NO Y2K PROBLEMS: MILLENNIUM CALENDAR GOOD THROUGH YEAR 9999

Once you know the secret, it's easy. The "Millennium Calendar" here shows March 13, 1998.

There are no Y2K worries about the new Millennium Calendar.

At least not until the year 9999.

The new calendar, introduced to less than a dozen markets just six months ago, is suddenly a hot item.

It is in time for the year 2000 craze, says Tom Barlow, president of Wonder Products, maker of the calendar of the millennium.

The new product, which resembles an ancient Chinese Abacus -- a frame with sliding beads for doing arithmetic -- is a perpetual display of the month, day and year.

"It's the last calendar you will ever have to buy," said Barlow, "until the year 9999."

The calendar is so specialized it was sold in only 12 markets throughout the United States when it was introduced last June.

One of those markets was Carol's Hallmark Store in Town Plaza Shopping Center.

Now the calendar is becoming known nationally. It is a common item at select stores across the nation, including many Hallmark Inc. and JCPenney Co. Inc. stores.

It can be found in a dozen gift catalogs, said Stan Koron, director of marketing for the company. "And other catalog companies are in contact with the company," he said.

Wonder Products has also had conversations with QVC Inc., the world's largest electronic retailer that uses televison to market a variety of products.

Barlow, a doctoral student at the University of Missouri-Kansas City and a graduate teaching assistant at Bloch School of Business, liked the idea of the Calendar of the Millennium when he first saw it.

The calendar was the brainchild of Deborah Bruns, one of Barlow's students in entrepreneurial studies.

Bruns wasn't sure she wanted to pursue making it into a business product, but she received a patent on the calendar and sought out the services of the UMKC Center for Small Business on Entrepreneurship.

Another graduate student, Ravi Suksawasdi, who was taking the business practicum course, helped Brunbs write a business plan.

Suksawasci received an "A" for his plan, but Bruns never used it to launch a business.

Later, Barlow remembered the millennium project and decided to purse it on his own. He contacted Bruns and purchased the rights to the calendar. Wonder Products was born.

Barlow is now selling the calendar to retailers and catalogs. Bruns receives a royalty for each one that is sold.

Barlow said he liked putting the feet on an idea. "There's a period of crawling, walking and then running," he said. "I call it new venture creation -- creating something out of nothing. I'm really interested in that process."

Barlow received the 1997 "Entrepreneurship of the Year" award from the UMKC Council for Entrepreneurship as a result of the project.

The new calendar comes in a number of styles -- a natural hand-finished oak or painted hardwood bases.

Some of the bases are designed to hold a fountain pen/mechanical pencil combination, and others have small watches installed.

The calendars, said Barlow, have a fascination for youngsters and adults alike.

One of the calendars is presented as a "Learn and Know Playtime Calendar" for youngsters.

It helps youngsters understand the concept of calendars and date-keeping, said Barlow.