'Miss Magnet? builds area Nikken distributorship

Barbara Baker was skeptical when someone suggested she try magnet therapy to relieve the pain she was feeling in her back. Baker decided to try it, however, and within days the pain disappeared.

The experience piqued Ba-ker's interest in magnets and other wellness products. By 1997, Baker's interest led her to become a wellness consultant distributor for Nikken. A large international company located in Irvine, Calif., Nikken sells a wide variety of wellness products to people who live in more than 30 countries.

Prior to becoming a wellness consultant for Nikken, Baker held a variety of different jobs ranging from human resources specialist to professional image consultant.

"Every job I've ever held involved helping people and making people feel better about themselves, so in that sense, selling Nikken really isn't that much of a departure for me," she said.

When Isamu Masuda founded Nikken in 1973 in Fukuoka, Japan, it primarily sold magnetic shoe insoles. Over the years, however, the company's product line grew, and today Nikken sells sleep systems, comfort and support systems, and clothing accessories such as necklaces, earrings, bracelets and belts, all of which have magnetic properties.

Other Nikken products, such as the Kenko Therm comforters and the Thermowear clothing line, not only have magnetic properties, they also contain lightweight ceramic fibers that reflect heat and help the body stay warm. Nikken also sells nutritional products, massage products, skin care products, pet products and magnetic water products, which remove lead, hydrogen sulfide, iron oxides and chlorine, according to Baker.

"Americans' stress level is at an all-time high because of recent events," she said. "I'm particularly excited about the PiMag water filtration systems I sell, which have been approved by the military and the Red Cross, and Nikken's new Nutri-Technology line. The Nutri-Technology products not only are nutritious, they also help bolster your immune system."

Like many independent distributors, Baker doesn't sell her products in a retail setting. In-stead, she hosts gatherings and markets her products through word-of-mouth.

"I genuinely care about people," she said. "At first, I felt awkward talking about the products I sell, but now I almost feel like I have a moral obligation to let others know about Nikken because I believe many of their products can help others make a life change."

Since becoming a wellness consultant for Nikken, Baker has spoken before many local community groups, which has helped create both interest and demand for Nikken products. Stories about Baker also have appeared in several local newspapers.

Baker is active in many civ-ic organizations, which has given her the opportunity to network and tell others about Nikken. Currently, she is an active member of the Nixa Area Chamber of Commerce and chairs its Working Women Committee. She also has adopted a class at Mathew Elemen-tary School in Nixa.

According to Baker, doing volunteer work at Mathew Ele-mentary has proven to be exceptionally rewarding, and she often puts together special projects that demonstrate the power of magnets. In fact, the children at Mathew Elementary School call her "Miss Magnet."

"It's really kind of silly, but the nickname does fit," she said. "Now, I've started introducing myself Miss Magnet. In fact, I'm not even sure some people know my real name at this point."

In the future, Baker plans to beef up her distributorship by expanding her network of contacts. She also is making plans to hold more individual and group consultations, which will educate others about the health-enhancing wellness products available through Nikken.