Today we’d like to introduce you to Marshall Burns.
Hi Marshall, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, let’s briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
My name is Marshall Burns; I was born and raised in Rock Hill, SC. I am 23 years old and graduated from Clemson University in 2022 with a bachelor of arts in Marketing. Growing up, I always thought I would work for my 4th generation family business. However, I always had the ambition to create my path, and during my Junior year of college, I realized I was interested in affordable housing and construction. I’ve always been interested in Tiny Houses, container homes, and other affordable housing options. This led me to get involved with a small nonprofit called Renu Housing, which focuses on affordable housing in York County, SC. After getting involved with them, I researched the tiny house on wheels market and realized there were no options in my area, which gave me the idea to start Hemlock Tiny Homes. When I thought of the idea, I was working for a construction company as an assistant superintendent. But a month later, I was laid off from my job. Getting laid off was a blessing in disguise because it forced me to go 100% to make Hemlock Tiny Homes a reality. Right now, our company is selling tiny homes on wheels. However, eventually, I want to expand into developing Tiny home communities and building tiny homes on a foundation. I live in one of our tiny homes, so live by my product and live in one.
Alright, let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what challenges have you had to overcome?
Getting into business, I knew there would always be a smooth road. Especially with an unknown market like Tiny Home on Wheels. The biggest issues that face the Tiny Home on Wheels market are people finding a place that will allow them to park it, getting financing, and downsizing to fit in a tiny house. The number one issue is people finding a place to park it that allows it and that has all the proper utilities. Many municipalities and HOAs don’t like tiny homes in their communities. That’s why I want to create a tiny home community in York County, to make it easier for people to find a place to live in their tiny homes. The second issue is people getting financing for their homes. However, I’ve worked with a few lenders interested in helping. The last main issue is for people who want to live in a tiny home as their primary residence. It’s tough to find a place for all your things; many people resort to giving things away or getting a storage unit. And as a small business owner, there are constant problems that come up. It’s all about taking them head-on and doing what you believe is the right choice.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Hemlock Tiny Homes is a tiny home dealer. What sets us apart from the other dealers is that we provide above-and-beyond customer service to guide people on their path to living tiny. What makes me most proud about my company is helping people transition into their tiny homes after the sale. I love to learn how people lay out and discuss how they can optimize the space. If you want to go tiny, I would love to help you find the home for you.
In terms of your work and the industry, what are some changes you expect to see over the next five to ten years?
The Tiny House industry has grown steadily for the past 10 years due to the need for affordable housing. I see it continuing to grow steadily. However, there will be a substantial change once municipalities allow these tiny homes to be wide-scale.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.hemlocktinyhomes.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hemlocktinyhomes/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hemlocktinyhomes
Image Credits
Hemlock Tiny Homes LLC
