Hunting for homes
 
Joe Charmello doesn”™t think of his business as “just sheds,” as he walks through a maze of gazebos, garages and screened-in cabanas. “We”™re more of an ”˜everything to make life sweeter in the backyard”™ kind of business.”
Charmello bought Brad”™s Barns three years ago, deciding not to change a thing, not even the name. “Brad Shafer ran a very successful business here for 20 years. There was no rhyme or reason to change the name. He built up a great reputation and people from all over who travel here to ski or to enjoy the summer know this place. Seventeen thousand cars a day pass us on Route 28, and Brad”™s Barns is a landmark.”
Charmello wasn”™t always in the building supply business. “I sold cars and did financing for many years,” he said. “But I always loved working with wood, and after I had my own home built by Zellner Construction, I asked the owner if he”™d take me on as an employee. I worked for Zellner for three years; I was looking around for a business similar to Brad”™s Barns when I called Shafer to ask if he was interested in selling. Not only was Brad thinking of retiring, he had just come from talking to a Realtor about listing his business. Talk about a fortuitous call. Well, he didn”™t have to list it, because he”™d found his buyer. I knew his track record and that the business was a success.” Charmello bought Brad”™s Barns and Shafer stayed on for three years working side by side with its new owner.
The Kingston-based business is getting ready to expand its inventory to include modular hunting cabins; rather than roughing it, however, those who buy them will be pleasantly surprised to find they are not going to be running to the outhouse. If anything, the new hunting cabins are crafted to not just offer respite from sitting in a tree all day, but a place where you can kick off those boots and relax ”” perhaps even live in year round, if you have a mind to. “These are not sheds,” stressed Charmello. “They are modular cabins, and need to meet local code just as a home would…we”™re very excited to be able to make them part of our expanding inventory.” Â
Sheds and other outbuildings, including garages, range anywhere from $1,500 to $30,000, depending on the bells and whistles customers ask for. For Charmello, his good relationship with Ulster Savings Bank has been a blessing for both his business and his customers. Not only has the Kingston-based bank lent Charmello money to acquire and expand his operation, it has also made loans available for his customers.
“Times are tough today, but people are still investing in their homes. Whether they need a shed to keep their tools in, or they want something more upscale, like a cabana for the pool, we can make sure they get exactly the look, color and size they want. If my customers tell me they can buy the same thing at a big-box store, I just shrug my shoulders and tell them, ”˜I”™ll see you again,”™ because I know they”™ll be back. These are quality sheds and buildings people will get years of use out of. They are built by the Amish, who take extreme pride in their carpentry, and they are built to last.”
From the bank”™s point of view, Charmello, his experience and financial acumen have worked in his favor. “We helped Joe finance the original acquisition of the property,” said Steve Hack, vice president and commercial loan officer for Ulster Savings in Kingston, “and gave him some working capital that has helped with his expansion and helped him with his cash flow. For local people, the economy”™s been very tough; Joe”™s been successful because he”™s got a unique product, and his company has a solid track record.” Â
Ulster”™s program to help Charmello”™s customers buy Brad”™s Barns”™ sheds and outbuildings was rolled out on a trial basis.
 “This is relatively new territory for us,” said Hack, “but it”™s been a great boost to Joe”™s business, and so far, it”™s working for the bank, too. We will watch it as it goes along and at some point decide if we would like to expand it to other businesses. The economy is tough, and it”™s not getting any easier for people to buy. If the program continues to be a success, we”™ll evaluate it and consider making it available to others.”