,$l,iiEiltt:=:-:.,. MONEY A Better Burp Cloth INvENTOR Mike Barclay; Providence, Rhode lsland FAMILY Wife Kristin; kids Chase, 5, and Greer, Bright ldea Burp Armor, an extra- txvexton Laura Hemrick: Columbus" Ohio FAMILY Husband Chad: sons Jack, P. Luke, 6, and Ty, 5 Bright ldea OnTray, a BPA-free, lidded plastic tray you can fill with snacks and snap onto a grocery-cart handle lnspiration "While food shopping, tot "Thank goodness for the lnternet and naps. I Googled'how to bring an invention to market.' I had a Biz free consultation with a patent attorney, I was juggling a container of Cheerios, feeding Ty one at a time, checking my list, and trying to contain all three kids," says Hamrick.'After I had a meltdown in the store, I asked myself,'Why hasn't anyone figured out a way to attach a box of snacks to the handlebar?' Then I thought,'Why don't I do it?"' The Stay-Zipped Sleeper INvENTOR Randy Reid; Sequim, Washington r,tvlLYWife Dana; daughter Maren,4 Bright ldea Mooki, one-piece pajama who did a search and discovered nothing already existed like what thought offered great coverage, 19 months; launched June 2007 Start-Up Costs $75,000, self-funded How Long lt Took 13 months; launched uecember 20ol Start-Up Costs Between $6O,OOO Biz 101 "l hacked off the feet of her sleeper, cut up the collar, and turned it around backwards. She never tried to get out of it after that. I thought,'l've got to market this.' I worked with a pattern maker on redesigns until we found The One. But it took me a long time to hire a sewing contractor who would work with such a small start-up." The Name Game "Mookimoo is the and $zo,ooo. "Weve spent all our own money, taking out loans, moving to a nickname qave my daughter when she I more affordable neighborhood, and juggling some of our credit cards." o = 1 = z was a baby. Poor kid doesn't realize that she'll be known .j as'the girl who pooped F1, F rn her cnb. S I , romper and before you knew it, she had that thing half wrapped around her neck. Once she got into How Lono lt Took to monthi launched May 20OB Start-Up Costs Approximately $30,000, to buy material and hire a pattern maker and a her poop-filled diaper, sewing contractor. "We couldn't used our savings. lt was "s {:, N ..,f fuai 112 May 2olo Parents We hired a local seamstress to make samples as we tweaked the shape." with a home-equity line of credit started undressing herself," says Reid. "She'd unzip her take it anymore." on myself. After finding a size that we we looked for eco-friendly fabrics. months, my daughter I a How Long lt Took lnspiration 'At around and realized I design company, and we went to work." undressing themselves I large burp cloth made of sustainable fabric designed with a special weight and shape that molds to your shoulder lnspiration "l was in charge of midnight feedings when Greer was a baby. The burp cloth kept falling off, and my shirt would be soaked with spit-up," says Barclay. "lt stains and smells awful. thought, 'There has to be a better way.'" Biz tOt "l started by cutting paper into larger and varying shapes that I put I wanted to make. He recommended with the zipper in the back to keep toddlers from 1B S .#e'' scary, but worth it." t = o :=