Episode 89
Shipping Containers to Solar Solutions Innovating with Purpose in the Business World
Container pools are revolutionizing outdoor living, offering a unique blend of affordability, sustainability, and style. Join Steve Deubel and co-host Susan Freer as they engage in a dynamic discussion with industry experts Matt Walton and Susan Freer about the latest trends in container pools and their impact on backyards. The episode highlights how container pools not only provide a luxurious swimming experience but also contribute to environmentally friendly practices by repurposing shipping containers. Additionally, they delve into the entrepreneurial spirit behind container home living and the innovative approaches being taken to create thriving communities through modular builds. Discover how these concepts are reshaping the landscape of residential living while promoting a sustainable lifestyle.
The conversation begins with an exploration of humanity's historical quest for shelter, narrated by Steve Deubel, who sets the stage for a discussion on the evolution of living spaces from simple huts to contemporary constructions. The introduction of sustainability as a focal point leads seamlessly into the central topic of container pools. Co-host Susan Freer, alongside experts Matt Walton and Susan Freer, dives deep into the world of container pools, which offer a fresh and eco-friendly solution for homeowners looking to enhance their outdoor spaces. With insights into design processes, practical considerations, and the myriad benefits of incorporating container pools into residential properties, the episode captivates listeners by showcasing how these structures are revolutionizing backyard aesthetics while promoting sustainability.
As the dialogue unfolds, Walton shares his personal journey into the container pool industry, emphasizing the importance of quality and innovation in design. He highlights how container pools not only provide a unique aesthetic but also serve as a sustainable alternative to traditional pool construction methods that often contribute to environmental waste. The discussion touches on the potential of container homes and pools to reshape the housing market, especially in the context of rising housing costs and the need for affordable living solutions. Walton’s passion for his work is evident as he discusses his plans for future projects, including the development of tiny home communities, designed to address issues of affordability and homelessness while promoting sustainable living practices.
The episode takes an inspiring turn as Walton discusses his commitment to social impact through his business. His focus on employing individuals from underserved communities, particularly those transitioning from incarceration, reflects a deep understanding of the role that entrepreneurship can play in fostering societal change. This narrative not only highlights the transformative potential of container pools as physical structures but also emphasizes the importance of using business as a force for good. By the end of the discussion, listeners are left with a rich understanding of the container pool industry, along with a call to action to consider how their choices can contribute to a more sustainable and inclusive future.
Takeaways:
- The evolution of mankind's shelters reflects the growing need for sustainability and adaptation to environmental challenges.
- Container pools offer a unique and affordable solution for transforming outdoor spaces with style and sustainability.
- The importance of community impact through business, particularly in hiring and supporting those in need.
- Implementing a no-fire policy in businesses can foster a culture of growth and redemption.
- The rising popularity of container homes and pools correlates with increasing consumer awareness of sustainability.
- Modular builds, including tiny homes, represent a growing solution to housing shortages and affordability issues.
Transcript
Since the dawn of time, mankind has searched for ways to shelter themselves from the elements.
Narrator:Over the centuries, these shelters have evolved from bamboo huts to concrete towers.
Narrator:The last few years, there's been a push to save the planet.
Narrator:Are you ready to embark on a more sustainable lifestyle?
Steve Dubell:Look no further.
Narrator:You're about to enter the adventures of Container Home Living.
Narrator:And now, contractor, radio and TV personality, and your host for Boxcar Universe, Steve Dubel.
Steve Dubell:Hi, I'm Steve Dubell, host of Boxcar Universe, along with my co host, Erica Thompson.
Steve Dubell:And here's what's coming up on this week's edition of Boxcar Universe.
Steve Dubell:Today we've got a real treat lined up for you.
Steve Dubell:A dynamic roundtable discussion featuring myself and two experts in the storage shed and container pool world who are here to dive deep into the latest in container pools.
Steve Dubell:Joining us is none other than the Shed Geek herself, Susan Freer.
Steve Dubell:You know her from her knack for all things storage and design, always bringing innovative ideas and practical wisdom to her projects.
Steve Dubell:We're also thrilled to welcome Matt Walton from Contain youn Pools, the mastermind behind turning shipping containers into incredibly luxurious pools.
Steve Dubell:Today, we'll explore how container pools are revolutionizing backyards, offering affordability, sustainability and style all in one.
Steve Dubell:We'll dig into the design process, practical considerations, and a few creative ways you can use these pools to transform your outdoor spaces.
Steve Dubell:So sit back and relax and get ready to soak up some knowledge.
Susan Freer:Welcome back to this week's episode of the Shed Geek podcast on Magnificent Monday.
Susan Freer:I am Susan the Shed Gal, and I am so excited.
Susan Freer:I have two wonderful guests today, and on one side of me is my friend Steve DeBell.
Susan Freer:Steve is out of Phoenix, Arizona, and I'm going to let him introduce himself in just a minute.
Susan Freer:And then on my other side is Matt Walton out of Las Vegas, which is where we are right now, taping this episode.
Susan Freer:So I'm going to.
Susan Freer:Who'd like to go first to introduce yourselves and thank you.
Susan Freer:Thank you for both joining me.
Susan Freer:We've had some great fun today, learning and being here at your business.
Susan Freer:Who wants to tell us?
Steve Dubell:Trying, because we would.
Matt Walton:We.
Steve Dubell:You're so busy.
Susan Freer:It's been crazy, but we nailed you down in Vegas.
Susan Freer:That's right.
Susan Freer:That's right.
Susan Freer:We came to Vegas.
Susan Freer:Well, actually, real quick, side note, before they introduce themselves, Steve and I taped a television show a few months ago that's going to be out near the end of the year, the first of the year, and I'm sure that I'll let you all know about that.
Susan Freer:But it was an entrepreneurial boot camp show.
Susan Freer:And so that's how we met and became friends.
Susan Freer:So with that, welcome, let's.
Susan Freer:Let's start with you, Steve.
Susan Freer:Introduce yourself.
Susan Freer:Tell us about your business, what and what you do.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:Well, I'm, as Susan said, I'm in from Phoenix, Arizona.
Steve Dubell:I own Ideal Home Improvement, where we do model.
Steve Dubell:We do all kinds of renovations, solar, and also a few years ago, I had changed the theme of my show from basically renovations, and I got involved with container homes.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:And then I don't remember how.
Steve Dubell:How it all came about, but I.
Steve Dubell:I know I found Matt's in Vegas, you know, not walking the streets, but he had this business here, and I sought him out because I thought it was a unique.
Steve Dubell:A unique way of utilizing containers, which is some of the things we try and talk about on Boxcar Universe, where we talk about all things containers.
Steve Dubell:And it was.
Steve Dubell:I came up and had met with Matt and his lovely wife Nicole, and we were talking about, you know, what he does, and he gave me the tour.
Steve Dubell:And it was just a unique thing because when I talked to people in, in Phoenix about, you know, would you like a container home or a container pool?
Steve Dubell:And they turn around and say, container pool?
Steve Dubell:What's that?
Steve Dubell:So, you know, after Susan and I had met, I and he.
Steve Dubell:She said, when she knew I was talking about those two things, she said, oh, we have to talk.
Susan Freer:Yeah, I did.
Steve Dubell:We have to talk.
Steve Dubell:So, yeah.
Steve Dubell:And then I spoke with, you know, we spoke with Matt and talking about that and our other friend Chris, who's in Phoenix out in the East Valley, and with this, this great, this great adventure that we'll call it an adventure that Susan's embarking on in Phoenix where there's going to be every kind of shed that you can imagine that's made in the universe.
Steve Dubell:But we're also going to have a container pool model and a container, a home model, which is going to be really great.
Steve Dubell:So this way everybody.
Steve Dubell:Because everybody wants to see.
Steve Dubell:Once they come, they want to look at it.
Steve Dubell:They want.
Steve Dubell:And when they see it, they're like, wow, I never thought that you could do something like that.
Steve Dubell:Or homes are really, that they don't look that big.
Steve Dubell:Or when they see a pool model and I show them pictures, they're like, that's just amazing.
Steve Dubell:And it's another way of utilizing sustainable products because otherwise these containers would be put out to pasture in a landfill somewhere and they rust and then they never be used.
Steve Dubell:And the bad thing about it is they're only when they're all used.
