, it's going to be a big hit. You know, little shout out to jade martin at heritage steel. I think you happen to know him.
SHED GAL:I do know in Salisbury, North Carolina uh, , super great guy, yes he can tell his wife fantastic, their folks, their team members I mean I love that company. Um they're doing. They have some beautiful greenhouses too and they're selling a lot of them.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
SHED GAL:And I have no doubt that, uh, that's what's going to happen here Now, as when I was a dealer in Arizona, I could not find a company that I could sell greenhouses for. Yep, yep. Once again, you are leading the pack, yep, yep. Once again, you are leading the pack, yep. So, without divulging any industry secrets, do you have any other products that I don't know about or that are coming along the pipeline? I saw a cute little. That's not new. I saw a cute little I'm assuming it's probably a playhouse out there.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, a little pink building. Yeah, that was awfully cute. Yeah, we just figured we would put one of those on the lot, draw people in, get their attention. Well, guess what?
SHED GAL:You put it on the lots they're going to sell. I just think about all the things over the years I've had requests for, and it doesn't mean every time someone asks you if you offer something that they're going to buy it.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:But if you don't offer it, so any any different products coming along the line, uh, I don't know. Um, for me it's, it's always um, actually, I, it's kind of up to the customer at this point, um, and then you just kind of see what people are interested in and kind of go that direction. I just quoted a custom build, on-site build for like a balcony. I guess you can't call it a balcony, but basically a place where they could actually walk up onto the roof and have a flat area there on their roof. Interesting.
SHED GAL:Well, if you do that, I want to see pictures, yeah I definitely need to take pictures of that, but that's. That's about the newest thing so, so I, I believe, uh, if I'm not speaking out of terms like the portable decks or portable porches, I think you may be the first in the state doing those as well yeah, and so some of that stuff I have to perfect a little bit more, like even the portable decks.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Basically, the ones that we have built have, in my opinion, are just observatories, right, because they're all portable, they're decks but they're used. For example, I built two of them before for a mining company. Oh, so they would have their people come in and then they would stand underneath the portable deck to get out of the sun, right, okay?
SHED GAL:All right, okay, I see what you're saying, so that is more of like an observatory thing. Yeah.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:And we've sold a couple more from that. But the deck side of things, the portable decks, I have to not redesign but amp it up a little bit more and to where I can adjust the heights and sort of that thing.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, I haven't done that yet and that's where, like, I think that could be a huge hit as well, because of um, all the manufactured houses out here, yes, uh, tons of manufactured, in the North especially, and they have nothing. They have no decks. And with the way contractors are, if they could just go onto a lot and see, oh I could buy a deck and I could just pull it up to my house and I can do rent to own on that, they're going to be like sign me up.
SHED GAL:Yes, you know, I was talking to a dealer a few months ago about the rent to own on portable decks because they offer it and I'm like, wait, you can rent to own a portable porch. You know, and I said I'm just curious like how many of those people are going to default on and that's really yet to be seen. But we were talking about even versus a shed. If you have your manufactured home and you have maybe a shed on Rent to own and you have your portable porch on Rent to own, you're probably going to give up your shed before you give up your porch because your kids are going in and out each day. You got to bring the groceries in and so. But it's, it's. It's amazing me, uh, it's amazing to me also the that the rent to own companies are very creative on what, um, they will do.
SHED GAL:I struggle in my head of how on earth do we market a portable porch, like I know it could be done. In fact, I saw one of your posts, greg's post, I believe that he had done and I loved it. It was great. But in my head I'm like how are people so many people don't even still, to this day, don't understand what a portable building is, and now we're talking about okay, well, you can buy a portable porch, you know, but yeah, that'll be interesting. So what I heard from you is it's not just like we decide to build something and then it's perfected the next day. It's really a process.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:It is. It takes a lot of work, time and energy, and I mean building the structure itself is actually kind of simple and it's actually a lot of fun to do that, but then your time in figuring out how many materials goes into it the pricing costs and all that so there there is a lot of work and with as much uh, new stuff as we've been doing, it's that's been a lot of work yeah, and you know I'm thinking of it on the dealer's side.
SHED GAL:I don't think I ever thought about how much goes into those things. You know because you're doing it right. But I I wonder how many dealers are like, come on, just get it done right. Well, we would, but remember we're also doing everything else we're doing right and I think that's you know.
SHED GAL:You know, you've got, you've still got to, you've still got to. You still have to, you know, manufacture the sheds and be doing everything else and running the operation and training. Let's talk a little bit about COVID. Okay, because COVID is, it's not over, covid's still around, but it is not wreaking the havoc.
