Shed Geek Podcast

Shed Geek Podcast
  • 4.8 (26)
  • Marketing
  • Updated Weekly

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.

  1. 1d ago

    How Shed Dealers Can Add Metal Buildings Without The Headaches

    Send us Fan Mail Your shed lot can be packed and your phones can still feel quiet. That’s the tension we dig into with Cesar Castillo from Castle Metal Buildings, a 20-year veteran of the carport and metal building world who’s watched the industry grow from backyard operations into a multi-state machine. We talk about why adding steel carports and metal buildings can be one of the smartest ways for shed dealers to expand revenue, and why it can also become the fastest way to earn bad reviews if the partner behind you can’t execute. We walk through what “choosing the right company” really means: customer service that starts before the sale, a real dealer support system with training and modern tools, and a scheduling process that keeps the customer informed when timelines shift. Cesar explains how installation crews, subcontractor accountability, safety, and warranty follow-through shape the final impression far more than the quote ever will. Shannon shares the hard truth that dealers often take the hit when communication breaks down, even when the problem is outside their control. Then we get into the messy stuff most people avoid: the race to the bottom on pricing, how expanding too fast can wreck quality, and the loyalty questions around display lots and online sellers. If you care about long-term sustainability in the shed industry and metal building industry, this conversation gives you a practical checklist for protecting the customer experience while growing your lot the right way. Subscribe, share this with a dealer friend, and leave a review if it helps. What’s the one thing you wish every manufacturer would fix first? For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Pro Shed Suite Identigrow Cardinal Manufacturing CAL

  2. 6d ago

    Bankruptcy-Proof RTO Contracts

    Send us Fan Mail People hear “rent-to-own shed” and mentally translate it to “my building,” then bankruptcy hits and the paperwork suddenly matters more than every friendly phone call that came before. We’re joined by Melody Troutman, a longtime operator and recovery specialist who lives in the real world of delinquencies, filings, and hard conversations. She lays out why portable building RTO companies get burned when they deviate from their own agreements and accidentally teach attorneys and customers what they can get away with next time. We get specific on the mechanics: checking PACER for repeat filers, why a rent-to-own agreement should be treated like an executory contract or unexpired lease, and how clear bankruptcy notification language can prevent your building from being misclassified as the renter’s asset. Melody also explains why trustee payments can wreck your timeline and your math, and how “drop dead orders” can create a clean deadline that puts possession back on the table without dragging you through endless steps. Then we zoom out to the bigger industry risk. Tiny home marketing, utility hookups, and “living in it” upgrades can collide with contract terms fast, especially in debtor-friendly states. We talk prevention through training, delivery disclosures, refusing repeat offenders, and writing recovery-friendly court orders that protect drivers with forcible entry language. If you work in shed sales, manufacturing, rent-to-own operations, or portable building recoveries, this one is a playbook for protecting your contracts and your margins. Subscribe, share this with your team, and leave a review with the one contract clause you think the industry is still getting wrong. For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Geek Marketing Shed Sales Summit LuxGuard RTO Smart Sensei Digital

  3. Aug 12

    Rent-To-Own Done Right

    Send us Fan Mail Rent-to-own sheds have a reputation problem, and it’s costing the shed industry more than people realize. Today we talk with Nick Garrard, general counsel for the NSRA, about what rent-to-own actually is, why the “it’s a bad word” stigma sticks, and how better education can reduce customer confusion, dealer frustration, and the kind of viral stories nobody wants attached to their brand. We dig into the practical reasons customers choose rent-to-own in the first place: flexibility in uncertain times, the ability to make a decision without draining savings, and options when life changes fast like relocating for work, temporary storage needs, or shifting budgets. We also get candid about the tough parts, including how a small number of unhappy customers can dominate the public narrative while the majority of successful, quiet outcomes never get told. Nick breaks down the difference between federally regulated consumer credit sales and state-regulated rent-to-own statutes, why most states have their own lease-purchase rules, and what that means for compliance if you operate across state lines. We also talk about the role of APRO and industry advocacy in Washington, DC, why local regulation can be healthier than one-size-fits-all federal oversight, and how training dealers plus proactive legal support can prevent problems long before they turn into lawsuits. If you sell sheds, build sheds, haul sheds, or support the shed business with services, this is a must-listen for understanding rent-to-own sheds, customer education, and how to protect your operation. Subscribe, share this with a dealer or manufacturer friend, and leave a review with the biggest rent-to-own question you want us to answer next. For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Pro First Choice Metals Velocity 360 J Money

