Dr. Maassen states, "Great things are happening at Ultimate Sports. We’ve had a year filled with progress and revenue. We find that overall sales and revenue numbers seem to be increasing despite the recession. This goes to show that the sports industry has some recession-proof qualities. According to the International Snowmobile Manufacturers Association, over $28 billion in economic activity occurred in North America related to snowmobiling in the 2008-2009 season. In addition, 1,652,642 snowmobiles were registered in the United States in 2009; up 1% over 2008. These facts prove that the snowmobile industry is a profitable one, and a great place for USI to excel.
"Work steadily continues on perfecting the ‘Thruster’ Snowmobile Track Assist Unit. USI’s ‘Thruster’ system will fit all popular late model snowmobiles produced by Arctic Cat, Polaris, Ski Doo and Yamaha. Sales of this new system will be through USI’s existing distributors and dealers, in excess of 1,000 companies, both domestically and internationally. We anticipate that the units will be ready for a mid-season release to the market. The units will retail for around $249 per kit, and we plan to sell at least 5,000 kits per year.
"Our Green Vehicle is also progressing according to plan. However, to move this process along more efficiently, we have plans to engage several electrical and computer engineers from Purdue University to aid in the design and creation of the intricate electronic components of the unit. We expect to introduce it in the spring of 2010. This unit will retail for $7,500 to $12,000.
"We also announced that the company is currently developing after market fenders for two different mainstream automobile models. The fenders will give new vehicles on the market today a nostalgic look that will be unbeatable by any competitor. The base model will sell for between $650 and $850 per kit. Models painted by USI will cost between $1,000 and $1,250 per kit.
"Our representatives have been enthusiastically promoting our Best Ski in the Industry Award-Winning X2 Triple Threat Skis at trade shows across the country; the Nelson’s SnoMotion Festival in Greenville Michigan and the Snowmobile USA Shows in Novi, Michigan and Green Bay, Wisconsin, to name a few. It is evident that trade shows give our sales a boost, mainly due to the opportunity for on-the-spot product inspection and the chance to ask questions of our ski equipment experts.
"Our licensed partner company, Stud Boy, is still in negotiations with Polaris Industries, a recognized leader in the snowmobile industry and one of the largest manufacturers of off-road vehicles in the world. When plans are finalized, Polaris will market and sell traction products that are designed by Ultimate Sports and manufactured by Stud Boy. Polaris’ 2008 annual sales totaled $1.9 billion; this number is a testament to the significance of their presence in the market. A signed contract with Polaris would benefit all parties involved.
"Due to the impending release of our new products, coupled with the popularity of our existing product line, I expect a significant increase in sales next year. I would estimate that sales numbers will increase 50 to 60%. We’re looking forward to the release of our new products, and are anxious to share our successes with our valued investment community."
