William Shakespeare” famous quote from Hamlet, “When sorrows come, they come not single spies, but in battalions”, is particularly relevant today. All of the news seems bad. The negative numbers are huge. The human devastation seems interminable. Governments everywhere seem to have lost control. Debt is perverse on a personal, corporate and governmental level. This glass seems to be mostly empty. It is not!

From the depths of disaster grow the seeds of opportunity. Much as Mother Nature’s wildfires clear overgrowth and enables fields and forests to regenerate themselves, so does the opportunity that germinates from social and financial meltdown. The removal of diseased institutions affords entrepreneurs and reformers the chance to fill an essential void.

Throughout history dynasties, dictatorships and tyrants have risen, and ultimately fallen. They are usually replaced by something much better. The violence of the French Revolution enabled Napoleon Bonaparte to turn France into a warrior state under his dictatorial rule. His “Waterloo” enabled the state to develop into a modern democratically governed republic. The Hapsburg’s in Germany, the Hohenzollern’s in Austria and the Bourbon’s in France all enjoyed the wealth, power and comforts of royal rule before being deposited on the junk heap of history.

Hitler in Germany, Hirohito in Japan and the Communist dictators of Russia all fell and were succeeded by democratic governments with a modern, more open style of governance. Their oppressive rule guided their populations disastrously to decades of war, hunger and societal despair. Something much better has acceded their brutality.

Businesses have historically expired if they did not evolve and regenerate themselves as markets progressed toward new technologies. The home delivery of ice in the first half of the 20^th century was replaced by the mass marketing of refrigerators. Carts, whip, buggy and bicycle manufacturers disappeared as the automobile developed as an affordable method of conveyance. The acceptance of Thomas Edison’s incandescent light bulb greatly diminished the need for thousands of local candle makers.

As the automobile industry developed there were hundreds of nameplates producing niche vehicles. Names like Packard, Stutz, Essex, LaSalle, Dusenburg, Austin and Cord and most other makes of automobile grew, stagnated and died as they could not compete with newly developed tastes, technologies, economies of scale and mass manufacturing techniques pioneered by magnates such as Alfred Sloan, Henry Ford and Walter Chrysler. General Motors, Ford Motor Company and Chrysler became behemoths with vast profits, international distribution and massive marketing programs. The rest simply faded away leaving little but reminiscences.

Today “The Big Three”, Chrysler, Ford and General Motors are all staring at the grim reaper. To paraphrase Shakespeare’s Hamlet quote’ “their sorrows are here, and they are here in battalions”. Every mistake that management and labor could make that would harm a commercial institution they have made, and often repeatedly so. Wrong choices in models, lack of recognition of the ultimate issue of fuel economy, boring styling, strangling union work rules and poor quality perceptions are just some of the reasons that “The Big Three” are so close to being the three, the two, or the one midgets. It appears highly unlikely that they will continue to exist as independent entities.

Much is made of the potential loss to the United States of any, or all of these iconic carmakers. And yet, automobile manufacturing in the country is booming. Mercedes-Benz, Subaru, Honda, BMW, Toyota, and Nissan have all built factories here in recent decades. Volkswagon has announced that they plan to, as well. Each of these makes has targeted features, styling and benefits that they incorporate into their machines that “The Big Three” had not identified. Also, they have all built their factories in “right to work” states, where labor union influence is minimal. While paying excellent wages and providing competitive benefits, these foreign Companies are not hog tied by arcane, non-productive work rules. They do not confront legacy costs that price domestic manufacturer’s models at such high retails.

We are all being effected by a global financial conflagration. The future economic welfare of citizens, industry and governments all over the world are intertwined and will be decided by how the people who got us into this mess approach getting us out. I use the pronoun “us, because we are almost all to blame.

Home foreclosures are surging because of stupidity and greed. People today, certainly in the developed countries, crave things they do not need and can not afford. Some people should not own homes. They can not afford the maintenance, the insurance, the down payment, or the taxes that accompany homeownership. A married couple with one child and a $3500 per month income, should never have attempted to purchase a $400,000 home, with 4 bedrooms, on a sub-prime loan with nothing down. They were fools, as was the lender, the mortgage broker and the buyer of the derivative that this loan was packaged into.