SHED GAL:When I say havoc, I mean the havoc of none of us could even keep up during COVID, right, we couldn't keep up on the sales side. Companies couldn't keep up on the sales side, companies couldn't keep up on the manufacturing side. What do you think? And I hope it never happens again, I hope we never had that. I mean we literally joked that we could not, not sell a building. I mean I was shut down for a month and then we did seven and I was selling but our lots were shut down. I was going to put my team members out on a lot and you know people would be mad at us, even though a shed was deemed essential. And then we did, you know, sold 70 one month. I mean it was just on top of all the metal. What were some good things that came out of COVID as far as maybe learning experiences, and what are things that you hope never happen again, if that makes sense, like were there some lessons that we should have learned from COVID?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, I think for me, like we grew so rapidly that we had to, like what I hope that doesn't happen again is I got to make sure the numbers are correct, because and you have inflation right and then you have to adjust your prices going up and then now you have to adjust them coming down and that's that's. That's a pretty difficult process, but as far as, yeah, we were essential workers, I mean, we kept working. It's interesting because I was going into the business in like the end of 2019, right, and I was chomping at the bit, ready to go, and the word I got from God was Isaiah 40, 31. They that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings as eagles. They shall run and not grow weary. They shall walk and not faint. And God just told me to wait, right, just be patient.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:And then January happened, and then COVID hit 2020 in January, and I'm just like what is going on, like I'm trying to start a new business here, like am I doing actually what God is asking me to do? And then it happened, it just started rolling and it just, yeah, I mean we did pretty well in 2020, but then 2021, we really, I mean we probably did four times the amount that we did in 2020.
SHED GAL:Yeah, and it's interesting because you know those of us that survived it. It's like, oh, you know, it was a great time on one hand, but it was also a horrible time on one hand, or maybe not horrible, maybe very challenging. I mean, where are you getting the materials. It was very, very difficult. I think, on everyone and I remember up in Washington calling about some delays and the trying to stay. We're trying to stay up to date and they're like. We literally cannot find a two by four to buy. Did you ever think?
SHED GAL:in your life that you would say that you know something like that. Or and then it was another time. It was siding we literally cannot get in siding. And then it was metal roofing we can't get that in. And it was siding we literally cannot get in siding. And then it was metal roofing. We can't get that in, and it was just. I just can't. Those things I hope we never go through. Yeah, I agree, I agree.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I mean, our thing was the Silvertex siding and we were getting it for a great price, right, that's amazing. At one point we had to buy it from Home Depot and wait for eight weeks to get it and the pricing was like $20 a sheet more. Oh wow.
SHED GAL:Yeah, oh, wow, that's a lot Well, yeah.
SHED GAL:And especially when you're selling buildings at one price. Yeah, you know there was good things, like you know, great, it's great that we're selling buildings at one price and then that, yeah, there, you know there was good things, like you know, great, it's great that we're selling more and it's four times more. But it's not without its challenges and you know, it's only my opinion. I think that a lot of the issues that we're seeing now they're not United States issues. Now they're not United States issues. They're worldwide issues with inflation and problems that are happening. But it is rough and you touched on that earlier about the people that had money, still have money and in fact they probably have more money. I mean, look at our stock market, right.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah.
SHED GAL:And then there's the rest of us. Yeah, from this and that and PPP loans and different things, it's like how can we be more in debt now?
SHED GAL:Well, it's because I think we got spoiled and people just kept on spending and they didn't have the money. So it is a very challenging time. No doubt Portable buildings aren't going anywhere. I mean as far as they're not going away. If you're struggling out there, folks, if you're a manufacturer that's having issues or you're a dealer that's having challenges, you have to dig deep inside, and that's what you're doing.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Definitely.
SHED GAL:God is leading you and saying you know what, and Susan is behind the scenes saying come on, get those greenhouses, greenhouses, right. Yeah, it's very interesting time. What do you see over? You mentioned building another spot and hoping in the next, or another piece of property and moving to another piece of property. What are your long-term goals for five-star sheds?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Well, for me, I actually want it to be kind of a self-sustaining business, um to eventually to where I can let someone else run the company for me.
SHED GAL:So if you know anybody out there um well, this is a good podcast to put the word out that, hey, if, if there's someone responsible who works hard, who could be a great opportunity in Mayor, Arizona.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, but my goal is so obviously, I want to grow my leadership abilities with Five Star and I believe that's a part of the process of why God has me here, has me here, um, but I want to continue being a light, uh, being uh in the ministry, that sort of thing, so long-term, like I don't, I don't know where I'm going to be, right, right, um. So that's why I I need to do the best that I can now with what I have, and that's where collaboration comes into play, finding key people, because I do believe that there's more people out there that are willing to help me with my business, even growing my business.
