BUSINESS PLAN

Industry:  Museum / Themed Attraction

Number of Employees: 150+ (Five year projection)
Number of Volunteers: 225 (as of 01/15/12)
Bank: TD Bank, Greenville, SC

Funding Sought: $2,500,000 PHASE I ($500,000 in cash)
Total Project Cost PHASE I-V: $25,000,00

Use of Funds: Start-up Costs including Construction, Materials, Lease Payments
Utilities, Advertising and Promotions

Location: As of the last update of this page and to be finalized, the Old Sam's Club located on the MotorMile in Greenville, SC
The facility is 133,000sf air conditioned warehouse space that needs minimal up fit.

Business Description

As a Themed Attraction and Museum, the Transportation Museum of the World (TMOTW) featuring the Miniature World of Trains (MWOT) has been created to provide a state of the art miniature (scaled model) representation of our worlds infrastructure and cities. TMOTW-MWOT will educate and entertain all age groups with its sophisticated computer controlled displays of our world’s Transportation systems and infrastructures in miniature.

The 70,000sf miniature world (MWOT) will show the world's highways, small towns and cities, railways including commuter, freight, passenger and High Speed Rail, monorails and magnetic levitation systems, as well as water and air transport systems. All will be modeled and automated. MWOT will exhibit realism and details and will emphasize our past, present and future use of these infrastructures. How they have adapted with technology to provide safer and energy-efficient systems. The miniature world will show how goods are created using these Transportation and manufacturing facilities, and ultimately delivered to your local store or home.
 
TMOTW-MWOT plans are to partner with several corporations to provide a high visibility venue to increase public awareness of their existing safety, energy efficiency and emerging technologies. TMTOW-MWOT will also host hobby "Do It Yourself" (DIY) programs and promote existing safety programs such as Operation Lifesaver, a national rail crossing safety program.

The Transportation Museum of the World (TMOTW) will feature the 30,000sf Museum of Transportation History. Featuring prototype and scale models, as well as interactive displays that will teach and entertain about the history of transportation. Included in the museum will be vehicle and railroad dispalys as well as a toy train museum to complement MWOT.

TMOTW-MWOT will have four tenants that will be subletting space. They are Blue Ridge Hobbies, AMR Group LLC and two yet to be named restaurants. These operations will be an additional source of income and a great revenue generator for TMOTW-MWOT.

The Catalyst

The catalyst for creating TMOTW-MWOT is the financially successful Minatur Wunderland exhibit in Hamburg, Germany started in 2000. Due to the capital requirements involved in matching and exceeding the German enterprise TMOTW-MWOT has been formed as a non-profit corporation (501c3) to aid in soliciting donations and corporate sponsors.

Markets

 There are several commercial and museum model train displays around the USA but most are located in the Northeast, Upper Midwest, Florida and West Coast.

The upcountry of South Carolina has seen explosive growth due to its diverse economy. Because of its climate many retirees have moved into the area. Our initial research has provided over 225 volunteers to help with the construction start-up and model building. Our goal is to create an attraction that overwhelms the senses and appeals to all age groups. Introductory meetings have already occurred to partner with local and state economic development and tourism bureaus.

We will acquire a suitable site location and promote the attraction as the location is selected (see above). Over 33 sites have already been evaluated Several sites near major North-South and East-West interstate corridors, regional airport and Class 1 rail are being evaluated. Within 100 miles of Greenville, SC there exists the potential of 10 million visitors. Our goal is to reach 1 million visitors annually within 5 years.

Products/Services

TMOTW-MWOT has been planned as a themed museum and attraction. It will be built in phases over a minimum of 5 years. TMOTW-MWOT will be built to grow and to accommodate 2000+ visitors daily.

Modern energy efficient lighting, communications and audio systems will transition the main exhibit, MWOT, from day to night operations, all in a climate controlled atmosphere for maximum theatrical effect.

TMOTW will feature numerous well lit displays throughout the museum area.

Guests will be able to comfortably view the exhibits or interact with the systems and actually control some of the infrastructure in the displays. Current plans also include prototype memorabilia exhibits in the museum with plans to allow for emerging technologies exhibits in Transportation and city infrastructure systems as well as energy efficiency and generation.

A corporate training and/or group meeting/activity room (DIY), a gift and hobby shop and two restaurants to accommodate 100+ customers each are also planned. The hobby shop and restaurants will be leased space to offset operational costs.

Unique Technologies/Key Differentiators

Besides our main exhibit MWOT, Blue Ridge Hobbies will open after our first phase of interior construction is completed.

TMOTW-MWOT plans are to accommodate guests that desire to see the remaining phases during construction via 'viewing portals and platforms within the facility.