Steve Dubell:That's exactly what they do.
Steve Dubell:They go out and we'll call it like the, like down in Tucson, where they have the old.
Steve Dubell:Where they put all the planes out to.
Steve Dubell:Oh, my goodness, you know, they put all the containers out to pasture.
Steve Dubell:So it's a great thing.
Steve Dubell:So that's what we try and do.
Steve Dubell:We try and do all that, all that for all our listeners and customers in Phoenix.
Steve Dubell: en actually in business since: Steve Dubell:So I feel that I'm a transplanted New Yorker now living in Phoenix.
Susan Freer:That's right.
Susan Freer:Well, I'm sure glad you're here, and I'm glad we met a few months ago.
Susan Freer:One of the things that we're going to talk about on this week's episode, as a shed dealer who started out selling just sheds and had, you know, whopping eight or 10 or 12 display models on my lot, things are not as they were six, seven, eight years ago in the shed industry.
Susan Freer:And it's more challenging now.
Susan Freer:And I hear it all the time talking to dealers.
Susan Freer:So I think one of the things that I've done a good job incorporating other items into this.
Susan Freer:So we're going to talk this episode primarily about container pools and solar and different things that you could utilize on your shed or metal building lot to help you increase your sales.
Susan Freer:And if you're a manufacturer and you're, you know, listening and, you know, you do metal buildings or you do just sheds, don't panic.
Susan Freer:Keep listening.
Susan Freer:This is.
Susan Freer:Dealers will stay with you longer and represent you longer if they sell more and make more money.
Susan Freer:And they can do that by offering more items that bring more people to their display lots.
Susan Freer:So with that being said, welcome, Matt.
Matt Walton:Thank you.
Matt Walton:Thank you.
Susan Freer:Thank you.
Susan Freer:Live from Las Vegas, Nevada, today, I feel like a rock star.
Susan Freer:It's crazy.
Susan Freer:Tell me about your business.
Matt Walton:Yeah.
Matt Walton:So, well, thanks for.
Matt Walton:Thanks for having me on your show and thanks for coming out.
Matt Walton:I mean, I traveled several hours to come out here and to tour the facility and to be a part of, I think, day one kind of day one, day two of our, of our partnership.
Matt Walton:So grateful for that and thankful for the time and the expenses that you had to make to come out here.
Matt Walton:So I don't take that lightly at all.
Matt Walton:And we're about to get into something really cool.
Matt Walton:She's, as you all have heard, is going to have a container pool on her lot, which will have some content.
Matt Walton:I'm sure of that soon.
Matt Walton:But my businesses contain your pools.
Matt Walton:So my name is Matt Walton, and What we do is we repurpose shipping containers and we build swimming pools out of them.
Matt Walton:And I'm one of two people in the whole world that does a fiberglass shell on the inside of the container.
Matt Walton:So that really sets us apart, number one, in just our quality, longevity, how it's insulated the container and the fiberglass shell so it aids more in year round swimming.
Matt Walton:There's just a number of things outside of the container that sets us apart.
Matt Walton:So that's what we do.
Matt Walton:But what we are about is we make an impact in our community and we're about advancing the kingdom of Jesus Christ.
Matt Walton:And so what that means in business is I hire guys that are in prison or getting out of prison or on the streets and we give them an opportunity.
Matt Walton:So some people will call that like a second chance employer.
Matt Walton:And when they're here, we teach them how to just live life right, how to manage, you know, finances or how to save finances.
Matt Walton:We teach them about Jesus, we pray over them, we teach them how to get back in their kids life, how to be a better dad and those kinds of things.
Matt Walton:So that's what the business really exists for, is to make an impact in the kingdom.
Matt Walton:And I believe that if we can make an impact with these people that are in prison and getting out of prison, that's how we bring the families back together.
Matt Walton:And then that's ultimately how we change a community that will change a neighborhood, that will change a city, that will change a state, will change a country, that will change the world.
Matt Walton:And I believe it starts in business.
Matt Walton:So any business owner that's out there that may not use their business to make an impact, number one, that is okay.
Matt Walton:But hopefully this will encourage you to start thinking in that regard because it is a beautiful thing to pursue an impact over money.
Susan Freer:Wow.
Susan Freer:Well, and I'm actually glad you brought that up because so we're here today and Brendan, who's running the Phoenix lot is here with us and did a tour of your facility and it is, number one, I didn't mention this out there, but lean manufacturing came to mind.
Susan Freer:As far as very, very organized.
Susan Freer:You talked about having processes in place and standard operating procedures and delegating all these magical words that mean a lot to us business people.
Susan Freer:And then you started talking about like, you know, something that touches my heart is like, you're in business.
Susan Freer:Yeah, we're all in business to make money, there's no doubt about that.
Susan Freer:But like you, you're literally changing people's lives.
Susan Freer:We'll get to your product and we're going to put up some great pictures and post your website and all that because your product is incredible.
Susan Freer:But the vision behind the product and the way that you are truly changing people's lives.
Susan Freer:So we, we mentioned this.
Susan Freer:I'd looked it up a few years ago.
Susan Freer:Norway has a 20% recidivism rate of going back to prison after five years.
Susan Freer:The United States has an 80% recidivism rate.
Susan Freer:And just my opinion, we treat prisoners like animals and then we wonder why they act like animals sometimes because they don't have the tools, they haven't been taught or for whatever reason like you said choices earlier.
Susan Freer:But what you're doing is literally changing the trajectory of these folks lives that are working for you.
Steve Dubell:Hang tight, we'll be right back.
Steve Dubell:You're listening to Boxcar Universe.
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Susan Freer:You had mentioned earlier about doing outreach in your community, I believe once a month and that you actually pay your employees to go do that.
Susan Freer:And again, remember he mentioned they're they're prisoners that are on work release and then they go back to prison after work.
Susan Freer:And that one of them said to you, you don't get paid, I don't get paid.
Susan Freer:Meaning they were also foregoing their paycheck to go serve.
Susan Freer:Like that tells me right then and there, like just that one thing, you've already made an impact because do you think that that same person would have maybe felt that way 10 years ago or yeah.
Matt Walton:And no.
Matt Walton:So the, the story behind that is so I'm a big believer in God is the owner of my business.
Matt Walton:I am a steward of his business.
Matt Walton:So what that equates to when we look at Scripture, we see God calls his leaders as servants.
Matt Walton:And so what that means is that I am to be a servant, and then I am to steward what God has entrusted me with.
Matt Walton:So all of this, the shop in the back, all the people, is what God has put me in charge of, to steward well, and ultimately to bring him glory and to advance his kingdom.
Matt Walton:So.
Matt Walton:So that's kind of the foundation as to why.
Matt Walton:Then I started praying, okay, God, how do you want me to give?
Matt Walton:You know, all of this is yours.
Matt Walton:So how do you want me to give through your business?
Matt Walton:And it took, like, several months.
Matt Walton:And, you know, do you want me to write a check?
Steve Dubell:Do you want me to.
Matt Walton:Like, how does that look?
Matt Walton:And so what God had spoken to me about was doing a serve day once a month, or I stopped production once a month.
Matt Walton:And we go serve those that serve within the community.
Matt Walton:So generally, like ministries, they're not being served.
Matt Walton:They're the ones that are serving.
Matt Walton:So we'll go and we'll serve them, you know, painting walls, doing a number of different things.
Matt Walton:And we extend that all the way out.
Matt Walton:We haven't had this happen yet, but we extend it out to pastors and everything and say, hey, do you need.
Matt Walton:Do you have any needs at your home?
Matt Walton:Because I can send a couple of guys and we can take care of those.
Matt Walton:But the idea behind this is we stop production one day a month on Friday.
Matt Walton:It's the first Friday of every month.
Matt Walton:And no matter how big the operation gets, no matter what, no matter what, that will be something that we always do as long as God has called us to do that.
Matt Walton:And then we're always preaching to the guys, and we're talking to the guys about why we do that.
Matt Walton:You know, we do that because of our obedience to God's word.
Matt Walton:But then it's to give them a perspective of service and to take us out of self.
Matt Walton:And it's really to get us to the end of self.
Matt Walton:And the really cool story that came out of that, I always had a dream of, like, man, if we can just help everybody understand that, like, service doesn't always look like, you know, a bunch of cameras and a news.
