In times of economic uncertainty, finding small ways to cut costs is crucial. For many, going out to eat, renting movies or buying morning coffee are nixed to save a little green. Another money saver gaining popularity is switching to at-home haircuts. There's even a new invention to make sure those amateur cuts stay on the straight and narrow: the CreaClip.
Though horrific images of early haircuts given to you by mom or dad may be flashing through your mind, the CreaClip is designed to prevent such calamities. The CreaClip provides individuals with a guide to make sure hair is cut even and balanced every time. Invented by Mai Lieu, a hair stylist from Hawaii, this handy little gadget is ideal for people attempting to cut their hair at home who lack professional know-how. Lieu was actually inspired to invent the device because of the large number of people who came to her salon looking for repairs to their at-home haircuts. Individuals who purchase the CreaClip get two models: a larger, curved clip for longer hair and layering, and a smaller, straight clip for trimming bangs or men’s hair. Each light-blue CreaClip features sets of teeth in the center for users to comb and secure hair in place (by clipping the Crea shut). A small level in the center of the clip assures individuals the device is perfectly straight, and the smooth bottom offers a guide for properly trimming outlying hair.
Since the gadget appeared on the Home Shopping Network (HSN) earlier this year, the CreaClip has become a hot product – with the entire HSN inventory quickly selling out. Now with the economy in a downward spiral and many people looking to “cut the frills” in order to save money, the CreaClip has an even greater value to consumers. The HSN Web site notes the product is “great for trimming bangs, creating layers or just maintaining a style between cuts”. For households with a number of children, the CreaClip could actually save quite a bit of change – with children’s hair growing quickly and usually costing at least $10 for a standard trim. For women, the clip could be even more financially beneficial: enabling them to go for longer amounts of time without visiting a stylist, which could translate into savings of hundreds of dollars of a year. And, with the CreaClip offering an easy, reliable way to make sure cuts are even, people won’t have to worry as much about an at-home haircut looking like it was done with pruning shears.
So far, customer response to the new invention has been overwhelmingly positive. HSN customer reviews of the CreaClip rate the device at an average 3.6 stars (out of five), with nine people giving the clip either a four-star or five-star review. Some of the individual comments include: “I think that this is great for someone who has layers”: “this saved me a lot of money and hassle”; and “perfect invention for maintenance of a style”. Getting nearly as much acclaim as the invention is the inventor herself; Lieu was recently nominated for a Stevie Award for Women in Business. Stevie Awards are given to winners in 50 different categories each year, and, this year, Lieu was nominated for Best Product of the Year (though she lost out to MyStrategicPlan software and ZINK™ Paper at the November 14th ceremony). After exhibiting her product at the Food and New Products trade show last month, Lieu’s next move is to produce a commercial for her invention. And, with times being tight and no end in sight, the CreaClip’s stock should only continue to rise.
The CreaClip is currently available for purchase from the CreaClip Web site for $29.99 (plus shipping & handling).
