Tree Tran Orange Team Final Presentation December 12, 2005

Outline Customer Needs Solution Competition Customer Feedback Market Financials

Customer Needs Saplings weigh lbs Difficult to transport, plant, and position in hole Cannot handle tree by trunk

Solution: TreeTran

Product Comparison DollyToadTran Load capacity 700 lbs450 lbs Device portability HighLowHigh FoldableNo Yes Lowers tree into hole NoYes Affordability $450$2520$1200

Video & Feedback “I can’t believe I just planted a tree with your device! This is awesome… it is exactly what [CityRoots] is looking for! – Trina Hofreiter, CityRoots “It’s so easy to move around, even with a heavy tree on it.” – East Campus resident

Market Industry size: $33.5 billion spent in Do-It-Yourself gardening and landscaping 3 million trees planted privately each year by individuals

Market Target customers: landscapers 1.1 million workers equipment rental companies nationwide non-profit organizations that plant trees 47 major organizations

Business Model Tree Trandistributor landscapersequipment rental companies non-profit organizations

Financials Total cost: $400/unit Manufacturing Cost Market Penetration Price: $1200/unit 1500 units/year sold

Financials IRR=25% with $500,000 initial investment 2 nd year break even 3 rd year steady-state: 1500 units/yr sold (2% market) $270,000 net profit by end of 3 rd year Profit Growth Year

Acknowledgements Course instructor: David Wallace Lab instructors: David Gossard, Doug Vincent Pappalardo staff: Dick Fenner, Joe Cronin, Bob Gertsen, Steve Haberek, Bob Nuttal Team mentors: Ethan Crumlin (MIT), Ben Linder (Olin) instructors, TAs, and Maureen Lynch Urban Ecology Institute: Trina Hofreiter (CityRoots) MIT Libraries

References “Community Forest Partnership.” Urban Ecology Institute. “Community Tree Planting Guide - Time for Trees.” Tree Trust. “How to Plant Trees.” The National Arbor Day Foundation. “Organizations that Plant Trees.” Marshall House. “Volunteering and Tree Planting.” The National Arbor Day Foundation.

Tree Planted Too Deep

Tree Tran Load Rating

Tree Tran in Truck Bed