A couple built a $1 million business turning shipping containers into vacation homes. Here's how they decided when to stop growing.

""Right now, I feel like the big push is experiential hospitality for people. It's no longer just staying at an Airbnb," Emily, 38, told Business Insider. "What does it look like? What does it feel like? What's the experience like when you're there?""

""When Emily and I were dating, I mentioned to her that someday I want to build a house out of shipping containers," Seth, 36, told Business Insider. "Then she actually brought it back up in 2017, like, 'Hey, why don't we do that and chase that dream down?'""

""I thought by now we would have a lot more properties, but I'm really glad we're where we're at because you can grow so much that you implode," Seth said."

Seth and Emily Britt founded The Box Hop in 2018, converting shipping containers into modern vacation homes in Ohio's Hocking Hills. The company now operates six container rentals and a wedding venue called The Seventy Five Venue. Services expanded to include construction, interior design, and cleaning to support operations and revenue growth. The business generated over $1 million in revenue in 2025. The founders prioritized experiential hospitality and curated guest experiences. Growth decisions included intentional downsizing to avoid overextension. The company navigates scaling challenges common to small hospitality businesses while maintaining focused operations.

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