Tech Spec, a small and growing company that manufactures motorcycle accessories, relocated from a small facility in El Dorado Hills, Calif. to Minden to take advantage of the low cost of warehouse space in northern Nevada, Tech Spec manager Robbie Boulais says.
Founded in 1998, Tech Spec's primary product is synthetic rubber padding that attaches to the tank of a motorcycle and allows riders to grip and steer their bikes with their legs. Boulais says sales increased to the point that Tech Spec needed more production and storage space, but building costs were simply too high in the upper-crust community off Highway 50 about 30 miles above Sacramento.
"We got to the point where needed to grow and branch out, and with California and how the market is going it was difficult to find a nice building and justify the move," Boulais said. "Minden is so close to the Sacramento region that we thought we would give it a shot. It really worked out between the price and location, and we are really happy about it."
Bruce Robertson of Sperry Van Ness/Gold Dust Commercial helped Tech Spec find its new location. Tech Spec operates a small manufacturing operation out of its new 2,500-square-foot facility. It procures synthetic rubber and other materials from U.S. manufacturers to produce its custom tank grips and other motorcycle accessories. The company employs three full-time workers and a handful of part-time employees.
The company says it plans to release a new line of motorcycle seats that will compliment sales of an existing product, a stash pocket that goes into the tail section of street bikes.
"Business really took off with us coming out with new materials and new accessories, and we needed room to store and manufacture all of this," Boulais says. "The intent by the end of 2011 is to move into 5,000-square-foot facility. Were are really looking forward to a big year."
Tech Spec is run by Boulais, General Manager Dean Davis, and Production Manager Greg Wallace. Boulais relocated to Minden and says Tech Spec will hire within the Minden/Gardnerville communities as it grows.
"We are definitely looking forward to creating jobs here," he says.
The company sells its products from its Internet site and through distribution partnerships. International sales, primarily in Europe, Spain and Italy, account for about half the company's revenues.
"Being on the Internet, we are really able to tap into a world market," Boulais says.