MWOT will incorporate many operating trains, vehicles, planes and ships that will be interactive with museum guests. For the professional Transportation worker or modeler there will be special sessions that will give them total operational control at MWOT or via our offsite interactive experience.

It will be possible to use the MWOT exhibit as a training tool emphasizing safe operations of our various Transportation infrastructures. Our goal is for railroad dispatchers, engineers, conductors, truck drivers, automotive highway design engineers, civil engineers, architects, construction engineers, ship captains, dock workers, pilots, ground crews and air traffic controllers to be able to test their skills of operation when interfacing with each other. Also, the general public will be allowed to operate in the MWOT if they are pre qualified in advance. MWOT and TMOTW will not be the typical and ordinary displays, they will be a  fun and educational experience for the whole family.

Railroads were our world’s first entry in the industrial revolution’s Transportation infrastructure growth in the mid 1800s. Unlike most commercial and museum model train displays, MWOT trains in our exhibits in the TMOTW are simply the foundation for expanding it to include all of our current and future Transportation systems.

Competition

Regionally, besides a few club displays, there are no commercial displays planned to eventually attain a main exhibit size of 70,000 square feet in 1:87 scale. Our goal is to be world class and the benchmark for this type of attraction. Minatur Wunderland in Germany has an 11 year head start. Our previous and current board members and advisors, as well as several volunteers have visited this attraction. Also. site visits to the following: North Carolina Transportation Museuim / Spencer Shops, Pennsylvania State Railroad Museum in Strasburg, PA; Virginia Museum of Transportation,  the Railroaders Memorial Museum in Altoona, PA; the Union Pacific Museum in Ogden, Utah; Enertrainment in Cincinnati, OH,  Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago, IL ,the San Diego Model Railroad Museum in California and several large private displays.

How It Will Be Done

A Board of Advisors has been formed (see above) and currently recruiting volunteer experts to assist TMOTW-MWOT. Model Railroaders and others with the talent need to create the project. are contacting TMOTW-MWOT from locally as well as around the US and Europe in order to build a reliable exhibit, with minimal downtime.

In this respect we have the advantage of not making the same mistakes in exhibit construction made by our current benchmark, Minatur Wunderland. Completion of Phase 1 construction exhibits are planned to take 6 to 9 months with a planned target opening date window of PHASE I from Thanksgiving 2012 to National Train Day 2013.

Plans are currently being drawn up for the project with many of the major buildings being created right now.

Facility design and MWOT layout design and being completed for the projected opening date.

Definition Of The Market

The Project will be located approximately 7 miles from downtown Greenville, SC and 1/2 mile west of I-85

Demographics

The Greenville MSA is the most populated region in South Carolina with more than 1.2 million residents and an annual growth rate of 10 percent from 2000 to 2007.
Greenville was included in America's 50 hottest cities per Expansion Managements survey of national site consultants.
Greenville has the highest level of foreign capital investment per capita in the nation and rated as a top area for European expansion in the United States, as recognized by the New York Times, USA Today and Business Week.
Greenville has attracted more than $6 billion in new business investment and 43,000 new jobs during the past decade alone. To that point, BMW recently announced a $750 million infusion to its Greenville operation.
4.8 million people visit Greenville annually and spend more than $780 million.

Traffic Count
TMOTW-MWOT will be strategically located near Downtown Greenville and accessible from Interstate 85, the busiest interstate in the South, Interstate 385 and Woodruff Road.
• I-385 - 86,000 Vehicles per Day (VPD)
• I-85 North of 385 - 110,800 VPD
• I-85 South of 385 - 97,400 VPD

Area Economic Development

Greenville is recognized as the economic center of South Carolina. It boasts the highest level of foreign capital investment per capita in the nation with more than 240 international firms from 23 nations located in Greenville including BMW, Protera, Michelin, , General Electric, Hubbell Lighting and many more.

Greenville County also serves as the retail hub of the Upstate with more than $12.9 billion in retail sales annually and a 26% growth over the last five years.

The Greenville-Spartanburg-Anderson MSA was ranked seventh among all MSA's by site consultants considering the top markets for economic development in the millennium. Several major economic development projects are now underway within a one-mile radius of TMOTW-MWOT along Greenville's Power Corridor.

