`DESERT STORM' UNLEASHES TORRENT OF ENTREPRENEURS

By Neil Modie P-I Reporter

Thursday, February 14, 1991

Section: News, Page: A6

``Operation Desert Storm" has kicked up a storm of entrepreneurship, an explosion of opportunity for businesses cashing in on the war.

Companies in Seattle and elsewhere, some of them newly incorporated for the purpose, are selling everything from wrist bracelets to tape recordings to jacket insignia and telling the public that buying their goods will show support for U.S. fighting men and women.

``These give some people the feeling that they're supporting the troops," said a skeptical U.S. postal inspector, Jim Bordenet of Seattle. ``Sometimes all they're doing is supporting the lifestyle of some promoter."

``You may be buying a $5 article for $10 because of the (patriotic) pitch," added Diana Watts of the state attorney general's office consumer resources center.

Even Camp Fire boys and girls are cashing in on the war. The youth organization has put a new spin on its annual candy sales by suggesting that people mail the goodies to ``someone stationed in the gulf."

Aware that its chocolates might turn gooey in the desert heat, Camp Fire suggests that a couple of its other, non-chocolate candies ``survive the desert environment well."

Many of the companies exhorting consumers to show their support for the troops by buying newly manufactured trinkets say they're donating part of their profits to charity. Some are giving away all of it; others are pocketing much more of the profits than they're passing on.

A few claim they're losing money, at least initially.

``This is not a program for anybody to get rich on," said William Barrett, a guitar teacher who designed and is selling ``Operation Desert Storm" sew-on insignia patches, for $8.50 each, out of his Ballard home.

Asked if any of the profits - if there are any - will go to charity, Barrett replied, ``The trick is not to go broke doing this." He said he'd like to make enough money to go to Saudi Arabia to distribute the patches himself.

People may buy the patches, which then are mailed generically to troops in the gulf ``so they can notice that someone is noticing them back here," Barrett said. He acknowledged that the armed forces don't allow the wearing of such unofficial insignia on military uniforms.

Two Seattle companies are manufacturing ``Operation Desert Storm" wrist bracelets and promising to send part of the profits to veterans' organizations. At least one firm apparently will have plenty left over for itself.

Metal Arts Group, a nearly century-old Seattle jewelry manufacturer, is producing a ``U.S.A. troop bracelet" retailing at $15 for a nickel silver bracelet and $40 for a sterling silver one. It's giving 10 percent of its profit to an American Legion program that provides financial assistance to local families of servicemen and servicewomen in the gulf.

Lori Firebaugh, a spokeswoman for the manufacturer, said the company's estimated profit will be about $7.50 on the $15 bracelets and about $20 on the $40 bracelets, so the American Legion will receive about 75 cents and $2, respectively, for each type sold.

Dallas Vaughan, the Legion's state adjutant, confirmed that those were the estimates given to him by Metal Arts Group.

The other Seattle company, Bill's Engraving Service, which is selling three types of copper bracelets for $9.95 each, has promised to give $2.50 to the American Legion and $2.50 to the Washington State POW/MIA Concerned Citizens Association for each bracelet sold.

``After I pay my shop time, there's very little left for me," said Bill Walkling, owner of Bill's Engraving.

The American Legion hasn't received any money from either company yet because the enterprises are just getting started, but Vaughan said he expects the first check from Metal Arts in the next few days.

Walkling said one of the three types of bracelets he's selling bears the name and rank of a prisoner of war or a U.S. military person missing in action in the gulf. He said his lawyer told him it was OK to use the names without permission from their families.

Walkling also sells gold dog tags and wooden, hand-carved eagles that say ``Desert Storm."

Others appear to be non-profit entrepreneurs.

A Sequim couple, Ken and Jay Richmond, are manufacturing vehicle license plates that say ``Loved One in Operation Desert Shield," and are selling them for $10 each plus $2.50 for postage and handling. They have promised 45 percent to the Salvation Army to aid families of military personnel in the gulf. The plates are designed to be mounted above or below a vehicle's existing plates.

The Salvation Army's Lt. Bill Jaynes said the Richmonds told him they'll give him the first check, for about $1,800, when they return from an out-of-state trip.

Sir Speedy, a quick-printing franchise business in Federal Way, is offering packets of envelopes and writing paper, stamped ``news from home," to friends and relatives of military personnel. It's free upon request.

jg/tm

This article contained at least one photo or illustration as described below:

Type: Photo

Description: The Associated Press --- Spc. Vernon Breitenstein of Seattle picks out a valentine card at a Saudi Arabian shop this week. There was lit- tle chance the card would reach its destination by today - but the sentiment will still be there when it does arrive.

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