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Wren's ‘bubble' idea helped launch company
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By Rosa Ruiz
rosa@newstribune.com
They literally have eyes everywhere.
Wren Solutions has been working in security systems for the past 25 years, and if you've been shopping somewhere and noticed the dark-colored, bubble-shaped enclosures that house surveillance cameras, you've seen Wren at work.
Founder Cliff “Tippy” Wren, a 1954 graduate of Jefferson City High School, started out small, working from a garage in Holts Summit.
As time went on, Wren moved his operations to larger spaces until his new headquarters were constructed west of Jefferson City in 2003. The company now has a second office in Atlanta.
Wren's big business break came in 1982, while he was walking along High Street. Someone approached Wren and asked him what was new. Wren told the man he was still in the metal and plastics business.
The man talking with Wren worked for Wal-Mart and told Wren he needed a new security device.
Wren crafted a 22-inch sample “bubble” with a camera inside that was later sent to Bentonville, Ark. After company approval, 20 were ordered. Soon, productivity went to 100 and later 1,000. Wal-Mart was Wren's first customer.
The bubble can be seen in many businesses today, but Wren did not patent it. As he explains, doing so would have been similar to trying to patent the wheel.
He does, however, have permission from Wal-Mart to duplicate it, and has for 25 years.
In order to keep up with the rapidly changing technology business, Wren offers video solutions to provide customers several services and options. The indoor surveillance units have moved past the bubble and now feature technological advances that include the ability to record, view and store video.
Wren said his business specializes in two markets: education and retail.
On the education side, it provides services to grade schools, high schools and higher-education institutions.
Locally, it is the provider of security systems in Jefferson City Public Schools, where new systems will soon be installed at the renovated Adkins Stadium. Wren Solutions recently established a relationship with Lincoln University.
Wren Solutions counts among its other clients some of the largest retailers in the nation. In addition to Wal-Mart, Wren also does business with Kmart, Sears, Target, Walgreens, Home Depot and Office Depot, to name a few.
Today, the company provides video-turnkey solutions to all of its customers, some of which are custom-made to fit their needs. From products to services and support, Wren wants to be present for it all.
Because Wren and his son, Andrew, the company's president, take pride in their craft, they provide a two-week training session for installers.
Both founder and president acknowledge their good name is largely due to making customers happy.
“The customer is always right,” Tippy said.
Although the nation's economy has been sluggish, Andy, a 1988 graduate of Jefferson City High School, said Wren Solutions hasn't experienced a dropoff in business.
There has been a significant movement over the last few years as schools realize the importance of safety and retailers understand the importance of preventing theft, including employee theft, and protecting their profits. The safety of employees and customers is also a concern for retailers.
“Good service and a good product is the main thing here,” Tippy said.
Wren Solutions products are made at the Jefferson City facility, where, in the engineering room, an in-house prototype can be created within a matter of hours. Not only is it time-efficient, but it allows the customer to have a sample of what he or she can expect to have installed in just a few days.
Much of the action can be seen in the camera room. There are four assembly lines running, and employees have been cross-trained in order to keep up with various orders.
Testing on foreign-product pieces to verify quality is conducted 100 percent of the time in this area. Two monitors capture what the actual product shows, while another monitor provides an image of the standard that should be followed. The standards include position, color and lighting.
The metal used in many of the parts is locally outsourced.
The Atlanta office is more computer- and software-oriented and employs 25 people. The Jefferson City office has room for final assembly, quality assurance and logistics. It employs 40 people.
“This is one great big system. It is like a chain. If a link is broken, the job can't be done,” Tippy said.
Wren Solutions has been working in security systems for the past 25 years, and if you've been shopping somewhere and noticed the dark-colored, bubble-shaped enclosures that house surveillance cameras, you've seen Wren at work.
Founder Cliff “Tippy” Wren, a 1954 graduate of Jefferson City High School, started out small, working from a garage in Holts Summit.
As time went on, Wren moved his operations to larger spaces until his new headquarters were constructed west of Jefferson City in 2003. The company now has a second office in Atlanta.
Wren's big business break came in 1982, while he was walking along High Street. Someone approached Wren and asked him what was new. Wren told the man he was still in the metal and plastics business.
The man talking with Wren worked for Wal-Mart and told Wren he needed a new security device.
Wren crafted a 22-inch sample “bubble” with a camera inside that was later sent to Bentonville, Ark. After company approval, 20 were ordered. Soon, productivity went to 100 and later 1,000. Wal-Mart was Wren's first customer.
The bubble can be seen in many businesses today, but Wren did not patent it. As he explains, doing so would have been similar to trying to patent the wheel.
He does, however, have permission from Wal-Mart to duplicate it, and has for 25 years.
In order to keep up with the rapidly changing technology business, Wren offers video solutions to provide customers several services and options. The indoor surveillance units have moved past the bubble and now feature technological advances that include the ability to record, view and store video.
Wren said his business specializes in two markets: education and retail.
On the education side, it provides services to grade schools, high schools and higher-education institutions.
Locally, it is the provider of security systems in Jefferson City Public Schools, where new systems will soon be installed at the renovated Adkins Stadium. Wren Solutions recently established a relationship with Lincoln University.
Wren Solutions counts among its other clients some of the largest retailers in the nation. In addition to Wal-Mart, Wren also does business with Kmart, Sears, Target, Walgreens, Home Depot and Office Depot, to name a few.
Today, the company provides video-turnkey solutions to all of its customers, some of which are custom-made to fit their needs. From products to services and support, Wren wants to be present for it all.
Because Wren and his son, Andrew, the company's president, take pride in their craft, they provide a two-week training session for installers.
Both founder and president acknowledge their good name is largely due to making customers happy.
“The customer is always right,” Tippy said.
Although the nation's economy has been sluggish, Andy, a 1988 graduate of Jefferson City High School, said Wren Solutions hasn't experienced a dropoff in business.
There has been a significant movement over the last few years as schools realize the importance of safety and retailers understand the importance of preventing theft, including employee theft, and protecting their profits. The safety of employees and customers is also a concern for retailers.
“Good service and a good product is the main thing here,” Tippy said.
Wren Solutions products are made at the Jefferson City facility, where, in the engineering room, an in-house prototype can be created within a matter of hours. Not only is it time-efficient, but it allows the customer to have a sample of what he or she can expect to have installed in just a few days.
Much of the action can be seen in the camera room. There are four assembly lines running, and employees have been cross-trained in order to keep up with various orders.
Testing on foreign-product pieces to verify quality is conducted 100 percent of the time in this area. Two monitors capture what the actual product shows, while another monitor provides an image of the standard that should be followed. The standards include position, color and lighting.
The metal used in many of the parts is locally outsourced.
The Atlanta office is more computer- and software-oriented and employs 25 people. The Jefferson City office has room for final assembly, quality assurance and logistics. It employs 40 people.
“This is one great big system. It is like a chain. If a link is broken, the job can't be done,” Tippy said.
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