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Newspaper article on The Epicenter

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 9:35 am
by kman
For those of you unfamiliar with The Epicenter, it's one of the online stores that I highly recommend for purchasing MRE-related stuff. I've ordered from them before and have always had great service.

Here's a good article that came out recently on The Epicenter and its founder, Bryan Nelson:

http://www.oregonlive.com/printer/print ... thispage=1
Company finds its center in aid
Disasters - While having fun and rocking out, The Epicenter of Eugene gets supplies to people in need

Friday, May 25, 2007
JULIE SULLIVAN
The Oregonian

If Bryan Nelson's life were a music video, it would show him tossing the Boeing badge, the Dockers and the Seattle commute for blue jean Eugene, surrounded by his coolest friends. It's an American guy's idea of a perfect career move.

It's The Epicenter, his warehouse stocked with chemical light sticks, brackets to convert lawn mowers into generators and anti-radiation pills to survive a hurricane, bird flu or dirty bomb. The employees are rock 'n' roll musicians who fill orders for the Central Intelligence Agency and other customers in between touring with their bands.

After the UPS truck leaves, they often pick up guitars and drum sticks and rock the "Casbah," the area of the warehouse carved out for instruments. They record CDs, ideas and guitar licks lasting far into the night. Which helps explain the Betty Crocker kitchen and couches, but begs the question:

Can you walk away from a pretty good life and find a better one?

"What I've given up is steady income and limited hours per week," says Nelson, 46. "But on the other hand, the boss never gets laid off.

[click here to read the rest]

Posted: Mon Jun 04, 2007 6:30 pm
by MCIera
That's a great article profiling Bryan Nelson. Also completely explains why the address for Epicenter changed from Seattle to Eugene. I have to agree with the author, Epicenter definitely does not use TEOWAWKI type hype to promote their products. Found it odd that government agencies would be ordering supplies thorugh a retail vendor rather than through DCSP, though I could see where disaster relief organizations might if they were unable to get adequate delivery through their governmental channels.
Thanks for sharing it!