The average American home is between 2000 and 2500 square feet in size. Jay Shafer’s hand-crafted 89-square-foot house on wheels is so small he can almost parallel-park it. Ecological concerns have merged with an uncertain real estate market to give a big boost to the small-house movement, which promotes simple living in tiny spaces. A growing number of people are happily living in houses ranging from just 70 to 800 square feet, small enough to fit on a flatbed truck and pull into a field or farmstead.

1. Do you think Shafer’s plan to grow his business slowly is a good one? Why or why not?
2. What economic and social factors do you think have aided Tumbleweed’s success so far? Which might be potential challenges for the firm that Shafer should consider?
3. Do you think a company like Tumbleweed could go global? Why or why not?