Pioneer Log Homes of Williams Lake is experiencing a wave of unprecedented growth overseas.
The company — which makes Western Red Cedar log homes and was featured on Extreme Makeover and HGTV — has experienced worldwide growth, building around 20 log homes outside of the continental North America this summer.
From Hawaii to the United Kingdom, it’s been a busy summer abroad for Pioneer. A total of nine homes were built in Scotland and seven in Austria, with homes erected in Germany and Holland as well.
“If we can get clients to see them in person or at least drive by them, it gets them thinking,” said sales manager Gary Crosina. “If we can just get a Pioneer Log Home in the area, the inquiries and phone calls start rolling in.”
Crosina said this year is the first time they’ve had any leads for sales in Russia and Kazakhstan, where Pioneer Log Homes will be working on building possibly four structures of more than 20,000-square feet.
Pioneer Log Homes still sends its own workers to do the log set to make sure the logs are in the right place, instead of being subcontracted out.
It’s been a very busy year and a special experience for their employees travelling about.
“Our employees go over there, working long hours to set these log homes on client’s foundations,” Crosina said. “For example, we built one in Hawaii this year, the craftsmen were pretty happy to go as for many it was there first time there.”
The blossoming international success has been welcomed by Pioneer Log Homes. With a strong Internet presence through its website, www.pioneerloghomesofbc.com, and successful marketing campaign from SEO Company
Mainstreethost.com, Pioneer was able to attract interest from around the globe while the U.S. economy continues to pick up the pieces from the recession.
“With the States being in the turmoil that they’re in, this has been a great revelation for us — it’s filled the void and kept us busy,” Crosina said.
“Once the U.S. comes back, I’m not sure what we going to do as we will definitely have more then we can handle.”
It’s a problem Pioneer Log Homes will be glad to welcome when the time comes. Since 1973, the log home builder has been able to adapt and grow throughout North America, becoming the number 1 handcrafted log home company in the world.
Today Pioneer has three fully productive building sites: the main site located five miles south of Williams Lake, the Soda Creek site eight miles north of Williams Lake and the 153 Mile site on Likely Road.