Matt Walton:A news camera there, you know, shooting a story, you know, and explaining your story.
Matt Walton:There may be nobody around.
Matt Walton:Nobody may see you.
Matt Walton:And that's really where service begins right there.
Matt Walton:And so I talked to the guys about that.
Matt Walton:I have a short message for them.
Matt Walton:We pray over them.
Matt Walton:And I had.
Matt Walton:One of my guys is actually going on his 11th year in prison right now.
Matt Walton:He came up to me.
Matt Walton:And he said, hey, Matt.
Matt Walton:And I told the guys, like, hey, I'll pay you guys.
Matt Walton:Y'all.
Matt Walton:Don't worry about that.
Matt Walton:But hey, Matt, like, are you.
Matt Walton:He, like, asked me, are you gonna pay me for this, like, to go out?
Matt Walton:I'm like, yeah, like, well, I'll pay you to go out and do what you're doing.
Matt Walton:I'm paying all the guys to do that.
Matt Walton:It's just the business.
Matt Walton:We just go out and we serve.
Matt Walton:And he was like, well, man, if you're doing that, I want to do that too, man.
Matt Walton:I want to go out and serve.
Matt Walton:So he actually requested to be clocked out.
Matt Walton:So he'll clock himself out every time that we do a serve day.
Matt Walton:And then he just goes and serve.
Matt Walton:But that right there exhibits the heartbeat of Christ and why we do that.
Matt Walton:And it just.
Matt Walton:It made me super, super happy and just proud of him.
Matt Walton:Because when we start to understand that the reason for our businesses, the reason why we make an impact, the reason why we have social media platforms, the reason why we have any influence that we have is because God has given that to us.
Matt Walton:And it's up to us to be obedient to what he's given us to us for and to operate out of that obedience.
Matt Walton:And when we do, then there's like, no toil.
Matt Walton:Then all of a sudden, we find ourselves working on our business instead of in our business.
Matt Walton:We find ourselves having lives transformed within our business.
Matt Walton:On the clock.
Matt Walton:Guys making comments like that or other stories of a guy getting, you know, giving his life over to Christ during a quarterly meeting, beautiful moments of prayer for healing and all of that that come out of on the clock moments, because you just desire to be.
Matt Walton:To advance his kingdom and to quit pursuing money over everything and instead pursue impact over everything.
Matt Walton:Knowing that God's word, if it's true, it's true.
Matt Walton:And it says if you pursue the kingdom, then God will add all these other things to you.
Matt Walton:So that's what we're all about, pursuing the kingdom, being obedient and serving those that may not be served.
Susan Freer:I love it.
Susan Freer:I love it.
Susan Freer:Every time I do one of these episodes, it's the story behind it that is.
Susan Freer:That's the coolest part.
Susan Freer:I mean, I don't know what.
Susan Freer:I don't know any other word.
Susan Freer:It's just.
Susan Freer:It's the coolest part of the story behind it.
Susan Freer:So we came up here.
Susan Freer:I didn't know any of that before we got here earlier this morning.
Susan Freer:And, you know, we came up to do training, you had been here before, met them a couple years ago and we came up to do training because we're going to offer this cool product on our Phoenix lot to start with and we can actually sell these worldwide people.
Susan Freer:It doesn't matter what the product is.
Susan Freer:The message is that's it.
Susan Freer:Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah.
Susan Freer:Very interesting.
Susan Freer:Let's talk a little bit about your product.
Susan Freer:Now you're not a shed dealer.
Susan Freer:Okay.
Susan Freer:You're a container pool manufacturer and very high end product.
Susan Freer:I learned something today.
Susan Freer:I didn't know the price of a swimming pool and I had heard some numbers thrown out in Phoenix about like a starter pool, A starter pool starting at like $75,000.
Susan Freer:And you kind of confirmed that with some numbers you threw out earlier.
Susan Freer:And is that your experience too?
Susan Freer:So you know when you're, you're looking at your product, the price point is better.
Susan Freer:It's a, the benefit is you can actually move these and take them with you.
Susan Freer:But they are spectacular.
Susan Freer:They are, absolutely.
Susan Freer:I mean this is a very high end product.
Susan Freer:So we're gonna, we're gonna show lots of great pictures of these.
Susan Freer:So let's talk about it.
Susan Freer:You and your wife and family moved here from Houston, Texas.
Matt Walton:Yep.
Susan Freer:What'd you do in Houston?
Susan Freer:What were you doing there?
Matt Walton:Yeah, so I had a business in Houston that was doing like in ground pools, just anything backyard.
Matt Walton:So like landscaping, covered patios, decking, kitchens, like all of that.
Matt Walton:And I was in a meeting with an architect, so I'll kind of get in briefly, just a story, but was in a meeting with an architect that was based out of California and she had mentioned about doing.
Matt Walton:And we were designing a pool for a really small yard and she had mentioned about doing a container pool.
Matt Walton:And so I sprang into just doing research on that and then started to notice the trends in the markets and how pools in the housing market was moving towards pre manufactured products.
Matt Walton:And ultimately, you know, that landed.
Matt Walton:Led me to strike up a partnership with the previous owners that like within a year, well within about a year and a half I was relocating out here.
Matt Walton:So I got a phone call one day like hey, have you thought about buying the business?
Matt Walton:And at that time I was actually talking to them about franchising it, bringing it down to Houston and I was simultaneously talking to my family about going in and doing a family business together.
Matt Walton:Other people in my family, they had a business and then me and my wife, we had our own business as well.
Matt Walton:And man and the opportunity came up to collaborate.
Matt Walton: th of: Matt Walton:So I picked up, sold everything and put everything that I had into this business here.
Matt Walton:Like literally everything.
Matt Walton:There wasn't an ounce of energy or dollar that could have still gone into this.
Matt Walton:So it was really cool to kind of go all in on something.
Matt Walton:The only other things I've gotten all in on is my relationship with the Lord and my wife and our, in our relationship.
Matt Walton:So what that means is when we got out here, we just immediately started rocking and rolling.
Matt Walton:And the reason why, going back to the.
Matt Walton:What you had mentioned about the product, the reason why this product was so appealing to me was because the superiority of the fiberglass shell.
Matt Walton:Nobody else in the United States was doing the fiberglass shell.
Matt Walton:So that landed me to continue to research this company here and ultimately buy this company here and then turned it into what we're doing today.
Matt Walton:But we shoot fiberglass.
Matt Walton:The way we insulate these things are different.
Matt Walton:The way we paint them is different.
Matt Walton:It's a really, really high end product that's built to last for a lifetime.
Matt Walton:And so now going back to the business, what we do is now I've got my whole family.
Matt Walton:My wife does some stuff, my mom does some stuff, my dad does some stuff, my sister.
Matt Walton:So we have kind of everybody within the family that adds their value to the business and wouldn't be able to do it without any of them.
Matt Walton:So we're just incredibly blessed to have that.
Matt Walton:I walk in every day and I get to see my daughter, get to see my wife, get to see my family.
Matt Walton:And it couldn't get any better than that.
Matt Walton:And what that means for you guys or for the end user is we operate out of excellence.
Matt Walton:And that's a biblical standard.
Matt Walton:But we operate that way because, man, it's our family name and that's going on these products.
Matt Walton:And so more importantly than that, we want to make sure that our end user is happy.
Matt Walton:So we're always looking to, like I'm always researching the next product to either implement or to change within the current product to bring it up to an even higher standard.
Matt Walton:So anyways, I love that.
Susan Freer:I absolutely love it.
Susan Freer:So Steve, you and I have talked about.
Susan Freer:Because you do a lot of different stuff and you, you are a networking king.
Susan Freer:Like if you need to know of who does something, you call Steve or at least I do.
Susan Freer:Right?
Susan Freer:So let's talk about, and I don't know if you and I have talked about this a whole lot, maybe, maybe when we were up in Tulsa, but why do you think that a sh.
Susan Freer:Shed dealer or a metal Building dealer.
Susan Freer:Why would it be beneficial to have shipping container pools?
Susan Freer:Now my, now my brain couldn't foresee what a shipping container pool.
Susan Freer:So I'm imagining the ugliest shipping container I've ever seen in my life.
