I’d like to invest in Boxman Studios. Sure, I love their event/activation line of retrofitted shipping containers, but I’m incredibly bullish on their ability to create modular living spaces.
Boxman Studios’ massive facility in Charlotte. I got a tour and left super impressed by the both the size and scope of their operation. The work that goes into these custom shipping containers is incredible.
What does Boxman Studios do?
Founded in 2008 by David Campbell, Boxman Studios uses old shipping containers as a form of temporary and mobile real estate. They handle the design, manufacturing and deployment of these specially customized shipping containers for commercial use.
Basically, big brands hire them to create portable marketing activations.
Companies can either purchase or lease these units. As you can imagine, prices vary dramatically based on design, functionality, etc – leases typically run $50,000 to $100,000 and purchase prices range from $50,000 to $1,500,000.
Clients include big boys like Adidas, BMW, Chipotle, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Ford, Google, Nike, Oreo, Red Bull, TaylorMade, Hyundai and more. During my tour, I saw them building a very cool looking unit for Zaxby’s.
Boxman Studios has about 35 employees.
Cool activation that Boxman Studios executed for Hyundai. via Boxman Studios.
What type of residential units could Boxman Studios produce?
Here’s a look at shipping containers-turned-homes from companies named Honomobo and Montainer. Smaller models typically start at $45,000 with larger models coming in around $80,000.
These are ideal mother-in-law suites and can be used to generate Airbnb income.
There are a few modular house options in Charlotte on Airbnb already, take a look at this tiny trailer in NoDa ($89/night) and this 200 square foot tiny house ($75/night).
Via Montainer/Facebook along with cover photo.
Boxman Studios receives daily residential requests, but it’s harder than it seems.
“Boxman Studios is always interested in the residential modular home market and is consistently in discussions with investors, developers, and general contractors to build multi-family homes and apartment complexes,” Boxman Studios representative Elaine Petitgout explained to me. “It’s important that the market be educated on the costs… It’s not always as simple and cheap as buying a used shipping container, cutting windows and doors into, adding furniture, and being up and running.”
Honestly, I thought it’d be simple and cheap.
Elaine went on to tell me, “There is a great opportunity for multi-family living and apartment complexes and Boxman Studios remains in discussions with several firms on this front.”
What about pop-up hotels?
Boxman Studios has the ability to launch pop-up hotels.
Because shipping containers can easily be arranged and stacked, you can spin up a hotel for major events.
“This concept has been used or discussed outside of the United States (primarily in Europe) where space is limited, or hotel space is sparse due to the location of the event and the accommodations around it,” Elaine Petitgout explained to me.
Next time we get a major event in our city, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Boxman Studios pilot an urban pop-up hotel.
Why shipping containers? Modular home maker Honomobo says, “Imagine shipping containers as life-size LEGO blocks and you will start to see the vast possibilities and opportunities. Build a single level or multi-story building.” via Honomobo/Facebook
My $1,000 backyard shed is okay for now, but soon I hope I can purchase a residential shipping container and plop it in the back lefthand corner of my yard.
