Refresher (to remember why we all are where we are- it's all about the communication from management and DD right?) (also posted for posterity sake).
Since nothing in this interview has been re-addressed, rescinded or updated by management, we are to assume that this is all currently still in play- correct? (except for where it says the website would be up in a few weeks- we now know that a few weeks= 8 months. And the part about " inform both consumers and investors about the companies’ portfolio and value proposition" was just fancy talk for "generic website").
http://www.belvedereglobalstrategies.com/blog...les-nemes/
November 7, 2011
StockTradersTalk Live Interview with James Scott
Mr. Scott Discusses Company’s Growth and Business Plan in Exclusive Interview
STT:
James, among others you are an active member of some pretty well known and prestigious legislative and economic think tanks such as American Enterprise Institute, The Hudson Institute, Manhattan Institute, Economic Research Council, American Institute for Economic Research and even the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Foundation. These organizations act as expert resources to congress, the senate, European union, UAE and top tier corporations globally what is it that the company or investors get out of affiliations such as these?
Scott:
Access. Governmental organizations often depend on these think tanks for guidance and content review for legislation or consultation. Alternative energy is an industry that few understand and lacks leadership to force the industry to move forward at an expedited pace.
By being a member of these organizations we are able to assist or consult if asked by these groups who are making decisions that affect our industry. We are bridging the necessary gap that divides the entrepreneurial and the governmental.
STT:
Please provide a brief company history of Shaka.
Scott:
Shaka was a fledgling publically traded startup shoe company that we purchased a majority interest in around 10 months ago. After purchasing the company we started cleaning up the corporation from a financial auditing and structuring perspective so that we could initiate our corporate rollup model that you see today as a solar power installation and sales organization.
We bought the company because though the management structure and internal processes were lacking, we saw a viable entity that could be transformed into something special and we were also very attracted to the loyal shareholder base that the company had.
We knew that when the shareholders saw that the company was in the hands of a solid executive management team with a real plan for expedited and scalable growth and globalization there would be a lot of excitement.
STT:
What direction did you take and what are Shaka’s business objectives?
Scott:
We’ve been exploring growth opportunities in the emerging renewable energy and solar space. I believe that with the rising cost of fossil fuels and instability in the energy markets, Shaka is in the perfect position to begin growing a service based company.
Our primary goal is to provide consumers, homeowners and businesses with energy saving solutions to help them achieve not only financial savings but more importantly, help them reduce their reliance on fossil fuels. By advising consumers of simple ways to save energy through upgrading their windows, doors and insulation and combining those upgrades by converting to renewable energy systems such as Solar and Geothermal, we feel that we can not only grow a large and profitable company, we can also make a difference, saving the environment, one home and one business at a time.
STT:
Do you anticipate additional hiring or adding any additional jobs to your company.
Scott:
Great question. we anticipate adding a minimum of 50”green” jobs to our company in the first quarter of 2012.
STT:
Tell us about the company’s reasoning behind your first two acquisitions and some of their recent achievements?
Scott:
In order for Shaka to achieve a rapid entry into the market, we needed to first acquire a company that could provide three things:
First, we needed a company that had experience in complicated and custom construction solutions with a sound management, marketing and sales process in place. Second, we needed a company that had licensing and the ability to offer consumer financing in multiple states and the experience to implement renewable energy systems. Finally, we wanted a company that could integrate our processes that parallel their existing sales with our new mission to install energy saving solutions in homes and business.
Our first strategic acquisition, Classic Conservatories Corporation, a NJ based specialty construction company was the first construction company in the country to introduce the modern English Conservatory to the United States. Founded 16 years ago by Chris Edwards and Peter Burley, they were able to utilize their experience to build and install tens of millions of dollars of conservatories in the northeast.
Classic, recently began exploring the installation of solar roofing solutions in New Jersey so our timing in this acquisition was perfect. Because Classic is a licensed general contractor in the hottest emerging solar markets such as New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Maryland, this was the perfect company to launch our solar initiative. Having all of the required construction and business licenses, plus the ability to provide consumer financing using some of the largest financial organizations in the world, SHKZ is positioned for immediate growth and profitability.
STT:
Where did Classic Conservatories’ concept come from and how will it benefit your growth?
Scott:
Conservatories are custom designed and manufactured energy efficient sunrooms that originated in England. Chris and Pete had brought the concept to the United States after they helped grow the British Company into a 400 million dollar powerhouse. While at in the UK, Peter met Chris and pioneered the pvcu (Vinyl Frame) English Conservatory for the company and their combined success was a reason that enabled them to come to the USA to start Classic Conservatories.
Chris, with his sales and marketing experience and Pete, with his operational skills in running a 400 million dollar company clearly adds to our excitement in knowing we have yet two more experienced management team in place to grow and operate a multimillion dollar entity.
STT:
What is the specific audience for your business model?
