The happy world of giving

By Colin Riddle  

JANUARY 20, 2012 9:27 a.m. (0)

It was just one of many unexpected moments Chip Smith, CEO and president of Blue Ridge Log Cabins, has experienced since his company was featured on the show “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” last fall.

The Campobello-based company built its largest home yet – 8,000 square feet – and donated it to a group of women veterans in Fayetteville, N.C. The project took 109 hours, included 570 logs, and more than 4,000 volunteers from North and South Carolina.

The cabin was donated to Barbara Marshall’s Steps and Stages Jubilee House, which offers shelter and counseling services to homeless female veterans.

Life afterwards has included loads of recognition across the country from veterans, media, and log cabin enthusiasts.

“Certainly a very surreal experience to be present in Washington and receive congressional recognition,” said Smith.  “It was especially gratifying to me to represent our company on the highest platform of recognition.”

The recognition was organized by U.S. Rep. Trey Gowdy. Blue Ridge also received a letter of commendation from Gov. Nikki Haley and company representatives were guests of honor at a reception sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders in downtown Washington.

Business has been booming ever since.

The evening the show aired, while the Blue Ridge family watched together at the Spartanburg Marriot, a phone bank company contracted by Blue Ridge sat by the phones awaiting calls.

The phone bank did not disappoint.  The top three states to call were South Carolina, California, and New Jersey.

“There’s no question that the exposure has made us a household name within the log home industry,” said Smith.

Blue Ridge has also seen increase in quarterly seminars, where potential buyers visit Blue Ridge to tour the 110,000-square-foot production facility and cabin models, talk to staff, and attend a presentation.

The company’s fourth quarter seminar hit nearly 100 attendees from 18 states.

The most rewarding feedback for Smith and his Blue Ridge employees has been the sense of accomplishment in helping homeless female veterans.

Smith has received flags, emails and other tokens of appreciation from veterans, families of veterans, and active members of all branches of military across the country.

“The military aspect was tremendous after the show,” said Smith.  “It’s a validation of why we did this project.  It wasn’t a marketing ploy.  I feel the commitment by our employees was recognized.”

“It shows that great heart of community and we’re always going to represent that,” said Sarah Smith, marketing coordinator for Blue Ridge and daughter of Chip Smith.

Smith said the experience has strengthened and brought the company employees closer together.

“We were able to achieve something that was virtually impossible.  We now look at obstacles as opportunities,” said Smith.

The build offered a number of new challenges for the Blue Ridge teams from logistics to engineering to coordinating volunteers.

“Not only did it challenge us but it highlighted these new challenges for us,” said Wesley Lawson, lead product engineer for Blue Ridge.  “The thing to walk away with is to be open to a challenge.”

Encouraging vendors to buy into the project turned challenging when asking for donated materials from various vendors.  Sixty percent of the logs provided by Blue Ridge’s log supplier were donated.

Blue Ridge also took on new projects normally not associated with their construction process along with creating new contacts with contractors in the Fayetteville area.

“We became more adaptable to new projects and products,” said Doug Terrell, vice president of manufacturing.

Terrell believes Blue Ridge has found new areas to add to their custom building processes.

“You’re a bit awestruck and take for granted what we do here and what we can do,” said Terrell.  “The first priority is that you’re doing something for a family.  Building a home that’s probably somebody’s dreams.”

Blue Ridge has no doubt benefited in sales and brand recognition as they are becoming a benchmark for log homes in the area and very quickly the country.

However, the company has become a benchmark for another aspect of business, philanthropy.

Blue Ridge has built three cabins for the Spartanburg’s boy’s home, Glenn Springs Academy.

Smith and Blue Ridge hope to inspire other corporations in the area as well as the country to give back to their communities.

Smith feels not only will the community benefit but also the employees and company will find a special experience that will last a lifetime.

“We walked away with a piece of something bigger than your everyday life,” said Lawson.

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