Exhibit 10.1


NORTH CAROLINA    )
                  )               LEASE AGREEMENT
GUILFORD COUNTY   )

         THIS LEASE AGREEMENT, Made and entered into this 1st day of May, 1998,
by and between Miracle Marine, Inc., a North Carolina corporation (hereinafter
called the "Landlord"), and MARKET AMERICA, INC., a North Carolina corporation
(hereinafter called the "Tenant");

                                   WITNESSETH:

         That in consideration of the covenants, conditions and agreements
hereinafter contained, Landlord does hereby lease to Tenant, and Tenant does
hereby lease from Landlord, the premises more particularly described as follows:

         See "Exhibit A" attached herto and incorporated herein by reference

         TO HAVE AND TO HOLD said property, together with all privileges and
appurtenances thereunto belonging to Tenant, its successors and assigns, for the
period and under the conditions hereinafter set forth, to-wit:

         1. Term. The term of this Lease shall be for a minimum of fourteen (14)
days per month during which the Tenant shall have exclusive possession of said
property for a term ending on the 30th day of the first full month five years
hereafter.

         2. Renewal. If this Lease shall not have been canceled pursuant to the
provisions hereinafter set forth and if Tenant shall, during the original term
hereof, keep and perform each and every covenant, provision and agreement herein
contained, and provided that Tenant shall not be in default under any of the
terms, covenants or conditions of this Lease at the end of the term, then Tenant
may, at its option, renew this Lease for any additional term of five (5) years.

If, during the first additional five (5) year term, this Lease shall not have
been canceled pursuant to the provisions hereinafter set forth and if Tenant
shall, during the first additional five (5) year term hereof, keep and perform
each and every covenant, provision and agreement herein contained, and provided
that Tenant shall not be in default under any of the terms, covenants or
conditions of this Lease at the end of said term, then Tenant may, at its
option, renew this Lease for an additional term of five (5) years. If the above
conditions are met by Tenant, then Tenant may, at its option, renew this Lease
for two additional five (5) year terms (three (3) total five-year renewal
options).

<PAGE>

         Unless Tenant gives written notice to Landlord of its intention not to
exercise its right to renew for the additional five (5) years of this Lease,
within sixty (60) days prior to the termination of the original term or any
subsequent renewal term, then this Lease shall automatically be renewed for an
additional five-year term.

         3. Rental. As rental for said property, Tenant shall pay to Landlord or
Landlord's Agent TWENTY THOUSAND AND NO/100 DOLLARS ($20,000) for the use of the
watercraft including all associated expenses, i.e., docking fees, fuel,
provisions and overnight accommodations for the crew.

         4. Late Charge. If Landlord does not receive the rental payment within
fifteen (15) days of its due date, Tenant shall pay to Landlord a late charge of
five percent (5%) of any outstanding balance, including previously unpaid
balances, of the payment due to cover costs of securing and processing any late
payments.

         5. Taxes. Landlord shall pay all personal property ad valorem taxes and
assessments which may be levied, assessed or charged against the demised
premises. Landlord shall pay all license, privilege or other taxes levied,
assessed or charged against it on account of the operation of its business or on
account of property belonging to Landlord.

         6. Utilities. Landlord shall pay all charges for generators/batteries
which supply electrical power, fuel oil, natural gas, water, and any other
"utilities" consumed on the personal property.

         7. Repairs and Maintenance. Landlord shall, during the term of this
Lease, and any renewal or extension thereof, at its sole expense, keep the
interior of the leased premises in good order and repair, reasonable wear and
tear and damage by accidental fire or other casualty excepted. Tenant shall not
knowingly permit or willingly permit to be committed any act or thing contrary
to the rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Board of Health
or which shall be contrary to the rules and regulations of Federal, State or
Municipal authority.

<PAGE>

         Landlord's duty to repair and maintain shall include the replacement of
all light bulbs and broken glass in windows in those areas that it occupies as
the leased premises. Landlord shall maintain in good working order and repair
all facilities and other fixtures and equipment installed for the general supply
of hot and cold water, hear, air conditioning and electricity. Landlord, during
the term of this Lease, or any renewal or extension thereof, shall keep the
structural supports of the personal property in good order and repair.

