Powerhouse Coach Inc. - Idaho Falls
When Doug Tolbert began the search to purchase a recreational motor home, he couldn't find anything on the market that had the features he desired. So he called upon a lifetime of exposure to trucks and his skills as a body shop owner and tow truck operator and decided to build his own RV motor coach. When Tolbert put his first Powerhouse Coach on the road in 1998, he was approached by others who asked him to custom build coaches for them. By 2001, Powerhouse Coach was his full-time business. Sales in 2004 were $1.3 million with 2005 sales forecast to exceed $3 million. He has also created 15 full-time jobs and anticipates hiring five more employees by the end of the year.
Powerhouse Coach RVs rival the best motor coaches in the industry and have drawn national attention and exposure. RVTV, the top-rated RV media program, is currently doing an extensive documentary on Powerhouse Coach's equipment and manufacturing that will air later this year.
At the present facility, Powerhouse Coach has the capacity to manufacture four coaches at a time, and the company is currently scheduled six to eight months out. The company has a new facility under construction that Tolbert hopes will be completed by September 1. Production expectations are 20 to 25 coaches per year, or $7 million to $8 million in sales.
To help facilitate the growth Powerhouse Coach has experienced, Tolbert called upon the services of the Idaho Falls Small Business Development Center (SBDC), Zions Bank, and the SBA loan guarantee program. The Idaho SBDC provided consultation and arranged for Brigham Young University - Idaho student research teams to assist Doug in developing a progressive marketing program.
Several Powerhouse Coach owners frequent RV shows across the nation, exhibiting the coach and generating qualified customers for PCI. Through its networking ability, the Idaho Falls SBDC has added to PCI's exposure within the state. Powerhouse Coach will soon be featured on the Outdoor Channel and on Speed TV.
