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It’s said that every man needs a shed, and the nationwide lockdown appears to have hugely amplified that basic requirement, according to Shedman, one of the East End of Glasgow’s most high-profile businesses.
 
Demand has increased to such an extent since the country was closed down in March that the 32-year-old company is having to build a massive new shed for itself in order to keep turning out high quality sheds, workshops and play huts. Scotland’s premium shed manufacturer has seen sales nearly triple in June, easily outstripping last year.
 
To maintain output at its new levels, Shedman is investing £450,000 to increase the size of its production shed from 7,000sq.ft to 12,000sq.ft, as well as installing new saws, extractors and health and safety equipment. The expansion will create eight new full time and two part-time jobs, taking Shedman’s workforce to 25.
 
Bill Roddie, Director of family-owned Spectrum Properties, which bought Shedman in 2019, said: “This new investment, which is bringing more high-quality employment to the East End, will allow us to increase capacity at the factory by 100%.
 
“While we have also invested heavily in marketing and smart use of social media, the increase in demand has been quite dramatic and it is hard not to believe that it is directly related to the pandemic quarantine.
 
“For the past three months, people have been using their unexpected free time to do jobs around the house and garden and a shed is a great boon for securely storing all kinds of DIY equipment.
 
“Many furloughed workers have also found themselves with extra money since their daily expenses were reduced, and we have seen a big increase in sales of dog kennels for people who have bought a new pet. Play hut sales are also up as parents try to keep their children occupied while they are off school.”
 
Shedman has built a strong reputation for providing quality, affordable, hand-built structures from fully treated, 14mm tongue and groove timber from Sweden. It has an indoor showroom at Dalmarnock and an outdoor showroom in Glasgow City centre on West Street.
 
During the lockdown, it distributed more than 100 'shopping boxes' to vulnerable people in the East End and beyond so that neighbours could leave groceries sheltered from the elements for shielding individuals who could not get out of the house.
 
Spectrum Properties directly employs 75 people and the same number of sub-contractors. It is actively recruiting to cope with rapid expansion. Established by Mr Roddie in 1988, the company now has a portfolio valuation of £60 million and a turnover in excess of £5 million.

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