  4. Aug 7

    A Guided 3D Configurator Turns Curiosity Into Confident Buyers

    Send us Fan Mail A shed is not a casual cart checkout. It is a high-trust, high-emotion purchase, and the online experience either builds confidence fast or quietly pushes your best leads to the back button. We sit down with Ashish Roy and Chris Dodd from Sensei Digital to break down what actually makes a 3D shed configurator convert, from guided design choices to the tiny details that serious builders care about. We talk about why “more options” can be the wrong move, and how an intuitive, guided flow helps very different buyers, from a tech-savvy first-time shopper to a retiree trying to make space at home. Ashish explains how Sensei approaches lifelike colors, model organization, upgrade clarity, and accurate features like door swing and interior context. Chris shares what it takes operationally to capture shed craftsmanship in software while keeping the experience simple enough for real sales teams to adopt. Then we get practical about revenue. You will hear how remote co-design can work through shareable 3D links, how AR “visualize in your yard” can change the conversation, and why attribution matters when you are running Google Ads or Meta campaigns. Sensei also walks through cross-domain tracking, CRM integration, and sending better conversion signals so you can optimize toward qualified leads and real sales, not vanity form fills. If you want your portable building marketing and sales process to feel modern without losing the craft, hit play. Subscribe to the Shed Geek Podcast, share this with a dealer or manufacturer friend, and leave a review so more shed pros can find these conversations. For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Geek Marketing Velocity 360 Play Mor Swing Sets Cardinal Leasing iFAB LLC

  5. Aug 5

    A 16-Year Shed Veteran

    Send us Fan Mail The shed lot can be packed and still feel stuck, and that’s where Rolando Castrejon brings a clear, grounded perspective. We talk with Rolando about building a shed business the hard way: starting in sales back in 2010 with no construction background, learning what customers truly care about, then taking the leap to launch his own operation in 2022 and growing it into three locations in North Carolina. We get real about what’s changed since the pre-COVID years and why price perception is so weird right now. Customers still comment that carports “used to be $595,” yet many buyers now call today’s higher prices a good deal. From there, we dig into the K-shaped economy and what it’s doing to rent-to-own sheds, cash sales, and the kinds of buildings people want: finished backyard spaces, man caves, she sheds, and bigger custom projects for retirees who are ready to enjoy their property. We also break down the technology shift in the shed industry, from early Facebook advertising wins to the modern pay-to-play world of targeting, tracking, SEO, and online configurators. But we don’t stop at tools. Rolando makes the case for a middle ground where you keep the personal touch, invite people to walk the buildings, and treat every buyer like a real relationship, not a transaction. If you sell sheds, manage a lot, run marketing, or want a better close rate, you’ll leave with practical language and a simple sales framework: listen for the real problem, then solve it. Subscribe, share this with a dealer friend, and leave a review with your biggest “customer objection” so we can talk through it on a future show. For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Pro Pittsburgh Paints Identigrow Cardinal Manufacturing CAL Solar Blaster