Susan Freer:You know, with a jagged edged, the roof cut off and water thrown in it.
Susan Freer:You know, that's, I know that's what.
Steve Dubell:You thought it was originally before I told you about it.
Susan Freer:And then I see him and I'm like, you've got to be.
Susan Freer:I mean these are spectacular.
Susan Freer:I mean I'm looking at these pictures on the wall.
Susan Freer:But why is it, why do you think it is for a shed dealer or a metal building dealer?
Susan Freer:Why would it be beneficial for them to have or manufacture shed manufacturer to support their dealers in having other products?
Steve Dubell:Well, I think it's important when you go back and look at your, your, your initial concept, because if you take your initial concept and you know, you could go, you could go anywhere.
Steve Dubell:You can go to a Home Depot, you can go to Lowe's and you know, they, you go out in the parking lot and what do you see?
Steve Dubell:They say all these different kind of small kinds of, of sheds of all shapes and sizes, all different manufacturers and, and all they are, they, they all serve a purpose.
Steve Dubell:However.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:It's like, I kind of try and equate it to like a car lot because if you want to get a wide variety of good, better or best.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:That, that's what you're going to see at your lot versus if you go to a Lowe's or Home Depot, you've got, you know, and, and they have all their contracts with them, but, you know, they have to accept only what those manufacturers provide.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:Your lot is going to have such a bigger variety of things that, and it's like I hate to, you know, use.
Steve Dubell:I, I love to.
Steve Dubell:I, I, you know, on my, on my podcast, when I come up with different words and stuff like that or different sayings, you know, you can't say that I'm from New York, I'm the host, I can say that.
Steve Dubell:But, but all.
Steve Dubell:When you're sure you, your lot, it's, it's basically all things metal.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:From, from small sheds to me, it, basically you have a shed for every need.
Susan Freer:Yes.
Steve Dubell:Of a homeowner or even a business owner.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:But then on the other hand too, you're thinking about, okay, container homes and container pools.
Steve Dubell:Everybody, I think, from one degree to another is conscious and trying to do more sustainable things, not just in their life, but in the Things that they do.
Steve Dubell:And when they look at, you know, a container home, I mean, they're being used for a whole, a whole lot of different needs and services where, you know, I've had on my show, I've had, you know, politicians that, or veterans that are wanting to go make a difference, like you, Matt, in the community, going out and working with the municipalities, building container communities for veterans.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:Because there's so many of them out there that need it, Lord knows, I mean, you know, every time I see, hear a bad story of a vet and all these things are going on in the world, it's, it just drives me nuts.
Steve Dubell:So when I see somebody, especially a politician, taking this bull by the horns and saying, I don't care what they're going to think of me, I'm going to do this because this is what's right.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:And we're going to be able to do that.
Steve Dubell:So taking that into consideration, you're going to be showcasing all of that.
Steve Dubell:And now we're going to have container homes and container pools.
Steve Dubell:And I think that we talked about this, I think yesterday, I think, or this morning talking about, you know, there are a lot of homes out there that are VRBOs.
Steve Dubell:So they'll come and call me and they say, well, you know, I want to put a, I want to make like a casita on my property.
Steve Dubell:Well, you know, that's a 20, that's a 20 foot container home that you could either use for a VRBO or you know, use it for a family member or something like that.
Steve Dubell:But how cool is it that you can actually have one of those and a pool and now use it, you know, for a multiple different, you know, types of purposes.
Steve Dubell:You know, if you want to, you make it a business and list it with the VRBO people and you can list it, you've got a pool on your property, which you're going to be able to get more money for it, you know, and that's going to be good.
Steve Dubell:So, you know, you're looking at a whole bunch of different types of groups of people, homeowners, business owners, you know, talking about VRBOs and stuff.
Steve Dubell:You know, people that are seasoned investors, even maybe people that by having these and they, you know, light bulb goes on when they come to the lot and they say, but I could do this and this could, this could be another source of a revenue stream for me.
Steve Dubell:So I think you, you, you, you're hitting you, you, you're in a niche market, but it's got, it's a big niche because it's going to appeal to so many different kinds of people.
Susan Freer:Yeah, I, I agree.
Susan Freer:I let, I love so many things about the, the sustainability, the, I know your, we talked about this.
Susan Freer:The, the liners, the fiberglass, I'll call them for no better term fiberglass liner.
Susan Freer:I mean they, these are, they are spectacular and they're just beautiful and come in four different colors and outside can be any color you want and it's just amazing.
Susan Freer:But you had mentioned that these aren't like the minimal of what you can get away with for your fiberglass, right?
Matt Walton:Oh, yeah.
Susan Freer:I think you said it's three times what's actually required for standards.
Susan Freer:So I love, I love that.
Susan Freer:I love providing high end products.
Steve Dubell:You're listening to Boxcar Universe.
Erica Thompson:Hi, I'm Erica Thompson, the dominating designer, a hardworking artist with a sense of humor.
Erica Thompson:What is the dominating Designer process?
Erica Thompson:It's just like what you see on tv.
Erica Thompson:We discuss your wants and needs about your project, go over your ideas, then I provide you creative, one of a kind options that fit your budget with respect to your home's value.
Erica Thompson:When we finish your project, you are set to enjoy your new space.
Erica Thompson:I would love to help you with your upcoming project.
Erica Thompson:Please reach out to me on Instagram.
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Steve Dubell:Your go to source for cutting edge container home and container pool information.
Steve Dubell:Want a dream container home or pool?
Steve Dubell:We can build it for you.
Steve Dubell:Hi, I'm Steve Dubell from Boxcar Universe.
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Steve Dubell:All right, and we are back and you're listening to Boxcar Universe right here from the beautiful and palacious Boxcar Studios here in Phoenix, Arizona.
Susan Freer:You do a lot with solar.
Steve Dubell:Yes.
Susan Freer:Tiny homes, you know, and it sounds like that's market you're going to be getting into.
Susan Freer:So let me introduce you gentlemen to each other.
Steve Dubell:There's more to discuss.
Susan Freer:Yes, there's more, more to discuss.
Susan Freer:But sustainability, solar, I mean, the recent storms and the lack of electricity and all this, of course the solar panels would have blown away too.
Susan Freer:Let's, let's not kid ourselves.
Susan Freer:But why, why do you think solar is so attractive to folks for like tiny homes and that sort of thing?
Steve Dubell:I think it's because they are thinking that they, for some people that they want to go off grid.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:And they're able to go back and you know, you and I met with a gentleman, Phoenix, who actually is doing just that.
Steve Dubell:He designs small but powerful systems for tiny homes, container homes that are off grid.
Steve Dubell:So they be able to go back and if they can set up a home out, you know, up in Greer or in the wilderness somewhere, and it doesn't necessarily have to have, you know, a hard utility hookup.
Susan Freer:Right.
Steve Dubell:You know, and depending again on what you have there and what you utilize for will determine on how big his system.
Steve Dubell:And he builds all these systems custom depending on your needs.
Steve Dubell:In fact, I know when, when we get back, we have to touch base with him to make sure he got back from Young.
Susan Freer:Oh yeah.
Steve Dubell:Because that Young Arizona is a little while away and he was going up to take care of one of his customers for exactly that purpose.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Susan Freer:There's a lot of, oh, there's a lot of off grid property across the country and we, I both know of a lot in northern Arizona.
Susan Freer:So yeah, it'll be interesting.
Susan Freer:I mean, we're running our new office.
Susan Freer:It's going to be off solar.
Susan Freer:So you know it.
Susan Freer:To get hooked up to the grid would be tens of thousands of dollars that we just don't have to do that.
Susan Freer:So, you know, to invest $15,000 instead of 40 or 50,000 sounds like a pretty good deal to me.
Susan Freer:So we'll, we'll keep you posted.
Susan Freer:We may have an episode of Disasters of the Solar Shed Gal or the success of the Solar Shed Gal.
Susan Freer:You know, I, I have full confidence it's gonna be just fine.
Susan Freer:And we'll, we'll have Adam on, we'll have Adam on the show here soon too.
Steve Dubell:You know, I want to make one more point before we continue is the fact that, you know, our energy costs are not going down.
Steve Dubell:No, they're always going to be going up.