         8. Alterations and Additions. Tenant shall have the right to make
changes, improvements, alterations or additions to the areas which it leases.

         9. Insurance. Landlord shall at all times during the term of this Lease
and any renewal period thereof, at its own cost and expense, insure and keep in
effect on the personal property standard fire and extended coverage insurance
with a company authorized to do business in the United States. In addition
thereto, Landlord shall insure any of its equipment, machinery, fixtures and
other assets located on the personal property in such amount and against such
risks as it may deem advisable. Landlord shall, during the term of this Lease
Agreement or any renewal thereof, carry and maintain comprehensive public
liability insurance, including property damage, insuring Tenant and Landlord
against liability for injuries to persons or property occurring in or about the
leased premises or common areas or arising out of the ownership, maintenance,
use or occupancy thereof. Landlord and Tenant and all parties claiming under
them hereby mutually release and discharge each other from all claims and
liabilities arising from or caused by any hazard covered by insurance on the
leased property, or covered by insurance in connection with property or
activities conducted on the leased property, regardless of the cause of the
damage or loss, and the parties each agree to have their respective insurance
companies waive, if possible, in writing and for the express benefit of the
others any rights of subrogation that the companies may have, if at all, against
the Landlord or Tenant, as the case may be.

         10. Indemnification. With the exception of claims arising out of acts
of negligence of Landlord, its agents or employees, Tenant covenants and agrees
that at its sole expense, it will protect Landlord and save Landlord harmless
from all claims of all persons whomsoever arising from or out of the use or
occupancy of the leased premises by Tenant or Tenant's agents or employees, or
subleases, including the reimbursement of Landlord of all reasonable expenses
incurred in defending such claim.

<PAGE>

         11. Fire or Other Casualty Loss. If the leased property should become
partially damaged by fire or other casualty during the base term of this Lease
or any renewal thereof, Landlord shall repair the same at his own expense with
reasonable dispatch, and if as a result thereof the premises hereby leased shall
be partially unsuitable or unfit for Tenant's purpose or use, then and in such
event, the rent herein reserved shall be reduced in proportion to the space not
usable until such premises have been repaired and restored.

         12. Right of Entry. Tenant agrees that Landlord, Landlord's agents or
other representatives, shall have the right without abatement or rent, to enter
into and upon the Leased Premises, or any part thereof, during regular business
hours for the purpose of examining same or making such repairs or alterations to
the Leased Premises as may be necessary for the safety and preservation thereof;
provided, however, that such examinations, repairs or alterations (unless of an
emergency nature) shall be made as to cause a minimum of interference to the
operation of Tenant's business conducted in or on the Leased Premises.

         13. Default. The happening of one or both (A or B) of the following
listed events shall constitute a breach of this Lease Agreement on the part of
the Tenant, namely:

                  A. The failure of Tenant to pay rent payable under this Lease
                  Agreement within ten (10) days following written notice from
                  Landlord of failure to pay the full monthly rental on the
                  first day of any rental month. After such notice has been
                  given to Tenant a total of three times, no further notice
                  shall be required if Tenant subsequently defaults in payment
                  of any monthly rental payment next due thereafter.

                  B. The failure of Tenant to fully and promptly perform any act
                  required under this Lease or to otherwise comply with any
                  terms or provisions hereof for thirty (30) days or more after
                  written notice is given to Tenant by Landlord notifying it of
                  said default. In all matters in this Agreement, time is of the
                  essence.

                  Upon the happening of any event of default by Tenant,
         Landlord, if Landlord shall so elect, may either (1) terminate the
         terms of this Lease Agreement, or (2) terminate Tenant's right to
         possession or occupancy of the premises without terminating the term of
         this Lease Agreement, and, in the event Landlord shall exercise such
         second right of election, the same shall be effective as of twenty (20)
         days after the date of such event of default.

