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SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 2009

Idea Next Step,LLC
PMB 217
18352 Dallas Pkwy #136
Dallas Tx 75287
Info@ideanextstep.com
Phone---1-469-789-9523
Fax-------1-972-407-1431

Prepared by IP Owner/Inventor : Mr. August J Trofe Jr.
293 BlueRidge Drive
Levittown, Pa. 19057
215-946-3615

Please find business plan and video showing my ProtoType
Testing of a new Snow and Ice Removal Tool, I Invented by
combining a standard hand-held electric leaf blower and a 1200
Watt hair blow dryer. Demonstrating a built in heating element
that enables snow and ice to be cleared from driveways and
sidewalk surfaces without shoveling or physical stress. Force
of the Hot Dry air Evaporates the snow and ice, blows away
layers of ice and compacted snow, leaving the surface dry.
Requiring almost no physical effort at all.

I am interested in knowing whether your company is interested
in licensing my invention or acquiring the IP and patent rights
outright. I look forward to hearing from you. ThankYou;
Sincerely August

CC:
Ms, Marge Beard
Senior Business Consultant
Temple University Small Business Development Center
215-204-2373

Martin

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

II. PART I: BUSINESS PLAN

PRODUCTS

- A heating element incorporated into a leaf blower
that enables snow and ice to be removed from driveways,
sidewalks, stairs, porches and flat roofs. Suitable for use
on vehicles. Eliminates corrosive salts.

HIGHLIGHTS

Size and power level can be varied during production based
on user’s needs
Cheaper smaller models will use electricity and be corded;
such models will include a shoulder strap. Larger models can
be electric or gas and have back pack for support

Force of the hot air evaporates the snow and dries the
surface which will reduce slip and fall injuries. Scraper
attachment expedites the removal of frozen over snow and ice

Tripod can be included for use on a flat roof

Model can be produced that will source power from vehicle
power port or cigarette lighter

Can also be used as a leaf blower if heating element is not
activated

UNIQUE ADVANTAGES

“There would simply be less time and hassle spent clearing
snow and ice.”

MARKET - Residents of cold weather regions.

The primary market for the product is the 60+ million American households located in cold weather states where snowfall is likely to occur and deciduous trees drop their leaves. Page 8
The product would be especially desirable for urban areas and other tightly built residences where users would be interested in removing snow and ice from small areas such as balconies and patios or their vehicles and would not have space for storage or be willing to invest a large amount of money in traditional snow blowers
The rising age of the population, increasing obesity, and the lack of fitness combine to make the product especially attractive in this day and age.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

PRODUCTION/COST ESTIMATES

Manufacturing Costs $10.00 - $15.00
Wholesale Price $50.00 - $60.00
Retail Price $ 100.00 - $120.00

These prices assume base model electric powered units; minimum 1000 units produced; Foreign supplier; costs to decline as orders increase.
Insurance and warranty costs additional.

DISTRIBUTION

The snow and ice removal tool is an ideal direct market product, with a starting retail price of around $100.00 plus shipping and handling, could be sold in installment payments.
Additional models with more power to be introduced as appropriate.

NEEDS

Investor/partner

Build high quality prototype
Obtain Underwriters Laboratory approval
Obtain inventory for first round of orders
Obtain insurance
Develop packaging
Create infomercial and marketing.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

III. PART II: OVERVIEW

A. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT

My new snow and ice removal tool grew out of a need or problem to be solved with the time and hassle spent clearing snow and ice. This prompted me into the invention process. I then conceived the new product. A modified leaf blower that features a built in heating element that enables snow and ice to be cleared from driveways and sidewalk surfaces without shoveling or physical stress.

Subsequently , to test the new product. I built a mock proto-type by combining a 1200 watt blow dryer and a standard hand held electric leaf blower. I can provide a mock proto-type and home video demonstrating the built in heating element. Force of the hot dry air evaporates the snow, blows away layers of ice and compacted snow, leaving the surface dry. Requiring almost no physical effort at all.

IV. PART III: THE PRODUCTS

A. DESIGN FEATURES AND HIGHLITES

The new product is a portable outdoor blower-type device with a heating element incorporated in its design providing a more effective means of clearing snow, ice , frozen rain, slush or sleet from sidewalks and driveway surfaces, steps, porches and flat roofs. Suitable for use on vehicles that have been parked outside. Serves as a convenient less-strenuous alternative to using a snow shovel.

When this unit is powered on, the hot dry air forcefully projected through the chute, evaporates the snow, blows away layers of ice and compacted snow, leaving total surface dry, Thus, reducing instances of slip-and-fall injuries and eliminates using any salt.

Manufactured in standard leaf blower sizes. The housing and discharge chute are injection molded out of polypropylene a hard plastic. The products housing incorporates a motor, blower fan, wiring and the additional heating element. The discharge chute features a shape of an ice scraper, to facilitate the removal of heavy wet snow, slush, sleet or frozen rain. A cord from an A.C. outlet, plugs in the rear of the housing and a strap would be in included for convenient carrying of unit.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

B.PRODUCTION

Since the unit represents a modification of an existing product it is easily producible. The housing and discharge chute are injection molded from hard plastic and electrical components are purchased from wholesale stock and incorporated into the design. Underwriters Laboratory (UL) approval and insurance will likely be obtained.