Steve Dubell:I mean, here in Arizona, APS and srp.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:Every year it's going up and you go across the country and we're not talking about 3%.
Susan Freer:Right.
Steve Dubell:Or even 5%.
Steve Dubell:I mean, Tucson Electric went up 8%.
Susan Freer:Oh.
Steve Dubell:In the beginning of the beginning of the year.
Steve Dubell:And if you go across to Texas and especially up in the Northeast, it's off the chart.
Steve Dubell:So if nothing else, the reason that, I mean, if, you know, when the utility rates go up, do you get a raise?
Susan Freer:No.
Steve Dubell:No, you don't get a raise.
Steve Dubell:So we have to, as, as homeowners or business owners, we have to absorb that cost.
Steve Dubell:So why not take it and basically lock your rate in now with a solar system and then the rates can go up as high as they want because you won't be affected.
Steve Dubell:But all the money that you would have been paying at utility company as it went up is now in your pocket.
Susan Freer:Yes.
Steve Dubell:And you could do anything you want with it.
Steve Dubell:I mean, you can come to Vegas and see Matt, you know, and look at some container pools.
Steve Dubell:But the thing is be smart, think about it and don't have tunnel vision.
Steve Dubell:Think about where we're going and the future and that's what's going to determine and of course, how big your pocketbook is.
Susan Freer:Yeah, yeah, that's true, very true.
Susan Freer:Well, we did try the solar thing.
Susan Freer:Oh gosh, it's been about three and a half, four years ago and it was one of those situations where we were over promised and.
Steve Dubell:And they under delivered.
Susan Freer:Oh, and they under delivered and it was just a nightmare and that was not so much fun.
Susan Freer:But I'm certain that this is going to be a completely different experience.
Susan Freer:So.
Susan Freer:And once again that's a referral from you.
Susan Freer:So I, I appreciate that very much.
Susan Freer:Where do you think you.
Susan Freer:So you've talked about tiny homes.
Susan Freer:Are you talking about like a 8 by 20 tiny home?
Susan Freer:Are you talking about 8 by 40s?
Susan Freer:Are you talking about multiple containers put together?
Susan Freer:What are you, what are you thinking that your vision of the future for your company?
Matt Walton:Yeah, so.
Matt Walton:So it'd be both just in regards to size, but then we would do, we'd make our own containers to be able to, you know, do multiple different sizes.
Matt Walton:So it really comes down to the lots and what makes the most sense.
Matt Walton:But the vision behind that is I want to go to kind of give me a vision to create this ecosystem to where I meet the needs of my clients from, you know, any of my clients needs that are all manufactured goods from pools to housing to safety centers to a number of different manufactured products.
Matt Walton:But then on the outside of that, while I'm bringing guys in that are in prison, when they get out of prison, they'll go into a transitional living community.
Matt Walton:There will also be same community for veterans and for low income housing.
Matt Walton:So we're looking to kind of attack all of that.
Matt Walton:And the way that I see that is with the 500 home development here in Las Vegas, that's going to have a number of different sizes.
Matt Walton:There's going to be 8 by 20.
Matt Walton:I've found a lot and I'm going through the initial phases right now of getting Everything architect designed out and then we'll be moving forward with the city to figure out all the nuances.
Matt Walton:But I envision, I think modular builds are taking over.
Matt Walton:There's only a small, small percentage of builds within America are modular builds.
Matt Walton:So I think that's just going to continue to rise and rise.
Matt Walton:I think containers are going to be a big part of that.
Matt Walton:We see that, we see just container homes and container pools rising.
Matt Walton:But then I think people are going to want larger sizes as well.
Matt Walton:They're going to want larger, longer, different shapes.
Matt Walton:And that's where I think the true modular style comes in, where we'll have a engineered product that will be built to spec and will ship all across the country.
Matt Walton:And then the modular build will get into commercial.
Matt Walton:It's already there.
Matt Walton:Like we'll be getting more into commercial, more into industrial.
Matt Walton:And pretty soon there's going to be all the hospitals you see and commercial centers and strip centers and all of that is all going to be modular builds done either out of containers or done out of a pre manufactured product in a factory.
Matt Walton:So the idea behind that, just, just to finish off that thought is again going back to impact and into lowering cost.
Matt Walton:I mean, costs are just rising, they're not going down anytime soon.
Matt Walton:So how can we combat that?
Matt Walton:And I think lowering construction cost is one of them.
Matt Walton:And that's where modular builds comes in.
Matt Walton:So very excited about that.
Matt Walton:I think the future is limitless.
Matt Walton:And I think designing and developing communities specifically to attack low income housing, veteran housing and transitional housing, I think that's going to be kind of the next thing and what people are going to be working heavily on.
Susan Freer:Very nice.
Susan Freer:So talking about the durability of these, I think that we can all agree that container homes are going to be much more durable in storms.
Susan Freer:And you know, for whatever reason we seem to be having some horrific weather and doesn't seem to be improved.
Susan Freer:But this might be a way to tell people's.
Susan Freer:I love the idea of tiny home communities for veterans and really anybody that needs a place to live.
Susan Freer:We have a huge, huge issue in our country with homeless and it's, you know, if you don't travel and get out of the country or get out of your county, you, you may not realize that people from other, many other countries wonder what on earth we're doing, doing here.
Susan Freer:What are we doing with the problems?
Susan Freer:I think that container homes can, you know, if you can figure out a way to make it work, it could, you could really be on to something.
Susan Freer:Because if we can take the Politics aside and keep that out of it and keep the huge administrative costs and just put the money to housing people that are human beings, you know, in our, in our country, it'd be a much more pleasant place to live for many people.
Susan Freer:Boxcar UNIVERSE So it's like almost like a glorified hand.
Susan Freer:I don't even like the word handyman.
Susan Freer:It's like a glorified handyman.
Susan Freer:I bet people call you for anything.
Steve Dubell:Like literally, I tell everybody I could fix everything but a broken heart.
Susan Freer:Oh, is that.
Susan Freer:I love it.
Susan Freer:So.
Steve Dubell:But that's how that, that was, that was my origins because when I moved to Arizona, I was still working for this transportation company and I was commuting back and forth between LA and Phoenix and I noticed that, you know, every, all the new friends I met and everything else, you know, that just seemed that, you know, I saw a lot of shabby work and everything else and I was like, you know, I finally, I got fed up with the commute and I said, you know, I'm just gonna go strike out on my own because I know I've been doing carpentry work since it was in my 20s.
Steve Dubell:I worked for an amusement company back in New York.
Steve Dubell:I used to, you know those old, you go to the art, to the fairs and stuff.
Steve Dubell:You see those tables where you pitch a diamond, try and land it in the middle of the pedal?
Steve Dubell:Yeah, I used to build those from scratch.
Steve Dubell:So I had a lot of carpentry skills when I started.
Steve Dubell:And then I said, you know, I'm just going to go take that and, and run with it, you know, and I'm sure like everybody else who starts, I mean, we don't know we.
Steve Dubell:I don't proclaim to know everything Even now after 30 some years experience, but still back then it's like, you know, homeowners asked me to do certain things that I needed to get skilled at and I'm like, okay, well can you do this?
Steve Dubell:Yeah, sure.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:And what is the first thing I went and did?
Steve Dubell:This is going to show my age here.
Steve Dubell:He went back in the day, he went to Home Depot and bought a nine dollar VHS tape on how to, how to fix that certain thing.
Steve Dubell:I watched it and because I, I could watch something once and then the light bulb goes on, I could fix it.
Steve Dubell:I went back and fixed it.
Steve Dubell:So you just, you started growing that way.
Steve Dubell:So.
Steve Dubell:And, but we all have to start from somewhere.
Steve Dubell:And that's where we've grown to, learning bigger and better renovations that people asked me to do and, and Again, partnering with the right people because you can't do it all.
Steve Dubell:Like, like we learned with Wes, you know, you have to work in your business.
Steve Dubell:Not on, you can't work in your business.
Steve Dubell:You need to work on your business and delegate.
Steve Dubell:Just like Matt said, you have to learn how to delegate so that you are freed up the time so you can allow, you know, your, your brain to think on everything that's underneath you and see the big picture.
Susan Freer:Yeah, that's a huge thing.
Susan Freer:And I think we get in the, you know, again, I'm more familiar with it than you two gentlemen are, but I think we get caught up on that.