Banks and insurance Companies that purchased these esoteric mortgage derivative vehicles, historically hugely profitable, are falling like flies. Northern Rock in England, ING in Holland, Indy Mac, Countrywide, Wachovia and WaMu here, are only a few of the powerhouse financial institutions that are now closed, merged or selling off assets. The insurance giant AIG has been taken over by the government. Lehman Brothers, one of the most venerable, respected investment banks was shut down by the government. Merrill Lynch has been sold to Bank of America.

Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac have been hammered for their role in precipitating the credit bubble that has lead us to this precipice. The Congress, which passed laws spurring Fannie and Freddie to make dubious loans to non-creditworthy borrowers, is looking for scapegoats. A number of our sainted Congressmen want to see “perp walks”. I agree. However, I am confident that the real “perp’s” won’t walk.

The problems seem endless and daunting. They are coming “in battalions”. Nevertheless, we will survive this, hopefully learn from it, and prosper from the opportunity to fill the gaps opened by systemic failure. The equity markets appear to offer a “once in a lifetime” opportunity to profit from the steep losses incurred because of the panic the credit debacle has induced. Strong, agile financial institutions, such as Wells Fargo and State Street, will emerge to fill the vacuum left in the wake of the disappearance of hundreds of firms.

Individuals will have to make more prudent purchasing decisions. 84 and 96 months car loans will disappear, making luxury automobiles more difficult to acquire. “Skin in the game” in the form of down payments will be required to purchase real estate, benefiting the homeowner and the lender. Credit cards will be harder to obtain and the credit limits will be lower.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Duquesa Marketing Announces Appointment of Award Winning Graphic Artist for Spring Launch

Diana Puppin of dp Design, to Create Branding Graphics for All Natural Mediterranean Skin Care Range

Florence, KY Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing, managing consultants for the development of Sloan Cosmeceuticals anti-aging skincare products, announced today that Diana Puppin, of dp Design, will create and produce all graphic elements for the spring 2008 launch.

“For high end products such as the Sloan Cosmeceutical project, we need special talent”, said Mr. Ficke. “After a number of interviews it was apparent that Diana Puppin and her team were perfect for this unique project”.

“Our line is crafted around a 3000 year old secret”, said Patty Sloan, Founder and President of Sloan Cosmeceuticals. “The presentation of our branding will be a crucial element to our success and I loved the creativity and elegance that Diana offered to our group”.

“When Geoff Ficke first approached me about reviewing the Sloan project, I was hesitant”, said Diana Puppin. “I mean what else can be done in skin care? But, WOW, this product is truly unique, has an amazing story and immediacy of performance that separates it from anything in the high-end market. The graphics and branding will reflect this ancient all natural ingredient and it’s contemporary application”.

Duquesa Marketing is an international consortium of professionals specializing in consumer product design, development, marketing and funding. The Company has over 35 years of diversified experience.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Duquesa Marketing Named Managing Consultants For Exclusive Teen Cosmetic and Skin Care Line

“We are very excited about working with Tiffany Fluhme as she creates her range of lifestyle products specifically for teen aged girls”, said Geoff Ficke. “Tiffany has the type of personality, experience, lifestyle and beauty that young ladies naturally aspire too. She will serve as a wonderful muse for teen girls and her products fill a real void”.

“I interviewed a number of Companies before choosing to work with Geoff Ficke and Duquesa Marketing, ” said Tiffany Fluhme. “It really became an easy decision as we discussed my hopes for teen girls and ways in which my abilities and experience could be of value to young ladies as they mature and develop habits that can last a lifetime. Geoff and Nancy Ficke had the vision to refine and channel my ideas and I am thrilled about our collaboration”.

