When many think of boating, they picture a vessel bouncing on water, against a perfectly serene, azure blue sky. Wind delicately tousling hair, the sun peeping in and out of soft clouds. And while all of this might be the case, the real tried and true boaters know the truth – there’s a lot more grit that goes into it.
Ted Chen was not a boater … he was a problem solver and an entrepreneur. He recognized that just getting that boat in and out of a driveway can be a puzzle. It takes strength, precision and oh-so-much-time. A family friend turned him on to a product idea that Ted saw could address this real need in the boating community. Ted was already determined to build something great and he immediately appreciated that the product allowed him the potential to do that.
“It was a tool to make people’s lives easier and that’s what really was the fuel I needed to keep going. Because I knew I was gonna be able to save a lot of time for a lot of people.”
That product, now known as the 5X, consists of a dolly with a jack. At the time it was called a Trailer Valet, but that name would become an overall company brand and a whole line of products; essential to the outdoor enthusiast. Of course the Trailer Valet products aren’t just for boats. They help support moving utility trailers, RVs, campers and so much more.
But boating is where it began. When Ted attended the L.A. Boat Show in 2012, he started having interactions with customers who expressed how helpful his dollies were. Time and again, the process of storing boats in garages or the sides of their houses had been grueling work. The idea that this device actually saved people precious time was inspiring to Ted. He shares, “It was a tool to make people’s lives easier and that’s what really was the fuel I needed to keep going. Because I knew I was gonna be able to save a lot of time for a lot of people.”
“It goes so much further than business itself. It’s friendship first and business second. I feel comfortable with him and referring people over to him because I know he’ll treat everyone with the utmost respect.”
As the company grew, Ted knew the importance of protecting it in all aspects, from branding to trademarks. He needed all hands on deck, and expressed to a friend he was in search of attorneys on whom he could truly count. He was introduced to Jerome Fogel of Fogel & Potamianos LLP (F&P). Along with Jerome’s partner Constantine S. Potamianos, and Robert Kramer (who specializes in intellectual property), they helped instill a baseline for Trailer Valet’s continued success.
But it’s not just their abilities as attorneys. Ted appreciates F&P’s core values which are reflected in how responsive, passionate and caring they are. Ted says of his relationship with Jerome, “It goes so much further than business itself. It’s friendship first, relationship first and business second.” Ted adds, “I feel comfortable with him and referring people over to him because I know he’ll treat everyone with the utmost respect.”
The feeling is reciprocal. Jerome shares, “From the moment I met Ted, I knew he was a different kind of leader. He has a rare combination of creativity and pragmatism, and these themes are woven into the DNA of Trailer Valet. As a result, Trailer Valet brings a steady stream of innovation to the market, along with the operational capability to deliver to its consumers. On top of that, he is a terrific human being. You cannot ask for more in a CEO.”
It especially hit home when Ted realized how much his products could help elderly and disabled people. “Before our product came out, you could push your trailer into a space. But if you tweak your back or have some other kind of injury, that hospital bill is insane.”
A few customers really stood out. In his first year of presenting at tiny trade shows, Ted shares the story of a Paralympic rower in a wheelchair in Bakersfield. She told him about the kayak/canoe hybrid she was solo rowing from Long Beach to Catalina. Because of Trailer Valet’s product, she was actually able to roll her trailer down for practice sessions with ease.
“That was a huge moment for me. Just to have the validation knowing that there’s someone out there who really needs the product.”
Ted relays, “That was a huge moment for me. Just to have the validation knowing that there’s someone out there who really needs the product.”
Anthony, a veteran, competes in PWC racing. When he served in the military, he became paralyzed from the waist down. So having a remote controlled rover (part of the impressive RVR series which is capable of moving massively heavy trailers), he was able to move his trailer to his car.
Ted adds, “These stories kept me going. Because I knew there were plenty more out there.”
It became clear that these customers were quickly becoming part of an active movement of mega fans. Ted knew he had something life changing on his hands, and though his product needed a bit of tweaking, he was extra motivated by these stories. “I didn’t want to just sell a product. I wanted to create a brand that would have legacy to it. So that was the focus – to make sure we had a quality product.
With a manufacturer in place and a growing family of products, Trailer Valet – as we now know it – was born. Along with it came the motto “Move Forward” which encapsulates the entire purpose of the brand. Keep customers swiftly moving forward, so they can actually enjoy more time on the road or in the water.
“Rob has been amazing, very responsive and takes a lot of initiative to fight for our patents. He’s very knowledgeable when it comes to mechanical engineering, and knows the inner workings of the USPTO well. An absolute pleasure to work with.”
F&P really came into play when they started locking in trademarks and patents. “F&P helped this legacy by creating and protecting such a strong brand. They make sure our trademarks are locked tight,” Ted shares.
Additionally, Ted loves that Robert Kramer knows so much about the engineering world. “Rob has been amazing, very responsive and takes a lot of initiative to fight for our patents. He’s very knowledgeable when it comes to mechanical engineering, and knows the inner workings of the USPTO well. An absolute pleasure to work with.”
F&P has been instrumental in helping Trailer Valet from a corporate standpoint, as well. After one large retail company bought a massive amount of product, they filed for bankruptcy – forcing Trailer Valet into recovery mode. “Constantine truly guided us through this process. And we were able to retrieve a significant monetary amount. That was huge!”
Trailer Valet began adding more and more to the line. One of Ted’s personal favorites is the XL, which is recommended for heavier loads. “That’s what really took us to the next level,” he says excitedly. “We were then able to start hiring more people because of it.”
After one large retail company bought a massive amount of product, they filed for bankruptcy – forcing Trailer Valet into recovery mode. “Constantine truly guided us through this process. And we were able to retrieve a significant monetary amount. That was huge!”
Ted is very conscious of the amazing team who surround him and help make it all successful. This includes Stephanie Luong, who oversees operations, finance, customer service, supply chain, and HR. Ted points out the obvious, “She kind of does it all!”
Also on the team – to name a few – are Rico Lucero (sales coordinator,) Harmony Cruz (brand development) and Eric Sueyoshi, one of the engineers who Ted closely works with to help develop new ideas. Ted says of everyone, “We’re able to really collaborate and brainstorm! They’re all so good at executing with their teams.”
The team at F&P are personally involved in ideas collaboration too, and Ted truly values their commitment to forward thinking and strategy. “Because I’m constantly trying to develop new products, anytime I have a question regarding patents, I reach out to them.”
Robert adds that Trailer Valet just recently received a Notice of Allowance on their US Patent for their technology and a US trademark was granted for their new “Blackout” line of products.
“This isn’t just about moving heavy equipment. It’s about moving forward and genuinely leaving a legacy for all to enjoy.”
The growth of Trailer Valet has been swift and strong, becoming a highly recommended product at Costco, Lowes, Home Depot, Bass Pro, Amazon and so many other brick and mortar/online stores. This is thanks to Ted’s visionary outlook, his dedicated team and the steadfast commitment to his customers.
And there’s much more to come. Ted is clearly no stranger to big picture thinking. He’s always pushing forward with new ideas and keeping up with future tech trends. “We definitely see this tech trend happening and we don’t want to be left behind, as technology is continuously pushing forward.”
What does this mean for Trailer Valet specifically? He continues, “We want to build more tech into our products, because that will be our next generation and generations after that.”
As Ted says, this isn’t just about moving heavy equipment. It’s about moving forward and genuinely leaving a legacy for all to enjoy.