Susan Freer:And the metal building side and the manufacturing side, we have manufacturers that just do an amazing, incredible job of manufacturing, but they, you know, they take on too many things.
Susan Freer:It's hard to delegate.
Susan Freer:And now we have to train dealers and teach dealers and, oh, by the way, we need to teach them to be business people, and they're so far out of their element.
Susan Freer:Delegate, delegate, delegate.
Susan Freer:Find someone who does what they do really, really well and teach them to do what you do so you can move on and use your brain to find more ways to build your business so you can impact more people.
Susan Freer:Right.
Steve Dubell:You're listening to Boxcar Univers.
Sean from Mr. Electric:Hello, my name is Sean with Mr.
Sean from Mr. Electric:Electric, and I have a safety tip for you today.
Sean from Mr. Electric:Aluminum wiring.
Sean from Mr. Electric:If you have warm receptacles or maybe even receptacles that only work sometimes, and maybe even a small smoke trail that comes up from the top of your outlet, this may indicate that you have aluminum wiring in your house.
Sean from Mr. Electric: shows that homes built before: Sean from Mr. Electric:The problem is the connection of the aluminum wire to copper devices or wiring.
Sean from Mr. Electric:When aluminum and copper come together, the result over time is oxidization or rust.
Sean from Mr. Electric:And over time, this condition creates resistance to the flow of electricity, causing the connections to overheat.
Sean from Mr. Electric:The longer the time goes, the worse this condition gets.
Sean from Mr. Electric:If you have aluminum wiring, bring in a licensed electrician to educate you on the use of AFCI breakers, which sense electrical arcs.
Sean from Mr. Electric:And also Consumer Products Safety Commission approved improved methods of connectors to greatly improve the quality of the aluminum connections in your home.
Sean from Mr. Electric:Remember, at Mr.
Sean from Mr. Electric:Electric, we are just a phone call or a click away.
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Erica Thompson:Hi, I'm Erica Thompson, the dominating designer.
Erica Thompson:A hard working artist with a sense of humor.
Erica Thompson:What is the dominating designer process?
Erica Thompson:It's just like what you see on tv.
Erica Thompson:We discuss your wants and needs about your project, go over your ideas.
Erica Thompson:Then I provide you creative, one of a kind options that fit your budget with respect to your home's value.
Erica Thompson:When we finish your project, you are set to enjoy your new space.
Erica Thompson:I would love to help you with your upcoming project.
Erica Thompson:Please reach out to me on Instagram.
Erica Thompson:The dominating designer.
Susan Freer:So let me ask you this.
Susan Freer:Homeowners associations.
Susan Freer:I thought we had a lot of those in Phoenix.
Susan Freer:And then I look over here to Matt.
Susan Freer:Holy cow.
Susan Freer:I don't know of a neighborhood in Vegas.
Susan Freer:Well, I'm sure outskirts a little bit.
Susan Freer:I did a mission last, I think it was late November to for a shed manufacturer that wanted to come up into Vegas.
Susan Freer:And I'm like, yeah, I don't think that's gonna work.
Susan Freer:How do you get your shipping containers into someone's backyard if they live in an HOA in here in Vegas that have the block walls.
Steve Dubell:Yeah.
Matt Walton:So.
Matt Walton:Well, our pools fit within the new guidelines for or what pools have to fit in, just FYI.
Susan Freer:Perfect.
Matt Walton:So we fit within that.
Matt Walton:So have yet to sell one here in Las Vegas that is within an hoa.
Susan Freer:Okay, it'll happen.
Matt Walton:Yeah, it is going to happen.
Susan Freer:Let's say they have a block wall.
Susan Freer:How are you getting that pool in there?
Matt Walton:So what we would do.
Matt Walton:So number one, so like for with all HOAs we're going to have to submit to get approval.
Matt Walton:They're going to want to see paint colors, they want to see heights of how it fits in the ground.
Matt Walton:Does it fit within the easements and build lines and all of that.
Matt Walton:So assuming it's meets those requirements and you get approval, next is you have the pool manufactured, it arrives to you ready to go.
Matt Walton:You're going to crane it over those brick walls and over your house and into your backyard.
Matt Walton:So and that that thing that would that install would happen like that wherever you are.
Matt Walton:Regardless if you're dealing with just a regular wood fence, brick wall or you can't get somewhere with a forklift.
Matt Walton:A crane is always going to be.
Steve Dubell:The way to go.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Susan Freer:I love it.
Susan Freer:I love it.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Susan Freer:It was funny when I came up here.
Susan Freer:Oh, excuse me.
Susan Freer:And I actually spent two or three days driving around.
Susan Freer:We started In Boulder City.
Matt Walton:Okay.
Susan Freer:Kendra and I and Kurt were driving around Boulder City and I saw a lot of metal buildings in people's backyards.
Susan Freer:And I saw a lot of home built sheds and tough sheds, but I didn't see any portable buildings.
Susan Freer:And I left here going, yeah, I don't think a portable building company is going to work real well in Clark County, Nevada.
Susan Freer:Much, much more likely to work in Phoenix since we have more people that you can actually deliver buildings to.
Susan Freer:I think it's amazing that these pools can be craned in and put in place.
Susan Freer:I mean, they are, they are spectacular.
Matt Walton:Did you hear about the tiny home ordinance here?
Susan Freer:Oh, no.
Susan Freer:Okay, wait.
Susan Freer:He asked if I heard about the tiny home ordinance in Vegas.
Susan Freer:I did not hear.
Matt Walton:So, like they've passed a number of laws that allow for tiny homes.
Matt Walton:They have to meet certain requirements.
Matt Walton:Right.
Matt Walton:You have to match the house depends on where you're at.
Matt Walton:So you have Clark County, North Las Vegas.
Matt Walton:Las Vegas.
Matt Walton:And then you have Henderson.
Susan Freer:Yes.
Matt Walton:Four areas.
Matt Walton:So each four is going to have different rules and different zoning that you have to stick to.
Matt Walton:But you can always apply for a variance for those zones.
Matt Walton:And they're moving in a direction to allow for interesting other tiny home units to be.
Matt Walton:I was looking at buying a property that was actually in Henderson that was approved to have a tiny home on the, on the, in their backyard to where the only requirements was that it had to be the certain square footage which a container met and the face of it, the front of it had to match the home and the roof had to match the home.
Matt Walton:That was it.
Matt Walton:So it can be out of container.
Matt Walton:Just have to do siding and do a real roof on it.
Matt Walton:There's requirements for inside about could it have a kitchen and not have a kitchen.
Matt Walton:But Vegas is moving in that direction to allow for more tiny home communities and to allow for sheds or tiny homes to be in backyards that will be considered ADU units that will allow for the homeowner to have an additional stream of revenue.
Susan Freer:I love that.
Susan Freer:I think it's fantastic because I think Phoenix might be either talking about or they've done something with allowing more ADUs.
Susan Freer:But for shed builders that are doing on site builds or craning sheds and I mean the sheds that are available out there for many, many, many companies are spectacular.
Steve Dubell:Yeah.
Susan Freer:I mean ultimately they're a shed manufacturer, but I mean these.
Susan Freer:What a great start to a tiny home.
Steve Dubell:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:The end of last year, most of the municipalities around, in and around Phoenix have made changes to allow a secondary dwelling wow.
Steve Dubell:On their property.
Steve Dubell:Just because of the way the world is and the way the economy is.
Steve Dubell:So again, which opens up a whole new avenue of ideas and things that people can do.
Steve Dubell:Like I said earlier, for revenue streams, for having, you know, building a casita on some way, shape or form on your property, you know, because obviously, you know, the, the inspectors come by and one of the things that I learned that before they did that, the inspectors around in all these different cities, you know, when you went in there with like a container home project and they looked at it, it was like they looked at it, they had no clue.
Steve Dubell:They had no clue because there was no precedent before it.
Steve Dubell:They had nothing to reference.
Steve Dubell:So the best thing that they could do and say is, sorry, no, we're not doing it.
Steve Dubell:And it's like, okay, so what do we do now?
Steve Dubell:But again, when there's a good idea and there's a need in the marketplace, it always seems to help nurture that, that industry to be able to.
