Adrian Ferraretto Solar Shop Australia

To Adrian Ferraretto, the solar car race between Darwin and Adelaide was the perfect fusion between his interest in Formula 1 car racing and his mechanical engineering background. Inspired, he began working in the solar industry and, in 2001, was offered 25% equity in a new Adelaide solar venture, Solar Shop Australia. After 18 months, now married with a young daughter, Adrian mortgaged his house and bought out the other owners. In a new industry, supply is key. Adrian chose to differentiate SSA in Australia by being the first to market with a new thin film amorphous panel. He also negotiated supply from Japanese company, Kaneka, with favourable terms. This proved critical to managing SSA’s working capital, which was constantly under threat from the fluctuating solar panel rebate regime. Adrian further differentiated SSA by developing software that tailors a solar panel installation to a customer’s circumstances. This has become SSA’s most effective sales and marketing tool. In 2007, the solar rebate doubled and became Federally administered. In response, Adrian who had already taken SSA into WA, NSW, VIC and QLD, expanded SSA further by continuing to roll out a franchise style regional sales network. As a result, the following year, 25% of all PV grid connected systems on Australian roofs were installed by SSA. Since taking over the business, Adrian has grown SSA to become Australia’s largest provider of grid connect power systems for retail and commercial applications. Adrian has now begun further expansion into ACT and Tasmania. He has already established a new schools division and is moving into commercial sun farms. He is travelling to Europe to develop business internationally in 2009.