C. PACKAGING

The product would be packaged in a corrugated cardboard box. The package and unit has a label identifying the product and shows it in use. Corrugated cardboard shipping containers are then used to hold a quantity of individually packaged products for shipment and storage.

D. APPEALING BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES

The appealing benefits of snow and ice removal tool are its ease of use, convenience, dual function, time saving qualities, reduction of physical strain and effort, and affordability. The product provides a more effective means of clearing snow and ice and is the only snow and ice removal tool on the market that features a built in heating element. Serves as a convenient less-strenuous alternative to using a snow shovel. It is designed to reduce the physical strain associated with removing snow and ice. In fact, requires almost no physical effort at all. This makes our unit appealing for women to use. Giving the product universal appeal (men and woman) . The user stands in a comfortable upright position while operating this outdoor power tool. The use of this product reduces strain in parts of the body that are commonly injured when shoveling such as the lower back and wrists, some of the strain placed on the heart would be alleviated and the likelihood of heart attack is reduced. With reduced physical demand, fatigue and injury more work could be done in a shorter period of time. This productivity creates another important advantage for commercial snow removers. The reduction in labor time minimizes the associated costs. This financial benefit combined with the affordable retail price of the Unit makes it a very cost-effective product. This base model electric powered unit would be especially desirable for urban areas and other tightly built residences where users would be interested in removing snow and ice from small areas such as balconies and patios or their vehicles and do not have space for storage areas or be willing to invest a large amount in traditional snow throwers. The rising age of the population, increasing obesity, and lack of fitness combine to make the unit especially attractive in this day and age

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

E. VARIATIONS

The potential exists for varying the production of my product in ways to make it attractive to a wider range of end users. This would include versions that resemble standard base-model leaf blower units such as the hand held electric and gas, back-pack and walk-behind units that are used as both snow blower and conventional leaf blowers making them useful all year round. Another variation would feature a leaf - mulcher and vacuum bag attachment.

Still another version exists, a smaller hand held model that features a rechargeable battery pack and carrying case about the size of a large pocket book for walking to a car or truck that has been parked outside and defrosts windshields quickly and also uses the vehicles power port or cigarette lighter as a power source This outdoor power tool could be manufactured in various sizes and different operational power levels appealing to the needs of home owners and the commercial/professional snow removal services.

F. TRENDS

Along with environmental friendliness, consumers are looking for outdoor power equipment that is easier to use. According to the trade journal Appliance being able to start up and use outdoor power tools with less physical effort is part of an ongoing trend in this industry and is expected to rise through 2010. Features like easier to pull cords and electronic ignitions are being integrated into the design of outdoor power equipment. Quit-running, pollution-reducing models are introduced to the market year- after- year.

G. TARGETED INDUSTRY

The outdoor equipment industry consists of lawnmowers, garden tractors, lawn and garden tools and equipment, tillers, trimmers and edger’s, turf and ground equipment, snow throwers and snowmobiles.

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

V. PART IV: THE MARKETING

A. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT

When considering the introduction of a new product in today’s global market place. One factor to consider is the business environment or competitive environment. Based on conducting patent searches and researching existing competitive products on the market. We found no existing product on the market

B. TARGETED USERS

Marketing data is taken from the U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau and the U.S. Weather bureau . The targeted users are residents of cold weather regions. Specifically targeted in the U.S.A. are the 36 cold winter weather states because they have average minimum temperatures below freezing in winter. The number of households within these cold weather states is approximately 65 percent of the total number of heads of households in the U.S. That would be a primary market of 104.7 million heads of households or Two-thirds of America’s households experience cold winter weather. Nevertheless, in quantifying the market for the product, to estimate conservatively that three-fifths of the nation’s households experience cold winter conditions, the estimated portion of target households for the product would be a primary market of approximately 62 million households. Special efforts could target approximately 21.1 million Americans who suffer from heart disease. The Secondary Market would consist of the commercial/professional market. This market includes 8,606 snow removal services. The Tertiary Market consists of the international market.

C. MARKET TARGETS

Primary Market - 62 million households

Secondary Market - commercial/professional services

Tertiary Market - international market

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

D. PRIMARY MARKET

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1/17/2009 ……………….........................................1

II. PART I: BUSINESS PLAN………………………………...................................2
PRODUCTS
HIGHLIGHTS
UNIQUE ADVANTSGES
MARKET
PRODUCTION / COST ESTIMATES………………………………..........................................3
DISTRIBUTION
NEEDS
III. PART II: OVERVIEW……………………………….........................................4
A. HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT
IV. PART III: THE PRODUCTS
A. DESIGN FEATURES AND HIGHLITES
B. PRODUCTION……………………………….........................................................................5
C. PACKAGING
D. APPEALING BENEFITS AND ADVANTAGES
E. VARIATIONS……………………………..............................................................................6
F. TRENDS
G. TARGETED INDUSTRY
V. PART IV: THE MARKETING……………………………….............................7
A. COMPETITIVE ENVIRONMENT
B. TARGETED USERS
C. MARKET TARGETS
D. PRIMARY MARKET MAP………………………………..................................................8

SNOW AND ICE REMOVAL TOOL SUMMARY OVERVIEW……………….9