Steve Dubell:All of a sudden, one day, all of a sudden, like, you know, I went to a home show in Westworld in Scottsdale and one of the people there that had tiny homes, all of a sudden they made sure that they put out, you know, a flyer on their table.
Steve Dubell:It said, as of such and such date, these municipalities now allow secondary dwelling units or better known as ADUs.
Steve Dubell:And they listed all of them and they're basically all the ones that, you know, we do business with.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:You know, so, and that was, that was just important.
Steve Dubell:So.
Steve Dubell:Yeah, it was.
Steve Dubell:You know, the, the industry is, is growing and it's moving and expanding.
Susan Freer:Yeah, it's so funny because even just, I mean it was just over seven years ago when I started out and that was Washington state seven years ago.
Susan Freer:I know, back east and they, they are farther advanced in the, in the manufactured buildings, but like there weren't any finished off buildings available.
Susan Freer:You couldn't find a manufacturer in Washington state seven years ago that you could say, well, I'd like to buy this portable building.
Susan Freer:And, and then now I'd like you to finish it off.
Susan Freer:I mean, people were doing it, they were finishing it off themselves.
Susan Freer:But that reminds me of like talking to a couple of people at different counties and then like they had no idea what to do with these portable buildings.
Susan Freer:You know, even though, you know, 2 by 4, 16 inch on center and 2 by 6, you know, pressure treated floor joists and I mean, obviously fantastic quality, but they, yeah, they, they just rather say no.
Susan Freer:And it didn't make any sense.
Susan Freer:So I'm glad to hear that they are coming around a bit.
Steve Dubell:Yes.
Susan Freer:What are you most looking forward to with your business?
Susan Freer:So how far are you into this business?
Susan Freer:I mean you're not 20 years into it.
Susan Freer:You had a business, you moved from Houston, the whole family followed you.
Susan Freer:They're all involved in the business, which is awesome.
Susan Freer:What, how far are you into this and what, you know, you talked about tiny homes.
Susan Freer:Are you hoping to add other products down the road or you just probably maybe don't even know what you'll be offering five years from now?
Matt Walton:Yeah, I mean, most excited about transitioning into be a full blown manufacturing business.
Matt Walton:So I have multiple business underneath this roof for, for a reason.
Matt Walton:But I have pools and then I have manufacturing and then we have housing as well, which is just starting up.
Matt Walton:So it's like I don't have a house to showcase back there.
Matt Walton:But I'm working through with the city right now or excuse me, with the architect and moving forward with the city and then we'll have a blueprint for what I need to do for at least my first housing project.
Matt Walton:Because the goal is to develop into manufacture homes and to develop communities and provide jobs and all that.
Matt Walton:So what I'm most excited about is just continued growth.
Matt Walton:I love business.
Matt Walton:I love the engineering of a business.
Matt Walton:I'm very big on systems and processes and automating everything, tracking everything, paying attention to data, making improvements based off of that data and adding different components.
Susan Freer:Does this sound familiar, Steve?
Matt Walton:That's literally I just love the business side of things and growing and paying attention what's working, what's not working, doubling down on what's working, focusing on problems like kind of staying away from all the opportunities because you're going to have as business people just tons of opportunities, focus on problems, solve those problems.
Matt Walton:I promise you opportunities will go nowhere.
Matt Walton:That's where I'm at now is just focusing on problems and solving problems and problems and problems.
Matt Walton:So I would say just to continue to growth, I'm going to be have 23,000 square feet now.
Matt Walton:I'm going to be looking at significantly larger space for next year, either next year or the year after that to encapsulate all of this more hires, you know, I will be implementing a no fire policy.
Matt Walton:So very excited about that.
Matt Walton:We'll be serving more, having more people solely just to go serve.
Matt Walton:I am really excited about the impact and to be able to use the resources that are generated through this business to go out and fund things like I am really big on.
Matt Walton:Let's Go fund the kingdom over here.
Matt Walton:Let's fund this over here.
Matt Walton:Let's start a ministry here that can meet these needs here.
Matt Walton:Let's use this business to advance God's kingdom.
Matt Walton:So that's really what excites me.
Matt Walton:I love breaking down a business, reviewing data, making improvements, and being methodical about those improvements.
Matt Walton:I love pursuing products that I can see as being the next thing and then pursuing them until it becomes a reality or until, you know, it dies off.
Matt Walton:I just, I am, I love business.
Matt Walton:So I'm just excited.
Matt Walton:All things business.
Susan Freer:I think it's great.
Susan Freer:It's going to be super fun to watch your, you know, where you take this business.
Susan Freer:You mentioned something and we don't have too long left.
Susan Freer:I want to get to Steve, but you mentioned something and someone out there is going to be like, what does he mean by a no fire policy?
Matt Walton:Yeah.
Susan Freer:And now I know what it means because we talked about it earlier.
Susan Freer:But would you, Would you.
Susan Freer:I think this is important.
Susan Freer:I think it was a little epiphany to me.
Susan Freer:And I'll give you an example.
Susan Freer:I had warned someone multiple times about policies and procedures of the business and it just changed.
Susan Freer:It not happen.
Susan Freer:And I.
Susan Freer:And I fired them, I think, you know, but I had this little epiphany when you were telling me about this no fire policy because I think now I could have done more.
Susan Freer:Can you tell us about that?
Susan Freer:Sure.
Matt Walton:Yeah.
Matt Walton:So, number one, it's very.
Matt Walton:You have to be very methodical.
Matt Walton:Like, this has to be very methodically brought to reality.
Matt Walton:Right?
Matt Walton:You can't just say, like today I want to.
Matt Walton:I want to like stop firing people.
Matt Walton:And then for it to go well.
Matt Walton:So you have to be very methodical about how this is going to make.
Steve Dubell:Firing is ever going well.
Matt Walton:So the idea behind this is, so I'm a big believer in y'all have heard me talk about this is making a kingdom impact and being obedient to Jesus Christ.
Matt Walton:So what that means is that I have, I have done a number of things to where any human being would expect.
Matt Walton:Kicked me to the curb, but my Lord and Savior did not.
Matt Walton:And so what I am looking at is like, okay, let's just say Susan was a thief, right?
Matt Walton:You were stealing and you were always stealing.
Matt Walton:Or maybe I didn't know you were always stealing, but I found out.
Matt Walton:Yeah, but I found out that you were stealing.
Matt Walton:So most people, their general rule would be like, okay, well, let's bring them in, let's do some fact finding, so on and so forth.
Matt Walton:And then ultimately we have to let this person go because there's a character flaw and all of that.
Matt Walton:So what I would say is, let's actually develop a program.
Matt Walton:So I develop a program.
Matt Walton:It's called the discipleship program.
Matt Walton:Most big businesses are going to have, like your performance improvement plan.
Matt Walton:This takes it kind of a step further, if you will, to say, my desire is to never fire anybody, but rather to disciple them and to teach them how to be upstanding citizens within our culture.
Matt Walton:So, like, it will just use that stealing as an example.
Matt Walton:Somebody steals their find out, well, that they will be brought in.
Matt Walton:They will be brought in underneath the discipleship program.
Matt Walton:And then underneath that, we develop a system to where, hey, you follow these guidelines here, then those are the steps in order to go back to work your normal day.
Matt Walton:On the other side of that is, while they're following that program, they will also go to work for my nonprofit.
Matt Walton:So.
Matt Walton:So that way I will always.
Matt Walton:I mentioned earlier, I have serve days.
Matt Walton:Well, that is eventually, not yet today, eventually going to be an everyday thing, like five days a week thing.
Matt Walton:So those that are at risk for being fired, if you will, within my business, they will go to the nonprofit.
Matt Walton:They'll serve while working through a program, while meeting with a counselor.
Matt Walton:Then once they're cleared by a workplace chaplain and by a pastor to come back and work for me at the factory, then they'll come back and work.
Matt Walton:And the idea behind that is that they'll be restored, if you will.
Matt Walton:Right.
Matt Walton:They'll learn that like, hey, most people are going to kick you to the curb.
Matt Walton:We're not about that.
Matt Walton:We actually want to bring you in love on you more, teach you how not to steal, how to resist those urges, why you don't want to do that.
Matt Walton:Develop a plan with that of like, hey, if you do these things here, here's some goals that I know you want to accomplish.
