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Hello, My Name Is. . .

The best way to protect your invention? Brand your name.

By Don Debelak •

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

Lea Cavender's epiphany, one that would change her lifeforever, occurred in a ribbon store. Back when the founder of E-ZBowz LLC was still an employee at Ribbon Outlet, she realized thebiggest reason people didn't buy more ribbons was that theysimply didn't know how to tie bows. So she recruited theassistance of her father to create E-Z BowMaker, a wooden devicethat made tying beautiful bows a snap.

Ribbon Outlet immediately placed an order for a whopping 10,000E-Z BowMakers in 1993, and Cavender, 43, was off and running. Sheand her 48-year-old husband, Art, quickly built the business tosales of $1.5 million during its first year.

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