Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Hickey.
Hi Sam, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was very fortunate to get into new home construction after I graduated college. I worked for a large production home builder for a few years and then moved on to a large custom home builder. I was fortunate to be promoted fairly quickly at that company but things took a turn in 2008 when the sub-prime lending crisis and Hurricane Ike shut down the new home sales market. I took a considerable reduction in compensation right after we had built our own custom home and had our first daughter. I started Creekstone Outdoors at that time because I wanted to control my own destiny. Patios and outdoor kitchens seemed simple and didn’t require me to work inside a customer occupied home so I felt it was a good fit.
I quickly developed a niche and a good reputation in the pool and patio business. We were called on by multiple pool companies to incorporate patios, outdoor kitchens, room additions, and outdoor fire features on their build jobs. As the design build business grew, I noticed a huge need to have a showroom but I also wanted to offer more products to my customers. In 2016 we opened a brick and mortar retail showroom to showcase the top products along with displays of functional outdoor kitchens, fireplaces, patio furniture and more. We have expanded along the way to include specialty wagyu beef and premium meets, seasonings, sauces, and tons of bbq accessories.
Today we are actively pursuing the development of a second larger showroom in another area near Houston and continue to grow to service the greater Houston area.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
We went from starting a construction business very organically with very little overhead to taking on a huge capital investment into a brick and mortar retail store. There was a big learning curve with retail. Everything from employee personnel, inventory and display costs, hours of operation, product placement, and more. It took us about 2 years to get over the hump and we continue to learn every day.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We own and operate the only true one stop shop for outdoor living in Houston, TX and we are often complimented by other industry professionals for developing the most comprehensive retail store in this category. We build pools, patios, and outdoor kitchens but we also carry all the top brands of equipment including Big Green Egg, Firemagic, Yoder, Twin Eagles, Blaze, and more. There are very few, if any, retail showrooms in the United States that give a customer everything from design inspiration to full design build projects to service after the sale including bbq accessories, rubs/sauces, and more.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
As an entrepreneur and small business owner, we rely on others that have gone thru the joys and struggles of owning and operating a business for advice and support. I’m fortunate that my father-in-law, Robert Knappick, has always been there to guide me thru some of the challenges I have faced. He owned and operated a successful HVAC business for over 30 years and earned the respect of his employees, customers, and his family. I’m lucky to have him in my corner.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.creekstoneoutdoors.com
- Instagram: @creekstoneoutdoors
- Facebook: facebook.com/creekstoneoutdoorliving
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Creekstoneoutdoorstx/videos
Image Credits
Multop Media Bayou City 360
