The Year in Review: 2008
December 10, 2008 · Print This Article
2008 felt like a huge success to us Tumbleweeders; we survived. When I first joined Tumbleweed in 2007, I did so because I loved the idea. I knew others loved it, too. But could it really be a business? In it is preceeding 5 years, it never made a profit. How would it survive? How long could Jay continue to work without being paid? How long could I do that?
It was October, 2007, when our sales fell off a cliff. The banking industry was starting to seize, and we began to worry. Most of our house buyers either refinanced or sold their homes before buying a Tumbleweed. With declining home values and banks getting jittery, we knew things were going to change. Recognizing that easy money would no longer be available, I bet that in 2008 we wouldn’t sell any pre-made homes (which was the primary source of income). We correctly got ahead of the curve on this housing and banking crisis and decided to reshape our business. We knew we needed to survive without being dependent on selling a single house. It was the best decision we could have ever made. Maybe it was luck or maybe we were smart, but the bottom line was that we were right. We didn’t sell a single house all year; and not only did we survive, we thrived!
But 2008 didn’t start off with big smiles. The beginning of the year proved difficult. We had to cut back on staff hours, and all our employees quit. We couldn’t afford to hire new people, and Jay and I decided we’d need to do it alone. Jay would work full-time for Tumbleweed and draw whatever extra money was available, and I would work part time in the evenings (for free) after working a regular paying job during the day. We were in downsize mode.
Recognizing that we couldn’t count on the sale of houses to earn a living, we changed our focus in early 2008 from ready-made house sales to catering to the do-it-yourself builder. Jay had sold plans in the past, but never in the volume I had envisioned. He thought I was crazy, and fortunately Jay was crazy enough to go along, too. It would require that we change our paradigm. At the end of the year, we sold more plans in 2008 than in the past 6 years combined.
Many contributing factors proved successful. Jay’s new designs garnered a lot of interest from our core audience. Those were released in our new portfolio. Additionally, Jay had greatly improved the detail of the plans, and we added pictures and videos of sample plans on our site.
We had experimented with our first workshop at the end of 2007. This was an emergency attempt to bring in revenue after sales dropped 70% in October and fell even more in November. The workshop didn’t make any profits on its own, but I realized that it attracted the do-it-yourself crowd. And the plans purchased by the people who attended the workshop got me thinking about more workshops.
I set our goal for six workshops in different cities across America in 2008. We decided to do three in conjunction with Jay’s Border-to-Border Tour in July. The Border-to-Border tour was conceived as a way to attract media attention and connect with passionate fans of ours who didn’t live in our immediate area. The workshops were so successful that we added two more dates before the year end; and it was something that Jay really enjoyed doing.
The Border-to-Border tour had it is glitches, but proved a huge success. With the attention of the media, we landed a front page article on the New York Times, a CNN story, and a feature story on AOL’s home page and Yahoo.com. In 2008, we also systemized our ability to handle press requests and deliver them the pictures they needed. All told, Jay managed approximately 100 interviews from media all around the world.
The new website didn’t come without it is fair share of problems. Hillary was in charge of designing and building our new website, but she quit when we couldn’t afford to pay her anymore. Can you blame her? After she quit, I basically locked myself in my tiny 40 square foot computer room each night for about 3-4 hours and programmed away. Two weeks later, we had a new website. The new site would not only look better, but would be easier to program. It was. For the next several months I tweaked the site this way and that way. One of our priorities was to improve the content so that we didn’t spend so much time answering the same emails again and again. Slowly but surely, I fixed the site so that the quantity of emails declined 90%, and I could shift my time from answering emails to writing blog entries and adding more houses to the website. (Yes, this year almost all my time was spent on answering emails).
Looking back at the year as a whole, we achieved so many of our goals that we set out to conquer in 2007. Our new website was completed. Jay doubled the quantity of designs, incorporated downstairs bedrooms, and added a great deal of detail. We also made a taxable profit for the second year in a row – something that will prove to be very important for our plans for 2009 and beyond.
We’re both proud and honored that in 2008 we had over 1,000,000 visits to our website. It is a number that’s so large, I don’t believe Jay or I can really even put our minds around it. If I had one word to describe Tumbleweed in 2008, it would be “transformation”.
