TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Bibs Beat Pinellas Pair's Bikini Bling In CNBC Judging

ADVERTISEMENT

By STEVEN GIRARDI | The Tampa Tribune

Published: September 11, 2008

CLEARWATER - They couldn't quite beat out the stringless baby bibs, but the women who created Mykini Blingz came away with plenty after appearing on CNBC's "The Big Idea."

The television competition ended Tuesday, and already orders are picking up for the removable swimwear charms created by Katina Booth of Clearwater and Chris Buheit of Dunedin.

"We have several stores that have contacted us regarding putting our products in their stores already," Booth said today.

One of them has a chain of 40 beach stores; the other has 15 stores on the Internet.

"Being on the show has definitely helped us," Booth said.

Booth and Buheit came up with the idea for removable charms in May after the jewelry came off a bikini one of them had washed. So they created stainless-steel jewelry that clips onto bathing suits and can be removed or changed, and sell them through their Web-based business at www.mykiniblingz.com.

They contacted CNBC's "The Big Idea" — which gives three inventors or entrepreneurs 30-second pitches to three judges, who critique the ideas — and were chosen to be on the show.

Mykini Blingz finished second to Bibs and Match — baby bibs that snap onto "snapsuits," eliminating potentially dangerous strings that tie around a baby's neck.

"We were just grateful they contacted us," Booth said. "It was a great opportunity."

She said they still may contact the experts from the show for questions and advice about their business and marketing.

Reporter Steven Girardi may be reached at (727) 451-2333 or at sgirardi@tampatrib.com.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT