MFJ Enterprises, founded in 1972, began operations in a small rented hotel room in downtown Starkville, Miss. The company s first product was a high selectivity filter that would enable a receiver to separate one Morse code signal from scores of other signals that were being transmitted over the radio airwaves. This first product sold several thousand units. MFJ Enterprises initially sold only to retail outlets, centering on direct marketing schemes. The company sought dealers early on but distributors were not ready to bank on the young business. Today, MFJ is well represented in the United States by large communications superstores and small on the road type businesses traveling to amateur radio and computer shows, known as hamfests. MFJ travels to nearly 25 hamfests a year and is well known for its lavish displays of products. The worldwide business has more than 200 dealers in the United States, 40 overseas and 10 in Canada. The company sells more than 95 percent of its products through dealers and the other percentage through direct mail. Extensive research and development goes into the Ham Radio Communication hobby business.