LOCAL BUSINESS SOARING DURING TIME OF WAR

Small bath and body care products company has seen their business quadruple since the war has started. They are now offering a Special Edition "Red, White & Blue" soap in which a percentage of the proceeds will be donated to support our troops.

21-year old Monrovia resident Christina Makley says the war is actually helping her business.

Makley runs a small handcrafted bath and body care products company that relies heavily on internet sales. Ironically, her company was born a mere ten days before the September 11th attacks.

"For the first year it was hard to tell if my low volume of sales was due to just starting out or a shaken economy. Now I think it was probably a combination of both."

When news came that war with Iraq was pending, Makley feared not only for her country but for her business. So no one was more surprised than she when her internet sales quadrupled!

"I read that during time of war the sales for comfort foods like Macaroni and Cheese skyrocketed, and began to see my products as comfort food for not only the skin but the mind and soul as well," she explained.

"During this time of uncertanty when we're being bombarded with news of war on the radio, television and in our headlines, people need a break. A time to relax and forget about their fears and that's exactly what my products offer them."

In an effort to support our troops, Makley has created a Special Edition glycerin soap titled "Red, White & Blue." Each bar is $4.50 and she will donate $1 of every bar sold to the American Red Cross Armed Forces Emergency Services fund which provides aid to US Military and their families. For more information, visit her web site.