SHED GAL:I 100% agree. Maybe you haven't even met them yet. Probably not.
Speaker 1:I mean, it's not that you haven't even met them yet. Probably not.
SHED GAL:It's not that you don't have great people.
SHED GAL:It's that there's more that you don't even know are out there that you haven't met?
SHED GAL:yet that are meant to be with you.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:If you want to go fast, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together. That's what, I believe, steve Jobs said.
SHED GAL:Say that one more time If you want to go fast go alone, but if you want to go far go together.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yes, yeah.
SHED GAL:Absolutely. Collaboration, yeah, so as a business owner, you have so many different hats and it's going to be fun to watch the progression. It's going to be fun to watch the progression and I see this business growing and evolving and, allowing you to, I got the feeling and it was just goosebumps when we were talking. So you know, those watching you may not have gotten the same feeling, but I got the feeling that you're led to mission work and helping people and, uh, you know, I, I, I see this as being a tool to get you to be able to do that more.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yes.
SHED GAL:And I hope, I hope we, we get to see and watch that uh real quick. Chad, younger brother, uh up in Washington. So you started your journey, you came out here and then he ended up in Washington, correct, and so do you collaborate with him.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yes, yeah, yes, yeah, he helps me out some in Five Star. I don't help him as much in Genesis because he has a very good group of people up there. He has a bunch of good skilled labor and everything like that Wonderful, but yes, he does help me out a bunch. I mean, he is kind of the one who got me out here. He actually facilitated that. Amazing who. Who got me out here? Um, he actually facilitated that. Uh, amazing he is. He is a wonderful.
SHED GAL:He is a wonderful person and a great brother like, yeah, I really look forward to meeting him in person and seeing his operation. One of the things about where he is located is what makes sense for washington state. Now I I've looked up his dealer network and there's an area I'm not going to say it in Washington State that I know his intention was to go to. He may already have grown into that area, but I'm not going to throw it out there in case that's an industry secret and I don't know. Does he go down into Oregon too?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I'm not even sure. I'm sure he does.
SHED GAL:Yeah, he's more the Southwest Washington, but it makes a lot more sense for growing a more populous area to be where he is than maybe some other areas in the state. So I think that was a really good decision on his part.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:He did a job in Alaska, so I'm sure he can All right.
SHED GAL:Well, wow, that was a field trip from work right. Yeah.
Speaker 1:Right.
SHED GAL:Well, good, well, I've really enjoyed talking to you. I think this is cool To me, this podcast, it isn't just about a shed and four walls and, okay, someone uses this sighting and someone uses that sighting. It's about what got you here, right, and I think you've expressed that really well.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Thank you.
SHED GAL:I feel like I know you right and I think we only met once in the past, so before we go, I'm going to give you the opportunity, if you want, to ask me any questions. I'm honestly not even sure why we do this. The last couple of people were like nope, no questions. And I'm like, yeah, you can just watch my Facebook if you have a question right about me, but do you have any questions for me?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:Yeah, I mean, where do you see yourself in five?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:years from now.
SHED GAL:In five years from now. I will continue. I will have continued to be helping as many people in this industry as I possibly can. Nice, yeah, yeah. And you know, I think that's an ever-evolving way the amount of people that have reached out to me. I was talking to a gal yesterday in Oklahoma and she said you know, I talked to you a couple years ago. I reached out to you a couple years ago and I was like that's so cool. So I, you know, are there ways better than mine? Absolutely. Are there people that you know are more effective than me? Absolutely, but I see myself helping as many people as I possibly can in the midst of that, growing and doing it so I can share with more people. If money wasn't an issue and you and your wife could leave tomorrow on a mission trip, where would you go?
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I would probably visit Iraq again and visit actually some of the friends that I made there.
SHED GAL:Yeah, I was wondering before we wrap this up. I was wondering when you were talking about Iraq and Bangladesh. I was wondering if you made, if relationships were made, that would be long-term. Yeah, and the answer to that is yeah, yes I still have one guy.
PHILIP STOLTZFUS:I should reach out to him again. It's been a little while since I've, I've, I've talked with him, but yeah, for years, like he has messaged me and stuff. That's incredible, yeah.
SHED GAL:We live on this small planet, in the realm of the entire universe, yet Iraq seems so far away, yeah, so far away. Well, thank you, Philip, really thank you, you're welcome I so appreciate you taking your time out of your day. This is Susan the Shed Gal. Thank you for listening to this week's episode of the Shed Geek Podcast, and we will see you soon.