Spotlight On: Anthem Built
Getting Started
What do you do when a virtually unaddressed problem is staring you in the face? You develop a product to resolve it of course! In 2018, Steve Beach saw that there were a lot of post-frame buildings that were 40, 50, 60 years old that were in decent shape except for one thing: the foundation. Of course, a bad foundation can cause a lot of other problems: sliding doors that don’t slide, walk doors that don’t open or close properly, and walls that move in the wind.
Beach had a lot of experience with post-frame construction. He’d been involved in the industry since the ’90s, and he had his own company, Savage Building Systems. He began working on a solution for the damaged foundations, one that his business could use to help clients. Beach developed a column repair sleeve and he began working on this project part-time on the weekends. Mike Smith, who was looking for a new opportunity, joined him. They worked this way for about a year, but they found that they were turning down more work than they were completing, so in 2018 they went full time.
Since they had no experience designing, developing, and manufacturing a new product, they relied on manufacturers to make the product. This was a constant challenge. Busy manufacturers could not always be relied upon to deliver the product when needed, so the goal became to take control of the process by producing the product themselves.
In December 2023, the goal was met; Anthem Built began manufacturing its column repair sleeve on its own premises in Varna, Illinois.
Challenges and Opportunities Today
Like any other, the company has its challenges; for example, procuring enough steel. They keep more in stock these days; a lesson they learned from the COVID-19 era.
They find that their biggest challenge is also their biggest opportunity … getting the word out to builders about their column repair system and what it can do for them.
Beach said, “In the past, it could take a week to do this type of repair,” referring to fixing the foundation posts on a post-frame building with wood in the ground. “But now with our column repair sleeves, it can be done in a day,” he said.
This product has been wonderful for Beach and Smith, allowing them to help more customers.
“We are builders, not marketers,” Smith said, “so the challenge for us has become translating our enthusiasm for this product to other builders, to open their eyes to the possibilities,” he added.
The company is now looking for good builders who are interested in this opportunity. They currently have three companies who use their repair products. Anthem provides them with training and tools needed to become proficient installers.
“Many builders are likely turning away would-be customers because they think repair of post-frame foundations is going to be time-consuming and messy, but most of the time this solution requires no excavation,” Beach said. “This is a great opportunity to expand an existing business,” he added.
Savage Buildings has installed upwards of 15,000 column repair sleeves and they receive plenty of referrals. Smith said that once customers’ friends and neighbors realize that you have saved the old building, they want you to come and look at their old building.
The company serves Illinois and parts of Indiana. They have builders in Wisconsin, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania. The Pennsylvania builder covers New York, New Jersey, and Ohio and recently an Iowa builder signed on with them.
Employees and Culture
Smith, Beach, and Beach’s sons Jake and Luke are the main players in this family business, and they work well together. They have their challenges like any business, but everyone shows up, does their job, and they all pull together to make 100% customer satisfaction their focus.
Their business philosophy is to do what they say they will do, get there when they say they will get there, get the job done, and do it well. This is not something written in a mission statement framed on the wall Smith said, it is how they, as a company that enjoys being of service, operate.
The Industry
The post-frame industry is focused on problem solving according to Beach. The concern for longevity has made builders rethink wood in the ground, so that now this building format can be used for residential and it is more common in commercial and industrial building also. The industry has been slow to change he said, but today people are demanding more from their buildings, thereby encouraging progress.
While progress is inherent in the materials, processes, and solutions builders are applying to post-frame building, the recent dock workers strike is a reminder that the industry continues to rely on a fragile supply chain. Beach said that their company buys as much raw steel as they are able and stores diesel fuel for their trucks. They are always trying to be prepared for a supply chain glitch.
Insights Born of Experience
Beach said, “I wish I had more knowledge about manufacturing processes before we started manufacturing. Our startup could have been better and more efficient. Thankfully, we did have some help from people with years of experience and knowledge of what we needed to do to get to the point of rolling out our manufactured product, which allowed us to complete research and development in-house.”
R&D is something that Beach is passionate about, and the company has continued to make improvements in products, install techniques, and tooling, so it has worked out well. Beach and Smith believe that anyone embarking on a brand-new venture would do well to find someone experienced to consult.
“The right equipment is also critical to getting your business running the way you want it to,” Beach said. “Another indispensable asset is a good, trustworthy accountant so that while you are busy building your business, they are taking care of the finances. When seeking that trustworthy individual, ask for referrals, do the research, and interview them.”
Looking Ahead
Smith and Beach see their product line as expanding in the future. They are also working on developing a network of builders who use their products. While Anthem Built (anthembuilt.com) expands by extending the life of existing post-frame buildings, they are, no doubt, strengthening the foundation of the whole post-frame industry. RB
