Ronshop, Inc Clarion County
|
Ronshop, Inc. has been manufacturing radio controlled hobby car bodies for the past five years. Ronshop, Inc. is owned and operated by Ron Ehrhart of Summerville, Pennsylvania. Currently Ronshop, Inc. manufactures and sells large scale radio controlled car bodies to customers in the United States, Canada, South America, and Australia. Ronshop, Inc.’s annual sales are projected to be $25,000 in 2015.
While talking with his current customers and retail hobby store operators, Mr. Ehrhart discovered that there is a potentially profitable market for aftermarket radio controlled hobby car replacement tires. When you purchase a radio controlled hobby car the tires are included. In many cases the tires wear out or are not very functional in wet and adverse conditions. Mr. Ehrhart believes that large scale radio controlled car enthusiasts do not have much choice and offerings when it comes to aftermarket radio controlled car tires.
Mr. Ehrhart decided that he wanted to take advantage of this niche market of aftermarket tires and started to develop different types of tires with various tread designs. He contacted the Clarion University Small Business Development Center seeking assistance in researching the potential market for radio controlled hobby car replacement aftermarket tires. In addition, he was seeking assistance in applying for a $15,000 Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation Support Program Grant.
QUICK LINKSSBDC Services to Help Grow Your Business >
|
The Clarion University Small Business Development Center assisted Mr. Ehrhart with marketing research and helped him conclude that indeed there is a potential market for aftermarket radio controlled car tires and accessories. In addition, with the assistance of the SBDC Mr. Ehrhart completed and submitted his grant application.
In December of 2014, Ronshop, Inc. was awarded a $15,000 grant from the Northwest Pennsylvania Innovation Support Program to explore the market and to develop and test a prototype tire.
Mr. Ehrhart of Ronshop, Inc. is currently in the development and prototype stage of his product development. He plans to start manufacturing and selling aftermarket radio controlled tires in 2016.
The SBDC made it possible for us to obtain a NWPA Innovation Support Program grant!"
