Richard Loehr Leads National Companies in a New Direct Sales Concept; Dynamic CEO Profiled in Miami Herald.

Business Editors

DAVIE, Fla.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 12, 2001

Richard Loehr heads the National Companies and believes his direct sales business will become the envy of the fast growing industry. His optimism is substantially supported in portions of a profile on Loehr and the National Companies appearing in today's Miami Herald, published while the company is awaiting the final and official go ahead to trade publicly.

Loehr has enjoyed a mercurial business career ranging from heading Ford Motor Company's drag-racing team in the 60's where he won 26 national events, to owning and managing automobile dealerships. Loehr's reputation as a successful car dealer attracted, according to The Herald, the attention of auto industry legend Lee Iacocca who selected Loehr to an elite board of dealers "who advised Chrysler boss Lee Iacocca when the car maker ran into financial trouble in the late 1970's and of early 1980's." Iacocca, who has been a friend and business confidant of Loehr's for years, utilized Loehr's talent and business skills for one more momentous task. The Herald interview revealed that "Iacocca . . . tapped Loehr to help on the fund-raising campaign for the restoration of the Statue of Liberty," adding that "(a) DaimlerChrysler spokesman confirm(ed) both accounts."

There is a solid gold lapel pin worn by Richard Loehr, a replica of the Statue of Liberty, a gift presented personally by Lee Iacocca in gratitude for his fund raising efforts. "I gave my time as my family's thank you to America. Like millions of others, they were immigrants."

The Herald article contains an analysis of Nationals' single item it sells, a benefits package, which, according to the feature, entitles "purchasers to buy an eclectic mix of goods and services--such as long distance phone service, jewelry, vitamins, cosmetics and car polish--at discounts of 50 percent or more off what Loehr says is the retail price."

Beyond the benefits package, which Loehr praises as "one of the best values for consumers available today," National has in place an earnings program, which Loehr calls the "road to financial freedom." This allows, he elaborated, "a man or woman to work out of the home and make extra money part time or with real effort a good living full time." Loehr rejects the description of his company as a multilevel marketer. "Were a fast-growing, direct sales company and a member in good standing of the internationally respected Direct Selling Association in Washington," he points out, "and we abide by its strict code of ethics.

Loehr, who foresees smooth sailing for final approval to begin public trading, told the Herald that he has a goal he wants National to reach in five years. "My goal for the company ...(is) to have Success magazine write an article on us... that our company makes more millionaires than any direct-selling company in history."

Loehr's interview, which revealed an impressive increase in National's earnings (which is available for the public on the SEC Website), paints a picture of a genuine but realistic optimist who is committed to do what it takes to reach his stated goal. "Direct selling is no different than running any kind of business", Loehr told the Herald. "I ran big car dealerships and that's as direct sales as you're ever going to get."

The National Companies, Inc. is headquartered in Davie, Florida, a suburb of Fort Lauderdale, with satellite offices in Lady Lake, Florida and Brighton Michigan.

For More Information, Contact Doc Lawrence, Director of Corporate Communications. 800/227-6030, Ext. 230; E-mail: [e-mail].