“Teen aged girls have historically been under served in the beauty and lifestyle categories”’ said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “Tiffany Fluhme’s vision is to treat these young ladies with respect and dignity during their crucial developmental years. Her products are being crafted solely with their needs and wants in mind, with choices of color and packaging created from the viewpoint of young ladies”.

Duquesa Marketing has over 35 years experience in sales, marketing, product development and funding consumer products. Tiffany Fluhme’s Bella Jeunesse will begin shipping in Spring 2008. The products will be sold in major retailers and internationally.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Duquesa Marketing Announces Collaboration with Walsen International for Client Package Design

“The body care category is almost unique in its sameness”, said Geoff Ficke. “Le Bain Couture™ is being designed as an obvious, high quality alternative and will be of immense appeal to the discriminating consumer. The presentation of the liquids is stunning and we needed gorgeous, customized packaging. Our search was rewarded when we met Greg Mitchko at Walsen International. Their experience, quality and creativity were amazing”.

“We thoroughly searched every packaging source, including stock suppliers and the options available to create something specifically for our concept”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “The presentation from Walsen was spot on, they completely understood our desire to offer products with stunning visual presentation and obvious consumer benefits”, said Tracey Dyer, founder of Le Bain Couture™.

“Exclusive, limited distribution products like ours demand and deserve a special package”, said Ms. Dyer. “We are having Walsen produce a custom mold to create crystal decanter packaging that will become collectible in themselves”.

Le Bain Couture™ is a Tulsa, OK based luxury goods design and development atelier. The Company plans to launch the Body Satine line in the US in spring 2009.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

HIZ Dolls™ Launches Web-Site That Offers Healthy Image of Real Beauty for Young Girls

“HIZ Dolls are a clear alternative to dolls that present unobtainable, and actually undesirable, representations of what little girls are sold as aspirations for beauty, fashion and attitude”, said Mr. Ficke. “Our client and the creator of HIZ Dolls, Gina Jernukian, is a passionate mother of four daughters, all different and each beautiful in their own way. Gina, and many, many other mothers, are offended that their daughters are bombarded with images of supposed beauty and personality traits that they find phony and potentially harmful to developing, fragile young psyches”.

“All girls are “Beautifully Different, Perfectly Unique”, said Mrs. Jernukian. “I am driven to offer an alternative to the commercialization of beauty images that are potentially negative to girls that are highly swayed by the mega-marketing of stylized, cartoon like models of supposed perfection.

The web-site for HIZ Dolls is a comprehensive presentation of Mrs. Jernukian’s belief that all little girls are lovely, just as they are. The fashion images foisted on young girls by major marketers of dolls is countered by a vision of fun, reality, personality and loveliness that each and every girl can live and experience every day.

HIZ Dolls are being produced and will be available for retail and direct sale in spring 2008. The four articulated dolls in the HIZ line are created like all little girls, in HIZ image.

Duquesa Marketing offers clients a complete menu of creative services in all areas of retail and consumer product development. The Company offers expertise in sales, marketing strategies, design and funding.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Sloan Cosmeceuticals Announces Appointing CBI Laboratories to Formulate Novel Skin Care Line

“My managing consultants, Duquesa Marketing had worked extensively over the years with CBI,” said Mrs. Sloan. “We interviewed a number of chemists but the R&D staff at CBI was so obviously right for this difficult assignment that we immediately committed the work commission to them”.

“We told Patty Sloan that we felt it important to take many looks at creative formulary options, and we did,” said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing. “In the end it was an easy choice, CBI is the best independent formulator of skin care products we have ever found”.

“The world does not need another skin care range making extravagant claims and then not delivering promised performance benefits. We did not want to be involved unless we could build a program that would be able to deliver spectacular results to every client, every time used,” said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “The construction of these products is revolutionary in a category where it is very difficult to be unique”.

Sloan Cosmeceuticals is in the advanced stages of program development and plans a spring 2008 international introduction of the line at Cosmoprof Bologna.

