Our Growing Market
Amramp® is used by four sections of the population:
Healthcare:
Healthcare is the LARGEST growth industry of the decade (U. S. Commerce Dept Summary). Residential Care is the #2 ranked growth industry. In case you haven't noticed, it seems like they want you home from the hospital the day before you arrive at the hospital.
It costs approximately $1,000 to $2,000 per day to keep you in the hospital. The healthcare system wants to provide care for lower cost, from the home. From the home, you can be scheduled out for therapy, dialysis, etc. The Amramp system can be purchased or RENTED for low cost, and quickly installed, thereby enabling the discharge and ongoing access from the home to visit healthcare facilities. 32% of home healthcare stays are less than 60 days.
Aging:
As we age, we incur infirmities, which can require us to use a wheelchair. According to the NY Times survey, 86% of persons 65 or older who own a home feel they want to remain in their homes and never move. This age group will DOUBLE to 70 million by 2030. 4% of homes in this age group now have a ramp. Today's level of home ownership is greater than ever (32.5 million homes are owned by people over 65.) According to a Harris Survey, the fastest population growth rate is in the 85+ age group. In 1998, 1.8% of the population was over 85 years of age: about 50% have substantial disabilities (climbing stairs). It is projected that by 2010, 21.1% of the population will be over 85.
There were 35 million Medicare beneficiaries in 2000, and the number will rise to 62 million by 2025. Despite an 18% rise in the population aged 65 and over between 1985 and 1995, the number of nursing home residents was up only 4% in the same period. There are several factors supporting this economic choice to remain at home. The baby boomers are financially able to provide special services like the Amramp® for their aging parents. New products (like ours), such as lifts, scooters, special bathroom and kitchen devices are emerging to make this choice possible.
Yet another Amramp benefit is the temporary modular structure. Old fashioned wood or concrete ramps are permanent home modifications. Homes permanently modified are worth less in resale than homes, which have not been modified. Removal or replacement of such permanent wood or concrete ramp structures is a costly reduction in the asset value of the home. Older folks are sensitive to the value of what they will leave to their children. Amramp® not only saves that expense, but Amramp ramps® have resale value when the family no longer needs the ramp. Permanent home modifications such as the wood or concrete ramps frequently require local building permits before construction. The building permit process frequently triggers a re-evaluation of the property and related higher (never lower) taxes.
Children with Disabilities:
Modern medicine seems to deliver new life-sustaining miracles almost every day that allows newborns to survive. Many of these children will use a wheelchair all their lives. Our ramps will assist these children at home, in church, school, restaurants and all manner of public places. The accessibility of people in public places, by the use of ramps and the like, is documented in a civil rights law called the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act).
Rental Opportunities:
The fourth market (approximately 25% of franchise sales) for our ramps exists with rental opportunities. This is a marketing opportunity superimposed on all the markets described above.
For example:
When grandma comes to visit for the holidays, we can provide a ramp for the visit.
Christopher Reeve rented three times one month as he traveled about the country for speaking engagements.
Harvard and schools all over America rent ramps for graduation to allow students who use wheelchairs to get their diploma at the same time as other students.
The US Navy rented a 244' ramp for the weekend to allow on-board access for former sailors of the JFK aircraft carrier who use wheelchairs, to join a reunion of their comrades. There was not a dry eye in the house.
Often times, people need wheelchairs for a short amount of time. If you rent the Amramp for less than 5-6 months, it will save significantly over the purchase and construction of a conventional wood or concrete ramp. If you break your leg skiing or have a knee or hip replacement, the period of wheelchair use might only be a few weeks. A permanent ramp makes no sense.
You should also consider these features of our franchise offering:
Amramp® has received US Patent # 5,740,575.
We believe we are currently the low cost provider of ramps with rails and turns in the US today.
We will endeavor to remain in this position.
It is our intent to vertically integrate new products or distribution of existing products into our franchise system. This will give you the opportunity to increase your revenue and profits to our franchise organization.