The Verdae Development is a 1,100-acre, mixed-use community is being developed by Verdae Properties and Verdae Development, Inc., and is bordered by I-85, Woodruff Road and Laurens Road. The Master Plan for this mixed-use community has been completed and calls for residential (single family, multi-family, and senior living), office, commercial, retail, hospitality and civic projects as well as its own Town Center and associated recreational amenities. Upon completion, Verdae will have more than 8,000 residences, 500 businesses and support approximately 15,000 jobs.
www.verdaedevelopment.com

CU-ICAR -The Clemson University International Center for Automotive Research (CU-ICAR) will establish the area as the new center of the motorsport industry. This premier Automotive and Motorsport Research Center will offer training and advanced degrees in automotive engineering and motor sport technology, and create approximately 20,000 high-paying jobs. www.cuicar.com

Millennium Campus-Adjacent to the CU-ICAR. The Millennium Campus will soon serve as the headquarters for Hubbell Lighting, a major manufacturer of lighting equipment, and other Fortune 500 companies such as Microsoft will have a presence there.
www.millenniumcampus.com

Lifestyle

With companies and residents from all over the world, Greenville offers a cosmopolitan lifestyle with international influence. As the cultural and entertainment center for the Upstate, Greenville features an award-winning downtown, a major performing arts center, a 17,000-seat arena, a 368,000-square foot exhibition center, nationally recognized museum collections, and 39 parks, playgrounds and recreation centers. Rated the 19th best housing market for 2010 by Builder magazine, Greenville continues to enjoy a steady flow of new residents, leading to its diverse population and increasingly global flavor.

Marketing

TMOTW-MWOT is currently creating the ‘buzz’ for the project via any free media outlets we can find. Just two days after we received our 501c3 status, an internet article appeared from Model Retailer Magazine announcing the project to the world. TMTOW-MWOT has also followed up with email updates to the list of Blue Ridge Hobbies customers as well as the official
TMTOW-MWOT website, miniatureworldoftrains.com OR www.TMOTW.org, has been updated daily as when. Some third party model railroad fans have already created blogs on the internet about the project.

We will be promoting the TMOTW-MWOT project at all large regional train shows as well

The TMOTW-MWOT has been in the news in Greenville / Upstate South Carolina are with media help from WYFFa NBC Affiliate (11/18/11) project overview, Greenville News a Gannett Affiliate (11/25/11) project overview and jobs (picked up by the Associated Press and covered via many regional and national media outlets), Greenville Journal (12/1/11) project overview, jobs and funding needs, South Carolina Radio Network (12/7/11) project overview, WSPA a CBS Affiliate (01/02/12) educational component, funding and Hubbell Lighting sponsorship announcement. See NEWS for more updated information.

Online merchandise is for sale as well as at the official store of TMOTW-MWOT, Blue Ridge Hobbies.

As opening day approaches, heavy marketing will be used in all model railroad media as well as any ‘free’ avenues to market the project.

Board of Directors

Chairman and President / Director of Public Relations, Funding, Volunteers and Corporate Communications
Frank Ruby
A native of Long Island, NY, and an entrepreneur, has built a very successful Blue Ridge Hobbies an internet based retail hobby outlet while within the last 8 years when many in this category have closed. Frank left his position in banking 4 years ago when his business growth required it. Also, Frank has been a model railroader for most of his life.

Director Model Building
Ed Krech
A native of Easley, South Carolina. graduate of Miami Of Ohio University, architect for 25 years and a model railroader.

 Vice President / Director of Construction
Ed Eichelberger
 A native of Pennsylvania is our Construction Director, and currently a Field Service Machining Engineer for the global Power Generation infrastructure. Ed was a former small business owner and formerly in Transportation and defense manufacturing in SC for 25 years involving 7 new product start-ups.

Secretary / Director of Facilities
James Brookey
 A native of S.C. is a contractor with over 25 years in the electrical trade, and specializes in troubleshooting, installation, and repair of automated industrial process machinery electronics and controls. He is also a model railroader

Treasurer
Annette Ruby
A native of New Jersey, an accountant since 1974, is our Treasurer and currently
Executive Vice President / Accounting Manager / CFO for a major advertising agency with operations in
New York City and Greenville, SC.

Board Of Advisors

Public and Government Advisor
George Fletcher

Director of Information Technology
and Digital Command Control
Mike Jensen

Facilities Advisor
Jon Judd

Fire Safety / Building Code Advisor
George McCall

Telecommunications Advisor
David Shiffl

Security Advisor
Robbie Robertson, Greenville County Sheriff Sergeant

Museum Advisors
Jack Green and Geoff Duncan

Attorneys:
Stephen Fulton Shaw J.D. Ph.D.

Management / Board Compensation

All non-paid volunteers, including directors and volunteers of TMOTW-MWOT have relinquished all compensation for this project’s start-up. Future compensation outside of paid employee status and time for services rendered during start-up, is limited to 5% of fiscal calendar year revenue profits excluding donations, grants or gifts per the corporate by-laws.

Last updated 02/20/2012

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