Star City Six – Addison Collingsworth

Simply Smart Homes (simplysmarthomesne.com) creates home automation systems designed for your unique needs. Addison Collingsworth is the founder and owner of Simply Smart Homes.

Tell us a little about your business.

Whether this entails better security, higher efficiency, or adding entertainment with things like wireless audio and creative lighting, our smart devices bring convenience and simplicity to your life. All our products come with no long-term contracts, leases, or rentals, and we fully guarantee them by handling all warranties and returns. Since most of our products don’t require permanent wiring for power or data, they can be placed almost anywhere and easily upgraded or packed up in the event you move. By using an easy-to-understand interface and universal device standards, we enable you to add a wide variety of products to your system and give you the flexibility to expand your smart home the way you see fit.

How did you get started in the business?

Home automation has always been a hobby of mine, but I turned it into an official business after helping my grandparents with their home. At the time, my grandpa had a habit of leaving his car running in the garage and my grandma had fallen recently, so I wanted to help them feel more independent in their house by adding some safety features to it. With automatic 911 dialing in the event of a fall, a garage door that opened if it detected a CO2 build-up, and various alarms and devices to prevent a potential break-in, my grandparents were able to stay in their home for a bit longer and feel safe there. After that, I started helping more friends and family with similar smart products and word of mouth spread quickly.

What is the biggest challenge you’ve faced professionally?

Starting out in a market without a lot of information was hard. There are not that many companies that do what I do, especially in Lincoln, so coming up with a way to gauge how well I was doing and where to market myself has always been a challenge. It’s been a process of trial and error, but now I feel like I’ve settled into my niche well.

What has been your most important achievement professionally?

When I was able to break even before the two-year mark.

Tell us a little about your family.

My wife and I have been married for four years now and were high school sweethearts that met at College View Academy here in Lincoln. We just had our first son Orson in May, and I don’t think we’ve stopped smiling about it since.

What is your favorite thing to do on a day off?

I’m a big cinephile so I try to catch new movies as they come out. I also really like bird watching and maintaining the feeders I have in my yard. My house backs up to a wooded area so we have a great view of lots of wildlife.

What is your favorite quote or the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak and remove all doubt.”

Which talent would you most like to have?

Being a polyglot! I’d love to be able to pick up multiple languages quickly and speak to people from many different backgrounds.

What is your favorite book or the last good book you read?

The Inheritance Cycle books by Christopher Paolini. They merge a lot of the fantasy ideas that I like from different series while putting a unique spin on them.

What is your favorite movie?

I’m a huge Star Wars fan.

What is your favorite TV show?

Avatar: The Last Airbender. I try to rewatch the whole series at least once a year.

If our readers would like to contact you, how should they do so?

Phone: (402) 617-9928 (call/text); Email: addison@simplysmarthomesne.com; Website: simplysmarthomesne.com.