Wow! Even though we have talked a few times and I new some of the history of Tumbleweed, I really appreciate you writing this all down and sharing it with those of us who have been following Tumbleweed for the last several years. It’s neat to see the growth that has taken place through your partnership with Jay. I look forward to seeing where Tumbleweed goes in 2009.
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THANKS so much for all your DEDICATION!! You have the potential here for something even more AMAZING in the coming years!! By catering to the do-it-yourself-er, offering plans for your houses and making yourselves known thru interviews, workshops and your new website i can visualize GREAT FUTURE SUCCESSES!!!
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I like the idea of smaller more quality home as opposed to poorly functioning unused space. You’ve done agreat job with what you do , promoting and implementing those ideas. Your homes are very attractive. I do have a few issues I’d like to throw out to you. What about when you are retirement age…maybe older..and for whatever reasons..ladders are not easy to navigate like they used to be..or god forbid what if youare in a wheelchair..forget about the loft…could you even make it thru the door ? Right now I’m almost 50…married and have one 12 year son living at home..2 small grandchildren that come to visit , not to mention the cats and dogs that let us live in our current 1200 sq foot home ( a very poorly designed double wide ) living in the Ernesti, while it is smaller..would be be just as easy space wise as living in my current home..simply because of the the more efficient use of space. One day though..when my husband and I are in our late 70’s or so how practical is the design ? And honestly..90,000. for the home? where’s the downsizing in a mortgage that size ? not a lot of freedom there if you ask me. I live in Western NC , right by Tn , and Ga. I have seen a very nice small home built for less than 60. Granted it was all one level . We also have scores of very wealthy people building Mcmansions here. I think your ideas are great…your finished products are lovely..it seems to me though that with a price like that your customers are already pretty well off, and smaller is the soup dejour , so long as it’s still pricey. The rest of with our familys cant afford 40,000. for few hundred sq foot house. Maybe It’s practical to buy your plans and be your own GC , I know pricing varys from one area to the next. Also..what about your homes wind resistance ? We do have tornados here on occasion. I did read your 2008 blog and I realize you didnt sell any homes and it’s been a hard year for just like everyone else…but to sum it up it doesnt seem like ordinary folks will be any better off trying to build one of your homes or buy one Even if your footprint is smaller and you are living more sustainably ,if it costs as much to build or buy as an ‘average” sized home. Even if it does not sound like it , I really do like your homes and your philosophy ! Enlighten me about universal accesability in your designs and wind load.. and I hope you can say something about your costs to build or buy that will encourage me to seriously consider your homes. I have 8 acres that I would like to move to after and when my current home is sold , and we do want to down size . Thank you ! Victoria Baker
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on December 14th, 2008 10:01 pm:
Hi Victoria,
Downstairs bedrooms will be a priority in our future designs. In today’s market, you can buy a house for less than you can build one. After prices for existing houses rebound, I think the it will make more sense to buid an Enesiti. However, the bottom line will always be that our homes are designed to be beautiful first, and affordable second. If someone is looking to save money, then they should consider buying a double wide. We simply can not compete with those prices, and we wouldn’t want to. It’s like comparing a Geo to a BMW. Both cars will get you from A to B, but the price and quality are very different. Please keep in mind that the easiest way to reduce the cost per square foot when building a house is to build bigger.
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Scott reply on January 1st, 2009 1:38 am:
We’ve been working hard to be able to fit a full size bed on the main floor. We bought plans for the Lusby but after attending the workshop in Orlando realized a couple keys for us. First, we must have the bed on the main floor and will use the loft area for storage and grandkids. Second, at 6′ 4″ tall the standard 6′3″ height under the loft is not enough. Our friend and builder Chuck will make the height there 6′ 8″ high mainly by reducing the roof pitch. The other thing we needed is a shower at least 3′ x 3′ and a standard size toilet that needs space 4 feet deep in total. Fitting all this can work for us on a 20 foot long trailer but the area between kitchen counters and bathroom wall was going to be just 18 inches with the standard 7′ wide flatbed trailer. To fix this we considered doing some welding but ended up ordering a trailer with extra width in front of and behind the axles. This will give us the ability to have 8′ interior space to work with since the width will be about 101″ instead of the standard 81 or 82″. We plan to blog our process once the trailer is here and we can begin construction.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 1st, 2009 4:42 pm:
God speed to you. I am eager to see photos as they become available.
