Photo by Dave Boyd

Star Technology Group constructing new Web site for Richardson Builders

By Greg Miller
STAR STAFF
gmiller@starhq.com

   Star Technology Group is constructing a new Web site for Richardson Builders, 145 Judge Don Lewis Blvd., Suite 1, next to the Star Building Systems plant.
   Richardson Builders, a general contractor, has been in business since 1985. "We specialize in the construction of commercial and industrial buildings," remarked Kem Richardson, who said the company only uses buildings made by Star Building Systems.
   The Web site will feature a variety of interesting materials, according to Richardson. "We want our Web site to include our completed projects and also some of Star's brochures and color charts. Our Web site will be designed so we may give our customers secured passwords in order for them to view their contracts, invoices, change orders and job progress. We will take photographs weekly and have Star Technology Group post them on our Web site. Then our customers can see the progress on their projects, even if they cannot visit the job site. In addition, we are planning on a page specifically designed for quoting buildings and another for job applications."
   Richardson believes the new Web site will help bring new business to the company. "We're going after a different market, too," he said. "There are a great deal of other contractors who do not presently have a building dealership because this is not their area of expertise. We would like to provide those companies with pre-engineered buildings at competitive pricing. We feel we can benefit them with our buying power."
   Richardson Builders will begin promoting a nationwide advertising campaign in magazines. "We want to start drop shipping buildings from the Star plant to wherever they are needed," he said. "We're going to use our Web site to go after that market to see what we're capable of doing. We're wanting to diversify somewhat in the metal building business."
   While Star Technology has been busy constructing a new Web site for Richardson Builders, the company has been hard at work erecting its new 14,000 square-foot building. During the course of this year, Richardson Builders expects to have at least three additional people working in the office to design and estimate buildings. They are also planning on having a showroom in their new office for Star Building System products. "When someone wants to see, for example, a panel type or color, there will be a display so they can actually feel and see the product before they ever purchase a building," said Richardson.
   Elizabeth Wright, an East Tennessee State University graduate in construction management, is the company's estimator. "She participated in a co-op program through the university where she actually went in the field and constructed these buildings," Richardson said. "She is constantly updating her training in the latest technology so we will be able to offer her skills to the customer. Right now, if a customer comes into their office they can have a complete set of drawings for them in minutes. This allows the customer to be completely satisfied with the building's appearance before the project is started."
   Presently, Richardson Builders is the largest Star Building Dealer in this region. "We are expecting our sales to increase this year by at least 100 percent," Richardson said. "We feel we can accomplish this with our new office and personnel."
   Richardson Builders believes in supporting the local economy. "We buy all of our buildings from Star Building Systems in Elizabethton and all of our materials from this area," Richardson said. "We try to hire subcontractors who are from this vicinity as well."
   Richardson Builders is a licensed general contractor in Tennessee and Virginia, doing most of its work in a 100-mile perimeter. Shopping centers, industrial plants, manufacturing facilities, and churches are among the types of projects the company has completed.
   "We can take a building project from the group up as a turnkey project or we can sell just the building," Richardson said. "We like to make ourselves as adaptable as possible to this industry."
   For more information, call 542-3400 or visit www.richardsonbuilders.net.