[Congressional Record Volume 140, Number 116 (Wednesday, August 17, 1994)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Printing Office [www.gpo.gov]


[Congressional Record: August 17, 1994]
From the Congressional Record Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]

 
       YOUNG BETHESDA ENTREPRENEURS EXPERIENCE ADVERTISING WORLD

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                       HON. CONSTANCE A. MORELLA

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, August 17, 1994

  Mrs. MORELLA. Mr. Speaker, starting a small business has been the 
first step on the path to success for tens of thousands of Americans, 
but seldom is that first step taken when the entrepreneur is only 10 
years old. However, two of my constituents, that age, have decided this 
summer to take a leap forward into the world of small business and, 
specifically, into the world of advertising.
  Rachel Marx and Elizabeth Whitman of Bethesda, MD, have chosen to 
start an advertising business as their summer venture, and this has 
earned them not only profits in the bank and publicity in the 
Washington Post, but also a letter of encouragement from Hal Shoup, 
vice president of the American Association of Advertising Agencies 
[AAAA]. In his letter to the young entrepreneurs, Mr. Shoup applauds 
their creativity and invites them to apply, when they are a little 
older, for the AAAA's LEAP program. This initiative, the Loaned 
Executive Assignment Program, provides for young advertising executives 
to spend a year in Washington learning about public service and 
Government operations.
  These two young advertising executives and budding small business 
women will no doubt consider this future invitation seriously, but for 
now, they are experiencing an exciting summer. Excerpts from their 
story in the Washington Post follow:

            Two Girls Pursue Ad Venture, and the Perfect Job

                         [By Caroline E. Mayer]

       Racel Marx and Elizabeth Whitman are just 10 years old, but 
     when it comes to making money, they don't kid around. They've 
     tried the traditional lemonade stand. ``But there's no money 
     in that,'' said Marx. The two Montgomery County six-graders 
     are after bigger bucks. So three months ago, the pint-size 
     entrepreneurs launched a grown-up advertising business, 
     called Kidz' Koupouns. The venture got started when Marx was 
     sick with chicken pox. One afternoon, when Whitman visited 
     the convalescing Marx, the friends decided they needed more 
     spending money. Marx came up with the advertising idea. They 
     would buy a page of advertising from a weekly community 
     paper, then divide the page into smaller advertisements and 
     sell space to local retailers who wanted to offer discounts. 
     With a childhood enthusiasm that didn't take ``no'' for an 
     answer, the two began calling businesses frequented by kids.
       The product of their first endeavor was published in 
     Washington Parent newspaper. The cost was small said 
     Katherine Newell Smith, vice president of communications for 
     Sutton Place Gourmet. What's more, Smith added, the money 
     went to ``a good cause--developing entrepreneurial spirit.'' 
     ``The girls were as efficient as any person I've ever dealt 
     with,'' said Deborah Benke, Washington Parent's editor. ``The 
     copy arrived on time, in an envelope with a check and with 
     camera-ready art. It was great--no hassle. I have many 
     writers and advertisers that I have to call more than once.'' 
     Sutton Place owner, Debora Shalom, was impressed with Marx 
     and Whitman. ``It's amazing to me what they accomplished,'' 
     she said. ``they were able to do something a lot of adults 
     can't pull off.''

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