One of the signal economic thinkers of the 20^th century was the Nobel Prize winning economist Milton Friedman. His many books and papers, interviews and television specials have left us a valuable trove of thoughts and observations that should serve as guideposts during our current difficult economic times. His death has left a void that no contemporary thinker has been able to fill. That is most unfortunate, especially now.

Recently, I revisited my copy of Professor Friedman’s signature work, Free to Choose. It is still as pertinent, fresh and poignant, as it was the day it was first published. His reasoned defense of economic and personal freedom, strictly limited government and the rule of law need to be reviewed and protected fiercely by each citizen that values these sacred rights.

“Thank heavens we do not get all of the government that we are made to pay for”, stated Professor Friedman in one of his most oft quoted observations. The simple, but powerful clarity of these 17 words serve as testament to the deep understanding and concern he possessed about the ever-expanding role of centrally planned, distant government and the excessive price we pay for it. We see the detritus of insatiable government in every aspect of our lives, and yet, we seem incapable of slowing, preferably stopping the rapid growth of this corrupt, inefficient monster.

The Federal Government is nearing a 3 trillion dollar annual budget. No one really knows the exact amount of deficit spending we incur each year, but it is massive and growing. The more revenue the government realizes, the faster spending increases. We have un-funded liabilities of somewhere around $53 trillion for Medicare and Medicaid, and $25 trillion for Social Security. These are just estimates; no one can state the absolute accurate numbers. And, remember the government refers to these obligations as “un-funded liabilities”, not debt as private citizens and industry would be required to report and account for.

In 1976, President Jimmy Carter created the Department of Education. Before then, education was largely a local affair. This boondoggle has grown massively since its inception in employees, budget, programs and un-funded mandates. Less than 7% of the $60 Billion annual budget for the DOE is returned to state and local schools as grants. The rest is consumed in “bureaucracy heaven”. Can anyone seriously argue that public school performance has improved since we were blessed with the Department of Education and the thousands of theoreticians, consultants and knowledge brokers that this cesspool supports? You can actually graph the decline of graduation rates, the increase in truancy, lowered standardized test scores and achievement tests from the date we were blessed with the DOE.

The government enjoys natural monopolies in many areas. The Postal Service, the Passport Office, AMTRACK, The FAA, and so many more government agencies provide we citizens with one stop shopping. In every case, the result is subsidy, waste, and mismanagement. Waiting up to 90 days to receive a passport is ridiculous. The Postal Service and AMTRACK require subsidies every year, while FedEx, UPS, and the railroads make billions of dollars in profit each year. Why would any thinking person believe that government should be expanded into even more areas of our lives.

Thomas Jefferson, a soul brother to Milton Friedman said, “He is governed best who is governed least”. And yet, an ever-growing segment of our citizenry constantly seeks to redress perceived grievances and personally poor decision making by petitioning politicians for outcomes favorable to their desires. We know with absolute certainty that government is too large, inefficient, duplicitous and wasteful to solve problems.

Government is not in business to solve problems: it is in business to institutionalize problems! Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid, Welfare, Food Stamps have all grown exponentially. The problems these programs, and many others, were supposed to address have grown even more exponentially. Bureaucracies are not in the business of solving problems and shrinking, then going out of business as they successfully complete their mission. The very core of the nature of a bureaucracy is to grow insatiably.

As more citizens abdicate their personal responsibilities and seek government support, there are all too many politicians, lobbyists, issue advocates and social engineers ready to comply and satisfy this sycophancy. We see many people campaigning for a government takeover of the health care system. When government provides free health care: that is when health care will get really expensive! How in the world can so many people, be so blind about so much.

My Company provides consulting services to inventors, small businesses and entrepreneurs bootstrapping businesses. By their very nature, these people are fearless, independent, creative and driven. They seek to take advantage of the amazing opportunities available to every citizen of the United States, if only they would take advantage of these possibilities. To a person, successful entrepreneurs do not understand, and usually despise government dependency. Simply being a citizen of this great country is the equivalent of winning the geographic lottery.

