Finding the right people in the area with design software skills was one issue, along with the fact that drawing up home designs in North Dakota comes with one hitch: Because of the weather, business tends to ebb and flow.
“The problem is that when we’re busy, we need 16 people drawing for us,” Peter said. “But we only need two when it’s slow.”
Peter, along with his team, worked to build a network of independent contractors from around the world who now draw plans on a freelance basis. He spent two years getting them equipped with the appropriate technology as well as training his in-house staff of just over 40 employees.
An upgrade in CAD software and other training and equipment took Simonson Lumber’s investment in its design business to another level, but it is a newer technology that is putting them on the map nationwide.
“Our customers were happy, but we were spending a great deal of money to sell the same material we were selling before,” Peter said.
Peter knew that one more investment in technology was needed to really solidify the design arm of his business. Before his father passed away last year at age 86, Peter made the decision to invest in 3D printing and virtual reality.
“My father, who never used a computer in his life, was a huge supporter of tech and the tech investment. The last conversation we ever had, he told me, ‘this is where I want this company to go.’”
Peter went to his core builder customers and told them that he had fixed what was broken in the design process, but needed help offsetting the cost. He had made the decision that he was going to need to charge for design work.
“We deal with a lot of people of high character,” he said. “They understood, and once they saw that our process was in place, they started paying for design work.”
