Near-death Experience is the Mother of Invention for Two Dallas Electricians

To morning commuters, the hulking truck encircled with barricades and traffic cones may be nothing more than a road-clogging nuisance.

For Kerem Tepecik and Dale Vith, two men who've made a good living by changing light bulbs forty feet above the pavement, the so-called "bucket truck" is more ominous.

"Every time I go up, I wonder if this is the day I'll die", says Tepecik, a married father of two. "We call it the "prayer bucket".

Naturally, spending hours swaying in the Texas wind while dismantling high voltage light fixtures as angry drivers on the street below zoom past, the two electricians shared a single thought. "There's got to be a better way."

"After a couple of near-death experiences, where a truck nearly fell on me or on him", says Vith, the pair began to learn the truth of Edison's dictum, "Invention is one percent inspiration and 99% perspiration."

Taking a cue from "High masts" (200 foot light poles used on freeway cloverleaf overpasses) with their built-in lowering systems, Vith and Tepecik spent nights and weekends designing and building prototypes of their "Retropole", a patented crank-and-rail attachment which safely disconnects and lowers the light for servicing.

The system is now in church parking lots, fast-food drive-thrus, and at the headquarters of a nationally-famous family restaurant chain, whose management is in the process of rolling out "Retropole" in locations nationwide.

Following a soft launch in May/June '05, the new company's small staff has been thrilled by the reaction on the part of customers of every size.

With retail prices under $1000, the systems pay for themselves the third time a light bulb is changed. Easy DIY maintenance and low cost of operation (bucket trucks charge $200-$300 for minor service calls, whereas the bulbs are sold for $20 at home improvement stores) appeal to maintenance staff.

Perhaps more significant, though, is the invention's positive impact on property value.

"For every dollar a property's annual maintenance cost drops, ten dollars is added to the property's value" explains Tepecik.

The implications of this have lead two major Texas-based manufacturers to gear up for enormous production runs.

"Kerem and Dale are two good guys who worked hard to bring a terrific idea to life. How often does an idea come along that helps with so many issues-safety, environment, and so on, that also helps large businesses save a fortune?" says Sherman Allen, marketing director of the Dallas based Retropole, llc.

He notes that "bucket trucks" are leaky behemoths which cause concrete and landscaping damage, and, in terms of fuel, the 13-ton monsters "make Hummers look like econo-boxes."

In an ironic twist, the success of Retropole will keep Vith and Tepecik in the "prayer bucket", since the one-hour installation of the mechanism requires one final ascent for removal of the light fixture.

Tepecik says he's considering a sign on the truck that says "I'm never coming here again." http://www.retropole.com

For more information contact:

Sherman Allen
Director of Sales and Marketing
Retropole, llc
sherman@retropole.com
(214)668-2589
http://www.retropole.com

____________________

Advertisement: Honest Riches - Click Here!

Advertisement: Lost AdWords - Click Here!

Advertisement: Get $1 Million A Month In Google Pay-Per-Click Ads Free! - Click Here!

Advertisement: Who Loves Money? - Click Here!

Advertisement: SEO Elite, the GrandDaddy of SEO Software - Click Here!

---

The New Paradigm for Entrepreneurial Success

Entrepreneurship is a great magnet to deliver new ideas, unique approaches and innovative technologies. When conducted in a proper way, turning people into entrepreneurs improves a country's... Read More

A Dorm Room With A View

As a senior in high school, he paid cash for a BMW with money made by selling newspapers. In 1983, as a college freshman, he sold custom-made... Read More

Chairman Greenspan and the FED, learn more you will be glad you did

So many people work their whole life to make money, but they know so little about out monetary system. They know so little about the Federal Reserve... Read More

Are You Ready To Be Your Own Boss?

You have this burning desire you want to be on your own. The temptation is so great that you want to quit your job. Enough is enough.... Read More

Opportunity Does Not Knock

Q: I'm graduating this year with a degree in business and would like to start my own business rather than get a corporate job. I have a... Read More

Executive Suites - A Way To Save Cash

Cash is one of the most important resources to a new business. One of the best ways to conserve cash for a startup business that is in... Read More

Achievements Outweigh Education and Experience

Q: When it comes to succeeding in business, which do you think is more important: education or experience? -- Regina M.A: Regina, have you seen the television... Read More

How To Start a New Business

While it is tempting to just leap into a new business because of it's exciting possibilities, a few key planning points will vastly increase your chances of... Read More

The Role of Statistics in Prospect Modeling

Identifying prospects has come a long way since the days of simple list buying. With the hype flying fast and furious, sometimes it's difficult to sort out... Read More

Coating Service Business Case Study

There are many coating businesses in the market today, but have you ever asked yourself how one gets into this line of work? How they are formed... Read More

The Cockroach Test

Let me ask you a question? Imagine I would offer you $10 for eating 10 living cockroaches. Would you do it? Now listen, I raise the ante... Read More

What Qualities Do Franchisors Need?

When I got into business I wanted to build a company, which helped people and provide a product and service that people loved and were willing to... Read More

History of Enterprise Car Rentals

So few really understand the drives and motivations of entrepreneurs. Many write about them, some lecture and teach about what they are, how they operate and what... Read More

What Makes a Person an Entrepreneur?

Entrepreneurship is generally characterized by some type of innovation, a significant investment, and a strategy that values expansion. The entrepreneur is often quite different in mindset from... Read More

Playing Hookey Can Help! A Surprising Secret To Small Business Success!

Would you like to increase your chances of business success by 350%? The good news is that you can! Before you start working harder or learning the... Read More

Build Your Own Board Of Experts

The most successful entrepreneurs rely on their advisory boards to help spot new opportunities and potential pitfalls.Now you can have your own advisory board: a shadow board... Read More

Lessons Learned from One Entrepreneur on Vioxx

For the past ten-months, I tried every drug from the popular Vioxx, Celebrex and Aleve, to the long-standing Percocet, Ibruprofen 800, with some other fabulous ones like... Read More

Two Types of Business Plan Executive Summaries

Companies seeking capital often ask how long the Executive Summary of their business plan should be. The answer depends upon the use of the summary, mainly determining... Read More

Six Degrees of Separation

Through just five or six intermediaries, you could be linked to millions of others. It is the notion behind what has been dubbed the small world effect.It... Read More

Find Me the Expert on This!

Many people who set up as consultants never make more than a minimal living. They get some clients who like them, but are so dependent on these... Read More

The History of the Franchise Business - Learning about Business Opportunities by Looking at the Past

Hair care has been around as long as humans have been on the planet. The earliest record of personal hair care dates back 2.5 million years ago,... Read More

Secrets of My Favorite Government Auction

I love bargains. And there's no better place to find bargains than an auction. And there are no better auctions than government surplus auctions. My favorite government... Read More

Documenting Partnerships in Your Business Plan

Forging partnerships to improve market penetration has become commonplace, particularly for "new economy" businesses. And, most companies proudly mention their many partnerships in their business plans.The fact... Read More

Why I Should Go In To Business

Rohit Kochgaway was very upset with his boss for his rebuking him today in office. He was very upset with his job. When he reached home in... Read More

... in Pursuing the American Dream

This morning I woke up at 4:30 in the morning, as usual, poured myself a cup of coffee, as usual, and thought about what my son said... Read More

Expand Your Resourcefullness!

The success and failure for the entrepreneur is largely dictated by the ability to gain access to resources, both personal as well as those of others.So the... Read More