Matt Walton:You can accomplish these goals if you do these things here while you're working for this program and then they're serving and then they come back and they work.
Matt Walton:And they may not be in that same position.
Matt Walton:Position.
Matt Walton:They may have to go work at a different position or something.
Matt Walton:I don't know exactly.
Matt Walton:It just depends on person to person and what's available at that moment.
Matt Walton:But they will always have a position to come back in the company and work for the company.
Matt Walton:So the idea behind that is to represent Christ.
Matt Walton:Well, God doesn't kick us to the curb.
Matt Walton:We want to make sure that if I say that discipleship in the marketplace and caring for my People is what I believe in, then I have to put that to work.
Matt Walton:Right.
Matt Walton:And so.
Matt Walton:So it looks more than just a counseling session or a coaching session.
Matt Walton:Like, let's actually draw this out because it may take you six months to actually be reformed or restored.
Steve Dubell:Right.
Matt Walton:Or it may take you a year to be restored.
Matt Walton:And if that's the case, we have a spot for you over here with a nonprofit.
Matt Walton:You'll go serve while running through the program.
Matt Walton:Then you'll come back and you'll still be working for us, and then hopefully you'll be reformed.
Matt Walton:So that's it.
Susan Freer:Well, in a nutshell, here's.
Susan Freer:And don't take this wrong, because this sentence gonna, is gonna end well.
Susan Freer:That is so crazy.
Susan Freer:It's the best idea I've ever heard.
Steve Dubell:Yeah.
Susan Freer:Like, people out there are gonna be saying, that's crazy.
Susan Freer:Yeah, that's crazy.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Susan Freer:Well, crazy ideas changed the world.
Matt Walton:Yeah.
Susan Freer:I think it's brilliant.
Matt Walton:Thank you.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Susan Freer:Absolutely brilliant.
Steve Dubell:If more people in this country had crazy ideas like that.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:That the world would be a lot better off.
Susan Freer:For sure.
Susan Freer:For sure.
Susan Freer:And it's so much work and everything behind it, but, I mean, those are the things that change the world, right?
Steve Dubell:That's right.
Susan Freer:Wow.
Susan Freer:So before we wrap.
Susan Freer:Our hour is almost up already.
Susan Freer:I can't believe this.
Susan Freer:Before we wrap this up, tell me, because you're on the construction handyman, do it all site, what do you think the benefits are to folks buying a prefabricated shed, assuming they can get it built or get it delivered, versus hiring a contractor or even a handyman?
Susan Freer:Possibly because it is a huge business nationwide.
Susan Freer:These portable buildings, and I mean, they are.
Susan Freer:They're.
Susan Freer:It's not the contractor, you know, that you hired can't build one just as good.
Susan Freer:They certainly can.
Susan Freer:But this.
Susan Freer:I mean, what would the benefits be of a customer just buying something that's already built?
Steve Dubell:And are we talking about sheds or, like, container home?
Steve Dubell:Yeah, no, just like sheds.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Susan Freer:Just like a shed.
Susan Freer:Well, you know, off the shed, gal.
Steve Dubell:Right.
Steve Dubell:First of all, I think, you know, there are a lot of people out there, and we have a saying I've had on my show for years and years and years.
Steve Dubell:And I'll tie all this together.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:A homeowner with tools or even a handyman with tools could be a dangerous thing because.
Steve Dubell:And also, just because you're a contractor and you have a license doesn't mean you're good at what you do.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:Because there are a lot of.
Steve Dubell:As my old friend used to say, there are a Lot of shabby contractors out there.
Steve Dubell:So you could get somebody to say, oh, I can build your shed, and they go out.
Steve Dubell:Okay?
Steve Dubell:And the average homeowner who will have no clue.
Steve Dubell:No clue if he's doing it right or anything else, okay?
Steve Dubell:Not to mention he's subject to all the price increases.
Steve Dubell:He's buying materials for that one particular project versus if maybe he was building like 20 of them, right.
Steve Dubell:He could get.
Steve Dubell:Drive the cost down.
Steve Dubell:So he's only.
Steve Dubell:And he's.
Steve Dubell:He's only focused on that.
Steve Dubell:But if you buy something that's like one off your lot, it's.
Steve Dubell:First of all, they're manufactured, they're done.
Steve Dubell:Right.
Steve Dubell:There are specifications that need to be done by when they're built.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:And of course, it's so convenient if.
Steve Dubell:If somebody says get the lot, you know, get the building from you, they bring it, make sure that the lot is ready to go, they drop it on the lot, and it's ready to go.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:Okay.
Steve Dubell:There's no.
Steve Dubell:Well, I have to let this guy on my property for a week while he builds this, you know, and plus, looking at.
Steve Dubell:From a homeowner standpoint, the homeowner has recourse because if there's something wrong with the building, they call you and say, then you have to do customer service.
Steve Dubell:Okay?
Steve Dubell:So.
Steve Dubell:And do that.
Steve Dubell:And then if there is.
Steve Dubell:If there is a manufacturing defect, there's.
Steve Dubell:There's accountability where you can go back to them and say, hey, you know, there was a defect in this.
Steve Dubell:You know, we need to fix this.
Steve Dubell:Okay, let's make it right.
Steve Dubell:If it's the handyman and he goes away, and if something goes wrong and say we have the first monsoon storm and it leaks and you can't find him, what are you going to do?
Steve Dubell:You got to go fight.
Steve Dubell:You got to go on next door and place a post.
Steve Dubell:Me, Please help me, Ed.
Susan Freer:Yeah.
Steve Dubell:You know, I mean, come on.
Steve Dubell:So, yeah, so there's a lot of pros and cons to it, but in the long run, we want to look out for the homeowner.
Steve Dubell:And the best thing to do is go to your line.
Steve Dubell:You have.
Steve Dubell:You have all these different kinds done by.
Steve Dubell:By manufacturers that are tried true to and tested and pick the one that fits your property.
Susan Freer:I love that.
Steve Dubell:And that's it.
Susan Freer:I love that.
Susan Freer:I think it's great.
Susan Freer:Do either of you gentlemen.
Susan Freer:We're out of time already.
Susan Freer:I don't know.
Susan Freer:I don't know where the hour went.
Susan Freer:Do any.
Susan Freer:Either of you have anything to add to this week's episode.
Susan Freer:We, we're probably gonna.
Susan Freer:I'm gonna want to come back up here to Vegas when you get these container tiny homes.
Susan Freer:I'm gonna have to check that out.
Susan Freer:We're gonna have to do an episode.
Susan Freer:I need to follow you around.
Steve Dubell:We'll put it, we'll put it, we'll put it on our regular travel list.
Susan Freer:There you go.
Steve Dubell:You know, and we know, we have, we know, like the lady that I started the show with, which Mel knows we started.
Steve Dubell:We did this segment, Mel and Steve on the street.
Steve Dubell:So I guess if we're going to start putting a travel itinerary together, we could do Steve and Susan on the street, you know, There you go.
Susan Freer:I love it.
Susan Freer:And I need to just like follow you around for a day or two to networking events.
Steve Dubell:Oh, my God, this.
Steve Dubell:So many things that we could do now that you're back here in the Valley.
Steve Dubell:Oh, just.
Steve Dubell:Yeah, you know, just glad.
Steve Dubell:Just get ready, get the shoes out.
Susan Freer:That's right.
Susan Freer:That's right.
Susan Freer:All right.
Susan Freer:Thank you all.
Susan Freer:This is Susan Frere.
Susan Freer:Thank you all for watching this week's magnificent Monday episode of the Shed Geek podcast.
Susan Freer:I truly appreciate all of you that watch and listen and we'll see you next week.
Steve Dubell:I want to thank all our listeners for listening to Boxcar Universe.
Steve Dubell:Remember, we are your source for cutting edge information on container homes and container pools, plus remodeling and renovating your existing home.
Steve Dubell:You could always email us@boxcarlivingmail.com and stevexcaruniverse.com Remember, Boxcar Universe can be heard weekly on any podcast player.
Steve Dubell:And always remember Boxcar Universe remodeling and renovating your world.
Steve Dubell:Have a great weekend.
Matt Walton:You're a great American.
Susan Freer:I love you.
Matt Walton:Sample.