Scott:
Our initial entry into the market space is primarily focused on consumers throughout the eastern United States. It is the reason we decided to simultaneously acquire Home Energy Experts, an Atlanta Georgia based in home sales organization specializing in home energy savings upgrades.
STT:
How does Home Energy Experts fit into your acquisition of Classic since they are based in Georgia?
Scott:
That’s a very good question. Home Energy Experts is a smaller but unique company founded by Jim Quigley after Jim sold his basement sales and marketing system to Owens Corning. Then founded Home Energy Experts is a new venture that utilizes Jim’s many years of in home sales systems and processes. Prior to Home Energy Experts, Jim was the founder of the award winning company The Basement Experts and in a matter of seven years, he had grown the business into a multi-million dollar sales and marketing machine employing over two hundred people throughout the Midwestern United States.
Jim’s unique understanding of in home sales and marketing systems and his experience in this rapid growth process in the remodeling industry, that show he is the perfect fit to roll out our new program throughout the United States.
STT:
Where is your company in the growth process for your various operations and, how far along are you?
Scott:
We are currently integrating the systems and processes of Classic and Home Energy Experts. We expect that the reorganization to be completed by the end of the month.
The integration process of the two companies is certainly not stopping us from generating sales as an entity. In fact, our very first week after the acquisitions, we added over $100,000 in new sales to the ‘already’ existing pipeline.
The revenues from the companies we’ve acquired in addition to the revenues we are adding weekly will show the shareholders that we mean business when it comes to rapid expansion and profitability while minimizing the path to debt that traditionally fuels short term corporate growth that sends the company to the slaughter in a very short period of time. We refuse to go there. This is no longer a fledgling shoe company but a corporation with a solid strategy and executive management for optimal execution.
STT:
How significant are the markets for your core technology and the applications you are developing?
Scottt:
As most are well aware, the renewable energy sector, especially solar, is a rapidly emerging market. Because so many other companies are focused on the technology, we believe that our entry into the market should be focused more on getting the most advanced products to the marketplace through strategic alliances while focusing on the profitability of sales and installation. We will continue to constantly seek out and evaluate the latest in energy technologies and align ourselves properly when we find product that are advantageous to add to our portfolio of solutions.
STT:
Can you discuss any strategic alliances and the potential partners?
Scott:
We currently have negotiated strategic alliances with some of the largest manufacturers and distributers of some of the most state of the art renewable energy products. We anticipate the announcement of these alliances in the coming weeks.
STT:
Beyond the products, what are the long-term opportunities for the company’s technology?
Scott:
We currently have a Letter of Intent to acquire a controlling interest in InterDyn CFO Consulting, a Florida based Microsoft software re-seller and Integrator . Shaka’s first quarter growth plan is to have Seven new offices throughout the east. It is our intention to be able to integrate the offices with our marketing and operations in New Jersey.
By having InterDyn CFO as part of our team, we are going to take the in home sales process to the future. Imagine being able to make a presentation to a homeowner, take an electronic order for products and services and in real time, processing the materials, scheduling the installation and booking the revenue in REAL TIME. The ability to implement this process will ultimately save money by reducing overhead and increasing efficiencies allowing for more sales and increased revenue in a faster, more efficient way.
STT:
What do you see for Shaka over the next three years?
Scott:
Simple. Over the next three years, Shaka will be one of the largest, fastest growing providers of renewable energy money saving products in the country employing hundreds of people without the need for large equity diluting capital investment or to beg uncle Sam for his ever fleeting grants while offering a powerful distribution mechanism to the best of the best in solar and energy efficiency technology.
STT:
What do you think makes Shaka a good investment for potential investors?
Scott:
We are bringing solutions to this global energy crisis. Think about it. Energy fuels industry, industry enhances economy and economy positions a country’s status among other nations. We have the contacts, alliances and executive management for this necessary global reach. And because the Shaka growth plan relies on existing but emerging technologies developed by others, we can focus primarily on selling and implementing the products and services to the consumer.
In addition, because our sales, marketing and installation system is already proven to be successful and profitable, we don’t have to worry about long-term over dependency on investor capital which will allow the stock to grow to it’s rightful volume and price point.
We are not trying to create new products rather, we are educating, selling and installing the emerging products that others develop. Therefore we don’t rely on unproven technology, we sell and install the best of the best technology manufactured by our strategic alliances. We fully intend to be one of the largest sales and installation companies in the industry with the anticipation that companies developing new products will seek us out to get their products into the marketplace.
STT:
We appreciate that we have the opportunity to speak with you right after the company has announced these acquisitions. How can investors contact your company for more info?
Scott:
We’re launching a website in the next few weeks in an effort to effectively communicate and inform both consumers and investors about the companies’ portfolio and value proposition. At the moment, we welcome any inquiries to our Investor Relations team headed by Mike Irving at (407) 878-5462.
