Update: Bibs and Match Win Million Dollar Idea

LEONARDTOWN - 9/10/2008

By Pete Hurrey

Molly Chen is not your everyday ordinary wife and mother of two. She is an entrepreneur, inventor, marketing guru and after Monday, Sept. 8, television celebrity. It was just announced that Chen's Bibs and Match won the Million Dollar Idea. When she heard the announcement Chen said,"I’m just so thrilled to be voted the Big Idea and a Million-Dollar-Idea at that. I can’t thank the Big Idea team enough; it’s such a great show. I hope to come back on in the near future as a huge success story!"

On Monday, Sept. 8, Chen was taped on CNBC’s popular I love the Big Idea with Donny Deutsch. The show aired later that evening. Then viewers of the show voted for their favorite 'Big Idea' and Chen won the vote. Because of that, Chen's Idea will be featured permanently on http://www.cnbc.com/id/26632154.

The whole thing started when Chen discovered that the products she was forced to purchase for her infants were counter to the teaching she received during her pregnancy. “They tell you to be careful about strings around your baby’s neck, and, then, they hand you a bib that ties around the neck,” said Chen. “I felt guilty every time I used a bib because I knew the tie around the neck could be dangerous.”

She went on to say that there is some weird law of physics that makes a wet bib automatically cover a baby’s face if the child is laid down. “I thought about what to do and the idea came to me to create a bib that attached only to the shirt or ‘onesie’ so there would be nothing around the baby’s neck.”

Being the entrepreneurial spirit she is, Chen proceeded to invent a solution, which she called “Bibs & Match” and then went through the exhausting effort to apply for a patent.

“That was an ordeal. I tried to save money at first, writing my own patent application, but finally contacted a lawyer that was referred to me by a friend,” said Chen. After months and several thousand dollars, she has a patent pending.

The next step for Chen was to find a manufacturer for her new product line. “I tried to find a manufacturer in the United States, but it was impossible. I finally found a U.S Company, but its manufacturing was done in China. I was very disappointed that I could not find a U.S.-based manufacturer,” said Chen.

Her next step was to design the packaging and product brochures, which she handled in her Leonardtown home. “When the product is delivered, I handle all the packaging in my house.” She began selling the product via her Web site with some instant success. She also has retailers carrying her products across the U.S. and internationally.

Then she had another idea. “I think the next step for the product is organic, so I began a search for a manufacturer in the United States that would produce a certified organic product line, but once again, I was frustrated,” said Chen. She ultimately found a U.S. company that had its manufacturing facilities in India. The first batch of organic products is set to be delivered to her on Sept. 9.

When asked how she ended up appearing on Donny Deutsch’s show, Chen said, “I loved that show and when I saw they were having a competition for new inventions, I submitted a form online.”

Chen stated that after multiple submissions she was called by the New York producers and taped the show in the Washington DC affiliate’s studios. “Of those taped I was the only one where all three judges gave ‘thumbs up’ to my invention,” beamed Chen.

Mother, inventor, or entrepreneur, Chen has a vision for the future of children’s attire, which she intends to pursue. “This is a whole new venture for me. I am very excited.”

To go to Chen's Web site click here