PAINTED DESERT SKIES PART 2: 1000 MILES – HOW FAR WE GO TO ENSURE OUR CLIENTS ARE HAPPY
When we started DROP Structures, we had one main goal – to give people space to pursue their dreams through our flagship product: The Mono
We had a product we believed in and the skills to make it happen, so we did it.
As we designed prefab structures for our clients and watched them create unique spaces to paint, work, or get away from it all, we were inspired to raise the bar for ourselves.
Designing a better customer experience
Our journey through sun-baked desert-scapes
No matter how well the buying experience went, the final delivery of the product rarely managed to live up to our expectations.
Again and again, the contractors we hired to deliver our prefab buildings failed to bring the joy and excitement that we wanted to deliver with our product.
“The whole point of DROP Structures is to create an amazing experience, from the first call to the millionth time you enter the space,” Ryan, said. “But we ran into too many problems with delivery – which should be the most exciting part of the whole buying process.”
So, we decided to take over the entire process, from design and build to delivery and placement.
It just so happened that the very next delivery was slated for Yonder, located in Escalante, Utah – over 1000 miles south of our home base.
Taking on the challenge
Uncanny valleys en route through southern Utah
With a roster of 21 units scheduled for Utah — our largest order to date at the time — and a major shift in leadership that left Ryan as the sole owner and employee of DROP Structures, the decision to deliver suddenly seemed nearly impossible.
Even with two units to a trailer, it would take Ryan 11 trips to make the deliveries alone. And, at three days one way, it would take at least 11 weeks, or almost three months without a team.
So, he scoured the city for drivers, finding them in the most unlikely places, including DROP Structure’s blog writer, and the current DROP Structure’s Minister of Transport (who was running his own ice cream truck at the time).
“It was an abrupt transition from a team to being the sole owner,” Ryan said. “But between old clients who had become friends, and a variety of people who jumped in to help, we were free to pursue the opportunities in front of us without looking back.”
With a motley crew ready, Ryan mapped the route, ensuring the oversized loads wouldn’t hit bridges or other hitches along the way.
Working beneath the blistering Utah sun
The vistas were definitely competing for our attention along the drive
Between the 1000 miles of driving, threading three oversized loads through Salt Lake City construction zones, and a bunch of Canadians placing structures through the merciless desert heat, there are enough stories to fill a blog post (or two) on their own.
“Escalante was probably the most stressful and most enjoyable job we’ve ever done,” Ryan said. “In it was the kernel of what DROP Structures would eventually become.”
Despite the 100+ degree heat, the team worked to place each unit, while the construction on the main buildings stalled out due to the limited population and shallow skill pool in the area.
Even with all the planning and effort, Escalante had one last lesson to impart.
After days of painfully maneuvering Monos back and forth across the desert at tortoise speeds, Ryan made the call to bring in a crane – and we’ve never looked back.
Today, unless absolutely impossible, all DROP Structures are placed with a crane to make the delivery process as smooth as possible.
The fruits of our labor
Inside a cozy Mono at desert resort, Yonder, Escalante, Utah
After weeks of work, all the units were in and the whole crew was able to relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery in front of them, as well as a few of the resort’s amenities.
On the last night, everyone gathered together in the box of a pickup under the clear, desert stars and watched Thelma & Louise at the on-site drive-in, then slept the night inside the Monos.
The final results, as you can see from the pictures, were stunning.
Thanks to great planning from the landscape construction company, and planning by James Tate, the project was a huge success.
But, as much of an impact as we had on Escalante, the job had an even bigger effect on us.
A new focus on glamping developments
Bathroom structure beneath starlight
Today, we’re as committed to working with developers as we are to homeowners and outdoor dreamers.
Next to our more residential-focused units, like the Alpha, we’ve designed and built units more in line with what commercial developers are looking for, like the Holo and the Duo.
We’ve even got a few more units under development that will broaden the appeal of DROP Structures to developers and residential customers alike.
This expansion of focus changed DROP Structures from a small upstart to a leader in our industry, carving a new path for others to follow as we create new segments and offer outstanding quality and design.
A better delivery = a better experience for our clients
Since Yonder, we’ve delivered over a hundred units from the east coast to the west, to the southern tip of Florida. And, we’re happy to say that each one has been delivered by us, ensuring the experience meets our high expectations for the best customer experience possible.
As we continue to grow, we are focused on growing both our construction and delivery arm to make sure every client we work with has the best possible experience, from beginning to end.
This is DROP Structures 2.0.
And that’s more than 1000 miles from where we started.
Painted desert skies