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Todd reply on January 30th, 2009 8:03 pm:
Where did you find a trailer like the one you describe?
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Steve, Thank you for writing the two Tumbleweed’s Year in Review posts. My husband and I were part of that first workshop in 2007 and had the benefit of Jay’s new frontier as leader of do-it-yourselfers. Our experiences with the seed of inspiration to build small have fueled us to incorporate and expand on the philosophy Jay encouraged in that workshop at Ocean Song. What we go through every day is a process of building not only a tiny home, it is a tiny home that must meet the needs of my multiple chemical sensitivities. We are not young, we are not ‘retired’ … rather we are challenged to build and live vibrantly and wisely in as simple and beautiful a space as we can imagine and create.
Tiny (Tumbleweed type)homes by definition jar us into reclaiming a belief that a quality of life can be intentional, shared with others, and built with methods and material that will not add to the toxic load. We are half-way there in building, and to say it is easy would be untrue. What is true is that we are having the time of our 61 and 59 year old lives. We love seeing the adaptability of our Tumbleweed Tiny House Company it is nothing short of a blueprint to work smart, work hard at what you believe.
Mokihana Calizar
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Steve with Tumbleweed reply on December 17th, 2008 2:05 am:
Hi Monikhana,
Thanks for the feedback. I’d love to see some pictures of your house. If you have a chance, email us with a few. I’m very excited for you!
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For the past 3 years or so Tumbleweed’s tiny houses have captured my imagination in regards to the possibility of revolutionizing the way Americans live. More than the houses themselves, I am intrigued by the idea of small communities of Tumbleweed houses like Jay’s imagined “New Trinity Park” in the first portfolio. I live and work in Chicago, where housing costs are high and space is often at a premium. Typically, affordable living space can only be found in cramped high-rises or multi-unit buildings which not only rob inhabitants of ownership of any “land” but also do little to foster a sense of community despite the large numbers of people living in the same area. I think that communities of tiny homes in a city might offer a more complete and rewarding lifestyle to urban dwellers who are already used to a smaller living space. Additionally it would afford the opportunity for home-ownership to individuals whose income puts ownership of a full-sized home in the city out of the question. More affordable living, community-building, and sustainable living (on top of everything else) could mean an increase in the quality of life in the urban setting. Jay’s designs and imagination have made this a possibility. I would love the chance to make it a reality. Keep up the great work!
~Karl in Chicago
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Jay Shafer reply on December 19th, 2008 10:19 pm:
I am still aiming to build a village(s). I hope it’s soon.
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Lola Conley reply on December 26th, 2008 5:01 pm:
Building a village where land is not the issue may be the first step. Why not try Arkansas or Oklahoma? Near one of the major cities, you would find land costs less and probably the costs of labor and materials to some degree? People living in these states also fight the same battles and desire to live more responsibly and intune with the environment.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 1st, 2009 4:48 pm:
Good point, Lola. The only reason I’ve been shooting for the Bay Area is because that’s where I live and need such housing for my family. But we could possibly start with a prototype in a more affordable area. I’ll give it some thought.
[...] of all I came across this website sometime last week and I loved it. If you venture to it check out the videos of Jay’s [...]
I haven’t seen any info on traveling with the tiny house such as what type of vehicle (truck) is recommended and suggestions to do this safely. Approx. speed that is safe. Do you recommend taking your home with you? reminds me of the turtles I see on the highway.
In an earlier email, you did not answer the question asked about wind resistance… maybe that’s a dumb question… JoAnn
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Jay Shafer reply on December 31st, 2008 4:29 pm:
Not a dumb question at all, JoAnn. I wouldn’t buy one of these if you plan on pulling it all over the place. While the house will hold up just fine, your bank account will take a beating. My houses aren’t more difficult to pull than most travel trailers, but they are less streamlined and heavier. Look up the tow rating for any vehicle and compare it to the weight of any portable house on our site (houses pages) and you will know if you have a match. I usually rent a U-Haul or V-8 pick-up.
