A single job listing changed everything. Tyler Barrett went from a stressed-out carpenter with six kids and no steady work to a shed builder who runs orders, deliveries, and product development—and along the way discovered a deeper purpose that shaped his leadership, his team, and his community. We get into the gritty parts of the shed business that most people never see: the jump from bench work to managing lumber orders, the “too pretty to scale” $5,000 chicken coop, and the hard decision to consolidate lots so inventory moves and doors stay true.
We share the practical playbook that’s working now. Tyler explains how post-COVID pricing resets opened room for smarter SKUs, why color trends from new homes sell more sheds, and how on-site deliveries double as customer research that tightens quality and reduces returns. We explore a balanced product mix—classic storage, light-filled studios, dog kennels, and chicken coops—and why rural buyers respond to options that fit real life. Then we zoom out to diversification: steel carports, garages, and a clever hybrid using two secure containers with a raised center bay for tractors and work space. It’s a flexible, durable answer to the “repair the old barn or build new” question so many families face.
Through it all, Tyler’s faith anchors the work. He talks about learning to trust, mentoring new builders, and turning everyday installs into moments of service. The result is a grounded, growth-minded approach that any shed dealer or manufacturer can apply: consolidate to regain control, price with today’s costs, mirror residential design cues, and cross-train so your team can speak confidently across sheds, carports, and hybrids. If this conversation helps you rethink your product line or your purpose, share it with a friend, subscribe for more grounded industry insights, and leave a review with the one change you’ll make this week.
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This episodes Sponsors:
Studio Sponsor: Shed Pro
Digital Shed Builder
IFAB
Solar Blaster
NewFound Solutions
Cardinal Manufacturing
