Inventor of World's First Virtually Leak-Proof Spa Wins Prestigious Entrepreneur of the Year Title
--Bullfrog International shows
rapid growth with 20-year patent on world´s only virtually
leak-proof, upgradeable spas--
Salt
Lake City – June 1, 2004 – David Ludlow, founder
of Bullfrog International, LC has been named the 2004 Utah Ernst
& Young Entrepreneur of the Year in the manufacturing category.
The Utah inventor won the title for developing the world´s
only virtually leak-proof, and upgradeable spa, solving the industry´s
age old problem. With multiple 20-year patents on his designs, Bullfrog
has had tremendous growth in the U.S., Canada, and Europe.
Ludlow will go on to be considered for the national Entrepreneur
of the Year title. The winner will be announced in November.
Quirky Inventor to Progressive Entrepreneur
When Ludlow´s father told him he would be successful if he
designed a better mousetrap, the 12-year-old took the advice literally.
He pulled out a sketchpad and went to work. For the next 30-years
he drew inventions ranging from popcorn butter sprayers, to the
masterpiece that eventually made him successful: the world´s
first virtually leak-proof spa.
Ludlow, founder and CEO of Bullfrog International, has six patents
that protect his designs. These products are so unique; they´re
in demand worldwide. Bullfrog grew 72% from 2002 to 2003 and already,
the company is up 80% year-to-date over last year. Not bad considering
the U.S. spa industry was down by 15% in 2003. Bullfrog is also
taking the Canadian market by storm and recently signed contracts
to sell its products through 40 new retailers in Montreal, Toronto
and Ottawa.
“We are the fastest growing company in our industry,”
said Ludlow. “And multiple 20-year patents on our inventions,
it will be a long time before competitors can come up with something
to rival what we have.”
Several large spa manufacturers have offered buy-out deals, but
the Utah inventor says he isn´t selling.
Bullfrog International began with Ludlow´s sketchpad and every
inventor´s dream: to come up with a revolutionary product.
Ludlow grew up working for his family´s pool business. In
the 1970´s, portable spas became all the rage, so he convinced
his father to start selling them. However, within months customers
called with complaints of leaks and electrical problems.
“Since I was the one who convinced my dad to start selling
them, he decided that it was only fitting that I be the one to fix
them,” Ludlow recalled.
In 1989, Ludlow attended a spa trade show in Las Vegas with his
father, as he walked around, he became so frustrated with the spas
on the market that he decided to come up with an alternative solution.
“I was so excited, I didn´t sleep that night. I thought
if I could just come up with a way to simplify the plumbing and
keep it inside of the spa, I could solve the number one spa problem
– leaks,” Ludlow said. By morning, he had come up with
the solution!
Traditional spas are built with hundreds of glue joints, long networks
of pipe, and dozens of pipe connections buried in foam insulation,
restricting water pressure and flow. Ludlow designed Bullfrog spas
to eliminate up to 90 percent of the pipe and pipe fittings, reducing
the number of pipe connections in the plumbing systems. With up
to 90 percent of the plumbing and jets in the spa water and zero
holes drilled into the spa seatbacks, Bullfrog spas are virtually
leak-proof.
Bullfrog spas are custom designed by the customer with the use of
JetPaks™, a removable spa seat that is equipped with an individual
jetting system. Because of this modular system, JetPaks™ can
easily be changed at home. Customers pick the perfect seat and the
perfect JetPak™ to get the massage that meets their individual
needs. Bullfrog Spas are the only truly upgradeable spa available
on the market.
Ludlow spent the next seven years petitioning for investors and
family members to support his invention. In 1996, he built a successful
prototype and launched Bullfrog International, located in Bluffdale,
Utah. The company now sells its spas through retailers nationwide
and throughout Canada, employs over 125 Utah residents, and is sold
through licensees in Europe and Asia. Best of all, the little boy
who longed to build a better mousetrap, has now built a better spa.
About Bullfrog International
Founded in 1996, Bullfrog International, LC, is headquartered in the greater Salt Lake City, Utah metro area. Bullfrog designs and manufactures the world’s only hot tubs with JetPaks™ - modular jetted seatbacks, which allow the user to customize, interchange and upgrade their spa’s jetting at anytime. JetPaks are backed by six U.S. patents with other U.S. and foreign patents pending. In addition to JetPaks, Bullfrog spas provide powerful hydrotherapy, are virtually leak-proof, and are extremely energy efficient. Bullfrog International currently distributes, licenses and retails its products in the United States, Canada, Australia, Asia and Europe. Since 2003, Bullfrog International, LC has experienced an average growth rate of more than 43 percent each year. To learn more about the technology and the company, and to order a complimentary Bullfrog Spa DVD, please visit bullfrogspas.com.
| Contact: | Jaden
Kemp Bullfrog International, LC 801-565-8111 jkemp@bullfrogspas.com |