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I wish you continued success and my husband and I hope to attend a workshop in the SF Bay Area when you come around again. I have been reading your website from the beginning and am finally ready to let it all go: the crazy job, the house…less really is more…back to my simplicity roots. Please let me know when you are in the Bay Area or just put it on your website…I get regular newsletters so I will continue to monitor your travel. Many huge big humongo thanks for the work you are doing…I am one of your biggest fans!
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 5:03 pm:
I’m having an open house on Feb. 7 in Sebastopol and on the first Saturday of every month. It’s free, and it might beat waiting until the Nov. workshop.
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michelle reply on January 15th, 2009 5:20 pm:
wow!!!! We would like to come…what time, where, other details…how exciting!!!!
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michelle reply on January 15th, 2009 5:29 pm:
see you there…please send location, time details when you get a chance…many thanks
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 5:04 pm:
See the FAQ page for details on “how to see a tiny house”.
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Correct me if I’m wrong but it appears that your business is predicated on a three-pronged approach.
1. Selling Homes and Plans that are durable, sustainable and economically feasible
2. Tackling the inconvenient problems of waste, pollution, sprawl, affordable housing demand, etc, etc, etc
3. Educating the Public or feeble-minded Policymakers of the viability and efficiency of Tiny Homes
That said, have you considered FILMING your message, business or world-philosophy in the form of a Documentary?
For one, you would generate more publicity and revenue.
Secondly, you’re an intriguing and charismatic individual which many people would be inclined to listen to.
I believe the Dervaes Family (urban homesteaders in Pasadena) are wrapping up their own Documentary.
Think about it.
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Donna F. reply on January 15th, 2009 3:14 am:
I agree with Drew. Just be yourself and you’ll be great! You are the most photogenic of all the Tiny House guys, and your accent (or lack of accent) is pleasing to the ears. Only, I hope in the height of your popularity as the demand for your plans increase, that you don’t raise your prices for them. At least not until after I’ve purchased mine!
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 5:26 pm:
Thank you, Donna. No price hike for you (or anyone else any time soon).
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Jay Shafer reply on January 15th, 2009 5:17 pm:
I think it’s a great idea. I have considered it, but never had the time. Thanks for reminding me. Perhaps this is the time.
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I was introduced thru a Ren Faire person, to your web site. First thought on my moind was “Cool, but can he design a Gypsy Caravan Wagon”? Same principle, just wilder…of course with all the modern interior items included…
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hi Jay,
I received and have been enjoying your Small House Book/s. I noticed that you have misquoted the Bible on page 12 of Part II: Making Space. The quote actually comes from the Gospel of Thomas, a Gnostic text that was not included in the Bible.
Thanks for all your work!
~Harold
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Donna F. reply on January 20th, 2009 1:57 am:
Harold,
What was that quote? I only bought the portfolio so I would like to know what you are talking about.
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Jay Shafer reply on January 21st, 2009 12:44 am:
Thanks, Harold. You caught me just in time before sending the new edition to the publisher.
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Hi Jay,
I’ve been watching, thinking and have a couple questions:
1. Is there anyway possible to put a dome roof on a Tumbleweed?
2. When you move yours, where do you setup ‘base’? I’m thinking RV parks wouldn’t have a problem with them but thought I’d ask first:)
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Hey I love these houses.
I work with the homeless and since at least 2001 the fastest growing population of homeless are single mothers with children. These are hard working women who simply (usually due to lack of child support) cannot afford housing. It is heartbreaking. And only going to get worse as our economy sinks. I myself am planning to get one after I graduate from college. So anyway I wrote to Obama to look at your houses for a low cost option to the housing problem for single mothers. I know you must be thinking, how would a single mother with a child or two manage with such a small place? I can tell you the many single mothers with children living in cars would be very grateful to have a bathroom, a kitchen and a place to have their children lay their heads down at night. Thanks Jay for your incredible little houses.
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Jay Shafer reply on February 11th, 2009 1:12 am:
Kelli, you are my favorite angel. I share your dream.
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Donna F. reply on February 11th, 2009 4:28 am:
I am one of those single mothers who is unemployed and so much wanting to build one of these in order to AVOID the homeless situation. They took my car already, so what would be left for us to live in? I have the faith that I will get the money to buy the plans and build one of these soon!
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Jay Shafer reply on February 14th, 2009 4:00 pm:
I think you’ve done enough work for me by now, Donna, to receive a significant discount. Thanks for your help in answering questions.
