- 510 Groveland Avenue, Suite 502
- Minneapolis, MN 55403
- (612) 418-1192
- clyde.hanson@ventureisles.com
| Hurricane Straps damage prevention system |
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BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Line extension for service companies Exclusive rights to product & installation
 YouTube Video--Hurricane Straps TV Commercial with house saved from Hurricane Andrew Hurricane Straps® brand Damage Prevention System A simple, proven system keeps low-rise buildings and vehicles anchored in 250 mph hurricane winds to reduce injuries, damages and insurance premiums Problem: More frequent and powerful wind storms are injuring people with flying debris and property damage disrupts their lives. Corrosion and rot weaken build-in anchors. Older homes and vehicles don’t have any anchors. As a result, property insurance premiums have skyrocketed to unaffordable levels. Due to losses, insurers have raised annual premiums to almost as much as the annual loan payments for many properties. Solution: Preventing damage from hurricanes and other storms with advance warning is now practical and cost effective--even for existing homes. This innovation provides the gear and method for securing a building with nylon straps that are routed over the roof and secured to permanent anchors on opposite sides of the building.  Figure 2 Organized storage between storms Significant Business Opportunity Acquire or license this profit center on an exclusive basis in the US as a growth strategy. Enjoy big margins, large volume potential, clear market-drivers, competitive advantages, proof-of-demand, multi-channel distribution potential, bundling and cross-selling synergies, solid technology, certification tested, and a clear economic case for prospects to buy. Margins: This system has great margins for both the materials and labor. It takes a crew of two less than four hours to install a typical system. A keystone markup on installed residential systems has been accepted in the marketplace. Set-up and take down of the system before and after a storm offer an ongoing revenue stream for distributors. Retail pricing of systems could hit 4X markup over loaded manufacturing-cost. Volume: Over 9 million homes in eight states would benefit from Hurricane Straps® holding them tight in high winds. This represents billions in property value. Almost 300,000 portable classrooms and 1,000s of emergency response command-posts are in harm’s way. Cars, boats, airplanes and outbuildings are another huge market opportunity. The volume potential for damage prevention systems is very significant and is going to be around for many decades. Market Drivers: Warming oceans will increase the frequency and severity of storms. Governments and insurance groups are putting in place stronger financial incentives and regulations to reduce storm damages. Pro-active measures like Hurricane Straps® may become a requirement just to quality for insurance.
Property owners are tired of the disruption of storm repairs and they now understand that insurance-paid reconstruction is not “free”. Increasingly, downwind parties are seeking compensation for damage caused by unsecured boats or roofs. Emergency personnel enjoy peace of mind knowing their property is protected while they are on duty. Reducing storm damage and disruption has become an economic development imperative for communities in hurricane zones to keep their tourist visits, jobs, and tax base. Today’s tighter mortgage underwriting standards require better insurance and loss prevention efforts like Hurricane Straps®. Competition: Retrofitting buildings with internal tie-downs is much more disruptive and costly; requires licensed contractors and building permits; and only handles 100 mph winds unlike 250 mph for Hurricane Straps®. Some writers use the Hurricane Straps® trademark to refer to internal straps, but they are not the same technology. There is another patented strap-system but it requires drilling holes in the edge of the structure’s concrete slab, a slow process, and boats, airplanes and mobile homes don’t have slabs. Slab edges are not designed for this load and are of uneven quality. With anchors at this location, the straps put much more stress on the edge of the roof. Only Hurricane Straps® has the patented load-spreader for the peak of the roof and a strap-ratchet that prevents over-tightening so an excited home-owner can’t break the ridgepole. No need to have damages before the storm even arrives. Patent can be used to prevent competitors from knocking-off Hurricane Straps® while you build the brand. Market Response: Hurricane Straps® were sold for two years by the founder through independent distributors with exclusive geographic territories and his own installation company. Several advertising and promotion campaigns were tested. Partnership challenges led to the closing of the operation and distributorships. Government, commercial and homeowners customer references are available. Multiple Distribution Channels: Hurricane Straps® would be ideal for a franchising or a network of independent contractors working under a national brand. Hurricane Straps® would be an ideal growth strategy for construction and maintenance providers--for example businesses providing damage-recovery services or home improvement services. Equipment rental stores could rent the ground anchor drills and sell the pre-packaged kits (storage bag, two ground-anchors, strap, ratchet, weighted “toss-over” line (to pull the strap over the roof) for DIYSers. This product would also sell well in chains of building supply stores. Figure 4 Two-person crews install quickly Product Enhancements & Bundling: Marketer will see cross-sell opportunities for hurricane shutters, emergency supplies, generators, pumps, etc. along with Hurricane Straps® to maximize the average sale and spread the sales costs over more revenue. The product developer has enhancements and line-extensions planned. Technology: Proprietary ground-anchors are pre-positioned every 10 feet around the perimeter of the object to be protected. Covers on the openings to the below-ground anchor points keep access clean, eliminate a tripping hazard, and improve the aesanthetics of the permanence parts of the system between storm warnings. Storage bags keep the straps organized for quick set-up as a storm approaches. Safety and Certifications: Hurricane Straps® can be installed and set-up (before a storm) and taken down without getting on a ladder. The only heavy lifting is the ground- anchor drill (about 50lbs). The custom ratchets limit the tension on the straps. The load capacities of the ground-anchors, fasteners and straps have been certified by independent test labs recognized by the State of Florida.
Economics Sense for Buyers: The installed cost of a Hurricane Straps® damage prevention system is less than the “out-of-pocket” insurance deductible for many homeowners. Insurers are offering discounts for homes that are “hardened” from wind damages. The closer to the coast the property is, the higher the discount. These savings will quickly pay for a system. Keeping the roof on in a storm prevents costly water damage to interiors, furniture and family heirlooms. With or without incentives from insurers, installing Hurricane Straps® is financially smart for property owners. Assets Newly Available for Purchase or Exclusive License:
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Figure 5 $1,000 in tools plus truck equips a crew