FLORIDA, Mass. — Abbott Memorial School fourth-grade students participated in our Junior Marketers Create an Ad series.

 

This month, students highlighted the company Sheds-N-Stuff in Cheshire, showcasing its array of merchandise and services, including selling, delivering, and assembling its products.  

 

The family business was founded about 30 years ago under the name "Small Building Movers" by George Mott and, like its name suggested, it focused on moving small buildings. 

 

 

Sheds-N-Stuff office manager Erin Paris visited the school to answer students' questions, which covered various aspects of the business, including its history, products, operations, and capabilities.

 

The business visit to the school was great, Vice Principal Denise Chesbro said. 

 

"I didn't think [the students] were going to stop asking questions. If we hadn't stopped them, they would have continued all day, but I think it was really impactful for them to really hear what a small business is like, and one that they have witnessed and seen in their community," Chesbro said. 

 

"We have a shed here from Sheds-N-Stuff at our school for storage, and so I think [the visit] really showed them that anybody can start a business as long as they work hard and that businesses can change over time too, and so they can make decisions in their life, and as they go forward, they can always change things and make them even better." 

 

When the school first got the shed, the students had several questions, including its purpose and where it came from, she said. 

 

It was nice to see it come full circle with the business coming to the school because students realized that it was made by real people in their area, bringing a sense of connection and understanding, Chesbro said. 

 

"I think it's really important for them to realize that they're not an island. That no matter what we do, we can impact someone else," she said. 

 

"It's important [for them] to see who's in our community and what can they offer to the community, and how we all rely on each other within the community. So it's nice for them to see different businesses and different community members doing different things."

 

Sheds-N-Stuff will design structures based on customer preferences, allowing them to choose their desired colors, windows, roof styles, and other features to meet the customers' diverse needs, like home storage, farm use, art studios, and more.

 

"I've been working [Sheds-N-Stuff] for 10 years, and I'm their only employee, and I typically am out doing labor work and office work," Paris said. 

 

"So I deliver, build, [and design] the sheds. I do all kinds of things. So, just remember, it doesn't matter if you're a boy or a girl or what you want to do. We can do everything. You just have to put your mind to it."

 

The designs are built by the Amish in Pennsylvania and sent to Sheds-N-Stuff as a kit to be assembled at the customer's home or delivered on a tractor-trailer truck alongside several orders.

 

Paris highlighted the importance of engaging children in various career opportunities and demonstrated how her career is multifaceted, such as engineering, architecture, safety, construction, and other things. 

 

"There's so many different facets and different things that you can do with Sheds-N-Stuff. It gives them an idea to see that regardless of your age, if you start thinking at a young age, you can do anything, and sheds and stuff, or this type of work, is something that they can be very successful at," she said. 

 

While at the school, Paris answered questions students had about her role at Sheds-N-Stuff. 

 

"Our number one priority at Sheds-N-Stuff is safety because we have such big buildings, and they're top heavy, and sometimes they weigh a lot. You have to be very, very careful," Paris said. 

 

"So we have a lot of safety equipment involved in our job, but it's a good job to have. You'd have to go to college and get a couple of different certificates and trainings, so you would be safe." 

 

The students’ drawings showcased Sheds-N-Stuff in a detailed and colorful way, Chesbro said. 

 

"I didn't get to see all the drawings, but the ones that I did see, they were so beautiful. They were detailed. They really represented the business," Chesbro said.

 

"I liked that they used different colors. I saw that they applied some of the art skills that they learned in art class, and so that was really nice to see things come together." 

 

Paris also highlighted this sentiment, saying the students were given a brief description of the business, and the children really listened and paid attention. 

 

They pulled out pertinent information and highlighted it in their advertisements, such as the different products, the services the business provides, and the delivery trucks they use.

 

The students they selected as the winners for their outstanding design were in first place, Daniel Collins, Kendall Poirot for second, and Charlotte Chapman for third. 

 

Daniel's drawing depicts a scenario of someone with no space for their bike and lawnmower who buys a shed to protect their equipment from the weather.

 

"I think [my drawing] showcased how they can go out in rugged places, and yet they still get the job done," he said. 

 

Kendall drew a play set with a gazebo next to it and included text saying, "Sheds and Stuff: We sell gazebos, playsets, outdoor furniture, and more" to represent the business's product range.

 

"I learned that Sheds-N-Stuff is a great business because they came so far in their business," she said. 

 

Charlotte drew a person putting a lawnmower in a shed with detailed features customized by the customer, including windows, shutters, doors, and a ramp. 

 

She highlighted how Paris mentioned in her presentation that she took a ferry to Long Island, N.Y., to deliver a shed, which demonstrated how Sheds-N-Stuff delivers all over. 

 

"I learned that they can go as far out as to try to get their sheds to customers that they will take ferries to get where they need to go," Charlotte said.

 

"We selected the three winners because they did very good drawings. All [the students] but those three actually showcased our logo for Sheds-N-stuff," Paris said. 

 

"[The winners] showcased that we have gazebos, sheds, different delivery mechanisms, and some of them even drew the truck that has the trailer on the back. That's our specialty trailer to do the deliveries."