<< Previous   of   Next >> (click to enlarge) Creative director Patty Andrews (from left) and president Meg McDonald, both of Edmonds-based RideMagnetism, and Jody Marx, of Point North Design in Seattle, pose next to a vehicle displaying an assortment of the company's magnets on it, Friday, Jan. 16. Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW Magnets, window decals, and buttons, attempt to catch the attention of customers, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 at Edmonds Bookshop. The magnets and other products are distributed to local stores by Edmonds-based RideMagnetism. (click to enlarge) Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW President Meg McDonald, of Edmonds-based RideMagnetism, discusses the company's magnets that display the image of President Barack Obama's image, during an interview, Friday, Jan. 16, 2009 at the Red Twig in Edmonds.

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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Obama-mania drives start-up

• Local woman design political car magnets

By Chris Fyall
Enterprise editor

Change is coming.

Change from political bumper stickers to political car magnets, that is.

So say the founders of Edmonds-based RideMagnetism.com, an eight-month-old startup that has ridden the coattails of President Barack Obama to Denver, and this week to Washington, D.C., where stores throughout the city are marketing the company's Obama-themed magnets to millions of inauguration attendees.

The company's rapid rise has been almost as meteoric as Obama's.

After founding the company in May with a non-political focus, co-owners Meg McDonald and Patty Andrews, both 58, created some Obama products, and drove in August to Denver's Democratic National Convention.

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.

Convention attendees loved the company's well-designed products. The Denver Post even wrote a blurb about them.

Now, the company's Obama products are available in stores locally and nationally. Nearly 12,000 Obama car magnets -- ranging in price from $2.95 to $10.95, and in size from small to quite large -- have sold.

That the Obama magnets 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 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 kept, Warda said. "They could become a hot collectible in the political world."

One of the drawbacks with the magnets is that they are susceptible to theft.

But, in a strange way, that's not much of a problem, said Edmonds resident Kim Kharchenko Mach, who has an Obama magnet on her car.

"I haven't had one stolen, but if somebody wants it enough to steal it, then I guess that'll just spread the message," she said.

RideMagnetism hopes to keep spreading the message, too.

Eventually, the Obama wave will wash away, said Patty Andrews, one co-founder.

But the company also makes magnets promoting green causes, or local non-profits, and officials hope more modest sales of those will still be great business, she said.

"The great thing is that if your political views change, you can always change your magnet," Andrews said.

Reporter Chris Fyall: 425-673-6525 or cfyall@heraldnet.com