Dragon's Den boost helped Saskatoon builder 3twenty Modular
A Saskatoon company that succeeded in attracting attention, and investment money, from a panelist on the business reality show Dragon's Den is noting its continued growth.
Principals of the company 3twenty Modular were on the show six years ago looking for backers interested in their company that specialized in building portable structures by reusing and adapting cargo containers.
Saskatchewan-born entrepreneur Brett Wilson liked what he saw and invested. In the years following the Dragon's Den appearance, the company — with Wilson's support — has grown and now boasts having produced over 400 modular buildings.
They are used primarily in the oil and gas and construction industries.
They have also started a manufacturing plant where they build their structures from scratch.
"Two years ago we made a shift from being a container-builder to being a modular manufacturer. This allowed us to build commercial office buildings, school classrooms and even residential products," Evan Willoughby said.
Willoughby said part of their success has been to stick to their basic form: a modular box.
"We didn't try to do high-end homes or anything like that," he said. "We kept a box a box."
He said they have noticed, for some of their products, the downturn in the resources sector. However, he noted they have diversified and continue to grow.
"We were just ambitious ... and wanted to grow," he said, adding they have already set their sights on new innovations.