<PAGE>

                  If Landlord shall elect to terminate the terms of this Lease
         Agreement, Landlord, upon such termination, shall be entitled to
         recover of Tenant all accrued rent due and payable at the time of such
         default, plus any rents paid in advance, which shall be applied to any
         balance due Landlord, of whatever kind, or in the alternative, as
         liquidated damages forfeited to Landlord without waiver of any other
         rights or remedies of Landlord. If Landlord shall elect to terminate
         the terms of the Lease Agreement then after all accrued rents are paid
         the Landlord and any funds owed to Landlord on account of any other
         terms of this Lease are paid, then Tenant's obligations and liability
         under this Lease shall terminate.

                  If Landlord shall elect to terminate Tenant's right to
         possession only without terminating the terms of this Lease, Landlord,
         at Landlord's option, may enter into the premises, remove Tenant's
         property, and hold possession of and sell the same and apply the
         proceeds first to the cost of sale, second to rents and damages due
         Landlord, and the surplus, if any, shall be paid to Tenant, without any
         such entry and possession or sale terminating the terms of this Lease
         or otherwise releasing Tenant in full or in part from its obligation to
         pay the rent herein reserved for the full term hereof, and in such
         case, Tenant shall remain liable to Landlord for all rents due under
         this Lease. However, Landlord will make reasonable efforts to relet the
         property, or any part thereof, at a reasonable rent to any person, firm
         or corporation other than Tenant. If any rent collected by Landlord
         upon such re-letting is not sufficient to pay monthly the full amount
         theretofore paid by Tenant, Tenant shall pay to Landlord the amount of
         each monthly deficiency upon demand, and, if the rent so collected from
         such re-letting is more than sufficient to pay the full amount of the
         rent reserved hereunto, Landlord shall, at the end of the stated term
         hereof, apply any surplus to the extent thereof to the discharge of any
         obligation for Tenant under the terms of this Lease, and any remaining
         surplus shall be paid to Tenant. However, nothing herein shall render
         Tenant liable for any greater sum than would be payable if Tenant were
         not in default under the Lease.

<PAGE>

         14. Bankruptcy. In the event Tenant shall be adjudicated a bankrupt, or
a temporary or permanent receiver is appointed for the Tenant in any Federal or
State Court, or petition in insolvency or liquidation proceedings is filed
against Tenant which shall not be dismissed within ninety (90) days, Landlord
shall have the right at his option, to immediately declare this contact and
lease null and void and resume possession of the property. In addition, Landlord
shall be entitled to recover reasonable attorneys fees incurred by the Landlord
in any proceeding protecting its rights under this paragraph.

         15. Subordination - Attornment. This Lease shall be deemed subject and
subordinate to any lease which may heretofore or hereafter be executed by
Landlord covering the property, unless other written arrangements are agreed to
by both parties.

         16. Relationship Between Parties. This Lease shall not be construed to
create a partnership, joint venture, or agency relationship between the parties
hereto.

         17. Notices. Wherever in the Lease it is provided that either the
Landlord or Tenant may or shall give written notice to the other party, such
notice shall be deemed sufficiently given and effective if mailed by overnight
mail or registered mail, return receipt requested.

         18. Renovations. All renovations and modifications to the property will
be paid by Tenant.

                               LANDLORD:

                               MIRACLE MARINE, INC.

                               BY: /s/ Loren A. Ridinger
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Loren A. Ridinger, Secretary

                               TENANT:

                               MARKET AMERICA, INC.

                               BY: /s/ Marc Ashley
                                   ---------------------------------------------
                                   Marc Ashley, Vice President of Administration

<PAGE>

NORTH CAROLINA
GUILFORD COUNTY

         I, _________________________, a Notary Public for said county and
state, do hereby certify that __________________________ and
_________________________ personally appeared before me this date and
acknowledged the due execution of the foregoing instrument.

         WITNESS my hand and seal, this the ____ day of _____________, 1998.


                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Notary Public for North Carolina


My commission expires:  ______________