President John Kennedy famously stated, “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country”? The growing sentiment today seems to infer, ask not what you can do for your country; ask what your country can do for you? John Kennedy, Milton Friedman and Thomas Jefferson are symbolic personages of a sentiment that must be revived. Every citizen must contribute to the public good, but the government must get out of the way and let the populace live and prosper by the dint of their own efforts. Downsizing this albatross is in order, and quickly!

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Duquesa Marketing to Introduce Molar Mate™ At ABC Show in Las Vegas In September

“The ABC is the largest juvenile product show in the country”, said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing. “This is the ideal showcase for a children’s oral care training product to launch and gain international exposure. Molar Mate™ is an amazing amalgam of fun, entertainment, design and interactive features that will make tooth brushing fun for every child user and buyers will be charmed by the unit’s performance”.

“Molar Mate™ at first glance looks like a toy, but it is so much more”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “Dentists want everyone, especially kids, to brush two to three minutes twice daily. Most kids don’t. The Molar mate offers an interactive light and sound show that kids love and will want to brush properly to see the unit perform and entertain them”.

Molar Mate™ is a patented, toy-like, battery operated device that is activated for two or three-minute cycles. During each cycle the unit performs the light and sound show. Molar Mate’s whimsical facial features are activated and entertain children as they brush their teeth for the dentists recommended time. The Dentist endorsed unit encourages development of a lifetime of proper oral care.

Duquesa Marketing is an international consortium of professionals specializing in consumer product design, development, marketing and funding. The Company has over 35 years of diversified experience.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Duquesa Marketing Contracts CBI Laboratories To Create Body Products for ClaudiaTracie®

Florence, KY      Duquesa Marketing President, Geoff Ficke announced today that his international product development firm has appointed CBI Laboratories to test and develop the formulae for the spring 2008 launch of the exclusive ClaudiaTracie® Bath and Body products.

“Claudia Sweeney and Tracie Dyer, partners in ClaudiaTracie®, have a unique vision for their products”, said Mr. Ficke. “They are so totally quality oriented that we removed costs from our search equation. CBI is the perfect lab to create and perfect one of a kind luxury products that will fit with their branding”.

“We use CBI when we need creativity in chemist bench work”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “The are very open to pushing the creative envelope and providing clients products that offer real, advanced marketable features and usage benefits”.

Fort Worth based CBI Laboratories has been supplying a wide range of cosmetics and beauty products to clients for over 25 years. Duquesa Marketing has used CBI to develop over a dozen lines of skin care, bath, body and hair care product lines.

Duquesa Marketing has over 35 years experience in consumer product marketing, sales, product development and funding. The Company has extensive international experience and works with inventors, entrepreneurs, and small business to customize exciting strategies and business plans.

For Immediate Release

Contact: Geoff Ficke

859-567-1609

gficke@msn.com

Totally Fit 4 Life™ Announces Appointment Of National Marketing Firm to Assist in Expansion

“I interviewed and spoke to numerous marketing and branding firms”, said Ms. Powell. “After my meeting with Geoff Ficke, I felt comfortable that I had found the right level of experience and vision that I was seeking to move my clinics to the next level. We have not been open even two years and our growth has exceeded my plans, and this has been accomplished almost totally by word of mouth from our satisfied clients. We have had no marketing”.

“We have worked with numerous nutrition, supplement and weight loss businesses over the years”, said Geoff Ficke, President of Duquesa Marketing. ” Debra has approached this vexing problem area from a novel and solid medically based model. Her growth has been amazing and she has not even scratched the potential to grow exponentially in this important Wellness area”.

“The national chain weight loss centers are generally based on a menu program utilizing their foodstuffs and packaged meals”, said Nancy Ficke, General Manager of Duquesa Marketing. “Totally Fit 4 Life™ takes a more holistic approach and the results are obvious”.

Totally Fit 4 Life™ operates clinics in Shelby, NC (704 481 0295) And Hickory, NC (828 485 2833). Dr. Darlene Toscano, M.D. serves as Medical Director.