Published: Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Obama magnets from Edmonds attract some attention
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An Obama-themed magnet from RideMagnetism.com.
EDMONDS -- Change is here.
Change from political bumper stickers to car magnets, that is.
So say the founders of Edmonds-based RideMagnetism.com, an eight-month-old startup that is riding the coattails of President-elect Barack Obama to Denver, and today to Washington, D.C.
Stores throughout the nation's capital are selling the company's Obama-themed magnets to those gathered for the inauguration.
Meg McDonald and Patty Andrews, both 58, started the company in May with a nonpolitical focus. But they soon decided to create some Obama products and drove in August to Denver's Democratic National Convention to find customers.
It was a 24-hour drive each way. But it was worth it.
"We just sold and sold and sold. That is all we did the whole time," McDonald said.
Conventioneers loved the company's well-designed products. The Denver Post newspaper even wrote a blurb about them.
Now, the company's Obama products are available in stores locally and nationally.
The company has sold nearly 12,000 Obama car magnets -- ranging in price from $2.95 to $10.95, and in a range of sizes.
That they keep selling is a surprise, McDonald said.
"We thought (business) would slow down after the election," she said. "But that hasn't happened."
The Obama wave might end soon, but car magnets are innovative collectibles that might have future value, too, said Mark Warda, a political memorabilia expert who has written two books including "200 Years of Political Campaign Collectibles."
Warda said he's unaware of car magnets produced in any earlier presidential election, which means they are probably rare, he said.
Plus "they are permanent, unlike bumper stickers," which can't be used and then kept, Warda said. Magnets "could become a hot collectible in the political world."
Change from political bumper stickers to car magnets, that is.
So say the founders of Edmonds-based RideMagnetism.com, an eight-month-old startup that is riding the coattails of President-elect Barack Obama to Denver, and today to Washington, D.C.
Stores throughout the nation's capital are selling the company's Obama-themed magnets to those gathered for the inauguration.
Meg McDonald and Patty Andrews, both 58, started the company in May with a nonpolitical focus. But they soon decided to create some Obama products and drove in August to Denver's Democratic National Convention to find customers.
It was a 24-hour drive each way. But it was worth it.
"We just sold and sold and sold. That is all we did the whole time," McDonald said.
Conventioneers loved the company's well-designed products. The Denver Post newspaper even wrote a blurb about them.
Now, the company's Obama products are available in stores locally and nationally.
The company has sold nearly 12,000 Obama car magnets -- ranging in price from $2.95 to $10.95, and in a range of sizes.
That they keep selling is a surprise, McDonald said.
"We thought (business) would slow down after the election," she said. "But that hasn't happened."
The Obama wave might end soon, but car magnets are innovative collectibles that might have future value, too, said Mark Warda, a political memorabilia expert who has written two books including "200 Years of Political Campaign Collectibles."
Warda said he's unaware of car magnets produced in any earlier presidential election, which means they are probably rare, he said.
Plus "they are permanent, unlike bumper stickers," which can't be used and then kept, Warda said. Magnets "could become a hot collectible in the political world."
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