  6. Jul 31

    How Shed Businesses Grow With Complementary Products And Smarter Marketing

    Send us Fan Mail Google decides who gets seen, but your business decides whether the visibility turns into real sales. We’re joined by Christopher Sedlak, a longtime shed industry marketer from Lancaster County, to talk about what’s changing right now for shed manufacturers, dealers, and outdoor product retailers and what to do when the market feels tighter than it did in the post-COVID boom. We dig into a simple idea that fixes a lot of wasted spend: a plan is what you do, but strategy is why you do it. From there, we walk through the hub-and-spoke model where your website is the hub and every spoke, from Google Ads and local landing pages to referral cards, signage, and lots, feeds qualified buyers back into one place. We also get real about “near me” search behavior, Google Business Profile visibility, EAT signals, and why having a physical presence in the areas you want to serve can beat a bigger budget aimed everywhere. You’ll hear practical ways to find low-hanging fruit, tighten your targeting down to the zip code level, and reduce friction by putting financing info where customers can’t miss it. Chris also breaks down what our consulting process looks like, including the deep question set, SWOT analysis, and a short list of recommendations built for managed growth. If you found this helpful, subscribe, share it with a shed pro who needs a clearer strategy, and leave a review so more builders and dealers can find the show. For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Geek Marketing Challenger LuxGuard Shed Sales Summit

  7. Jul 29

    Mid-Year Check-In

    Send us Fan Mail Someone messaged me saying ChatGPT claims I organize the National Shed Show. I do not. That awkward moment turns into a bigger conversation about what happens when AI, search engines, and online rumors reshape your brand without your permission and why clear communication and real brand protection matter in the shed industry. I also use this mid-year monologue to share what we are seeing across sheds, steel buildings, carports, and portable structures: lots can be busy while growth still stalls. The culprit is often not demand, it is the quiet stuff underneath like your website path, lead follow-up, and the small operational leaks that keep buyers from becoming deliveries. We talk through industry events like the Shed Sales Summit in Knoxville and the Shed Expo, plus the simple truth about advertising: it builds awareness and it keeps you top of mind. Then we get practical and a little nerdy: trademark and copyright basics, how scammers send fake “bills” after USPTO filings, and what to watch for. We also dig into digital marketing trends like SEO and Answer Engine Optimization as Google AI Overview drives more zero-click searches and changes website analytics. I wrap with ways we can help through marketing time blocks, a call for more guests and shed stories, and a genuine thank-you to listeners and partners who keep this community moving. If this helped, subscribe, share it with someone in the shed business, and leave a review so more builders and dealers can find the show. For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Pro NewFound Solutions Shed Suite First Choice Metals

  8. Jul 24

    Who Decides What A Starter Home Should Be?

    Send us Fan Mail Housing feels like it is slipping away for normal families, but the hardest truth might be this: the “starter home” got redefined right out from under us. I sit down with Caleb Schmitt from Classic Buildings to unpack why affordable housing is not only about inflation, interest rates, or lumber costs. We get into how marketing shapes expectations, how bigger footprints and higher finish standards became the default, and why separating shelter from comfort and luxury is the first real step toward a lower monthly payment and less financial stress.  Caleb shares what he is seeing on the ground, including how manufactured homes and single wide style starts used to be a practical bridge for young couples, and how zoning, code enforcement, and neighborhood restrictions often push those options out. We also talk about the hidden costs that stack up fast when people get forced farther into the county: land prices, utilities, driveways, wells, and long runs for power and water. If you care about the housing market, construction costs, and what the next generation can realistically afford, this conversation gets specific.  We also bring it back to the shed industry and portable buildings, because more buyers are looking at sheds as living quarters or as a way to replace what used to be achievable with a basic garage or entry level build. That raises real ethical questions about safety, inspections, code compliance, and how we educate customers without feeding fear. Caleb is also writing a book, The Last 50 Years, aimed at helping people understand the true drivers behind today’s affordability crisis and what solutions actually look like locally.  If this hit a nerve, subscribe, share this with someone trying to build or buy, and leave a review so more builders and buyers can find the conversation. What do you think matters more right now: smaller homes or better rules? For more information or to know more about the Shed Geek Podcast visit us at our website. Would you like to receive our weekly newsletter?  Sign up on our website: shedgeek.com Follow us on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, or YouTube at the handle @shedgeekpodcast. To be a guest on the Shed Geek Podcast visit our website and fill out the "Contact Us" form. To suggest show topics or ask questions you want answered email us at info@shedgeek.com. This episodes Sponsors: Studio Sponsor: Shed Geek Marketing Solar Blaster Cardinal Manufacturing Velocity 360

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4.8
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    Shed Geek Podcast
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    480
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Shed Geek Podcast
  • Show Website
    Shed Geek Podcast

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