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December 5-18, 2005

The Mohawk Valley Business Journal

Dolgeville's Strong Arm Ladder banks on safety

By Traci Gregory

Journal Staff

DOLGEVILLE — Scott Moore took an idea that he had in mind for years and turned it into a reality after a co-worker was injured falling from a ladder.

"I used to work in the roofing industry, and it was something that was always on my mind," Moore says. "There was nothing out there to secure a ladder."

After his co-worker was injured in 1995, Moore made some drawings, did some welding, and developed the prototype for what would become the Strong Arm Ladder safety device.

There were a lot of different ideas for the device, which secures a ladder to prevent it from falling over while in use, and a variety of methods in which such a device could be attached to both the ladder and the structure supporting it, Moore says. The device has two supports that attach to both side rails of a ladder. Those are connected to metal plates that may then be screwed into the building the ladder is leaning against. The connecting piece between the supports and the plates can then be tightened to make sure the ladder won't wiggle around. Moore says the device attaches easily in about three minutes.

"After several ideas, that was basically the idea that worked," Moore says of his invention. "So we went ahead with the-idea to try and patent it."

Moore filed for a patent in January 2001 and his patent (No. 6,427,803) was granted in August 2001. Syracuse attorney Bernhard P. Molldrem, Jr. filed the patent.

With a working product and a patent to protect it, the only thing missing was a company that could sell the product. Moore formed Strong Arm Ladder Security, LLC in 2004 with three private investors. Moore owns 70 percent of the company and serves as its president.

His investors, whom Moore declined to name, have put about $20,000 into the company, and that money has been used toward manufacturing costs, advertising, brochures, and trade-show fees, Moore says.

The safety device is being manufactured by local manufacturers, and Moore is actively marketing it.  "We're seeking out retail outlets," he says. "We want to market to Lowe's, Home Depot, True Value, possibly the lumber industry, and anyone who has anything to do with home improvement," he says. His main target market is contractors, although those who tackle their own home-improvement projects at home are also potential customers.

Moore is suggesting a retail price of $89.95 for a set, which allows for a 40 percent markup for retailers.  Until a retail network is established, the devices can be purchased directly through Moore.

To date, about 500 sets of the safety devices have been manufactured and most of those have already been sold to individuals or given away for marketing purposes, Moore says.  "I've been to several [trade] shows and the feedback has been very great, very positive," he says.  If the product takes off like he hopes it will, Moore has already been discussing options with local manufacturers for increased manufacturing and distribution.

By this time next year, Moore would like to see his product on retail shelves with sales of about 10,000 units a month.