Be sure to contact me before buying.
Dear Jay
Bravo for your honesty in dealing with growing pains.
Been there done that bought the tee shirt and wore it out.
We are Bear Creek Carpentry from Woodgate N.Y. located in the Adirondack Mtns New York State
We have gone through similar changes we were as high as 14 employees .
we built our website in 99 we are just now getting real serious about changing it so we dont have to deal with all the email tire kickers
we have built some 175 “mini cabins” and about 25 full size homes in the past 10 years .
i am very tired of being in the field , we added 2 big ( small building) bays last year but as you said the bottom dropped out
you are not alone
would really like to talk to you sometime 315 369 8825
have always been impressed with your site
would like to collaborate we also do our own designs
we have a complete cabinet shop and logwork shop besides
this economy will dictate the “need” for what we both new over 15 years ago ( smaller is not only better its now necessary)
looking forward to hearing from you
Bill Rockhill
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Jay Shafer reply on February 14th, 2009 4:46 pm:
Nice work, Bill. I love your little cabins. I’ll give you a call.
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Kudos to Jay and Steve. I really enjoyed gawking at all the houses on your website. I was actually surfing for kitchen plans for a small house. But yours are definitely smaller. Tumbleweed house will not work in my part of the world because building materials and weather is different. Malaysia is a humid tropical country with hot and sunny in the morning and afternoons and thunderstorms in the evenings. And a tendency to clutter up the house with things. But your house plans are amazing. Tiny, simple and so compact.
Keep it up!
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Jay Shafer reply on February 14th, 2009 5:02 pm:
Thanks, Kim Yong!
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I love these small houses too. Been a lurker for several years, pipe dreaming away.
I have perhaps a unique twist in my dream than your usual customer.. I’m interested in building an XS, perhaps with some modifications, that would look something like a Tumbleweed Chapel on the outside, and a monk’s cell on the inside. I’m married with kids, but have the soul of a monk. I love my retreats and the idea of having one in the backyard is very appealing. Anyways, I envision stained glass windows and a detachable steeple. I have some other ideas of what I want but ye all probably think I’m crazy enough as it is. Keep up the good work, which, after all, is a template for people’s best impulses!
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Jay Shafer reply on February 21st, 2009 11:19 am:
I started out by designing little sacred spaces, and I love the idea.
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What a great idea for someone like me! I am single and live currently with only my small dog Pickles. We live in a small rancher now however with the economy the way it is, my job may not be here in the next month or so. I am thinking of downsizing even further. My only concern is the part of the country I live in and would like to continue to live in. I live in Pennsylvania currently and winters here can become very cold. Just this winter, we had such a long cold snap where the weather barely gets above 30 degrees Farenheit even during the day. Much worse at night of course! I am interested in the Tarleton however am concerned about insulating the roof and making sure it has proper venting. It appears in the research I have done, that 2×4 rafters are used however I am unclear of the insulation used and the insulating value. Is the roof insulation constructed in a way as to mirror the design of a SIP panel? My concern is that I would be left out in the cold. What advice do you have to give me for this particular part of the country?
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Jay Shafer reply on February 22nd, 2009 4:31 am:
There are no less than 10 Rs in the walls, roof and floor of the tiny ones on wheels. I kept my house at about 78 degrees F all winter when it was in Iowa, and I spent only about $160 per year on propane.
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I’m currently in Northern WI and am trying to figure out how I would manage in such a house in the winter. It seems that the houses will heat well and the heat cost be reasonable (I image, the WI would be just a little colder than IOWA with a longer duration of winter.)
I’m concerned about leaving the heat on when I have to travel, however. How did you work around that. I have two cats and would have to leave the heat on for them and to keep the water system from freezing. Are the propane heaters that you install safe to leave on when leaving the house, or did you just never leave your house with the heat on??
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Jay Shafer reply on August 2nd, 2009 10:09 am:
I leave my heat on all winter. No problem.
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Also, just an idea for your business. Take your tiny house design workshops to a webinar setting. You could film yourself and put any visuals in powerpoint slides. I think you could increase your participation substantially if the travel factor is taking out. Then, you could also work from home more!
You could also add the component of building solar panels and hooking them up to the tiny houses.
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