Brookfield/Elm Grove Monthly

Barbara Eash antiques column Page 3B 247330003 The FREEMAN INSIDE PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID WAUKESHA, WI PERMIT NO. 3 Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/WaukeshaFreeman Follow us on Twitter: www.twitter.com/WaukeshaFreeman Calendar of events Page 3B Brookfield & Elm Grove T H I S M O N T H JANUARY 2016 Fighting hate with stories of compassion Page 4A Leaving a light on for our heroes Page 4A Solving a problem, encouraging creativity By Katherine Michalets Freeman Staff BROOKFIELD — Every successful entrepreneur knows that starting a busi- ness is about identifying a problem and creating a solu- tion. Greg Heal had the epiphany during his final semester at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater when he thought up the idea that has become Zip Clipz — a customizable zipper pull that encourages kids to be creative. Heal said the idea popped into his head as he was exit- ing his dorm room eight months ago and he fumbled with the pull on his zipper. "'I am too old for this prob- lem,'" Heal said he thought at the time. Majoring in general busi- ness and French, Heal said he immersed himself in the entrepreneurial programs at UW-Whitewater, including the Collegiate Entrepreneurs Organiza- tion, of which he became president during his junior year. "I got drawn into that organization with a bunch of like-minded people who expressed a passion to create something the world hadn't seen before," Heal said. The group, also known as CEO, held business competi- tions and hosted entrepreneurial speakers. It was during that time that Heal said he started to bloom as a businessman and began to question problems and identify solutions. Heal wants Zip Clipz to help solve the struggle young kids have when trying to use the zipper on their jackets or backpacks, while also encouraging them to be creative. He said Zip Clipz is 100 percent customizable. He uses three manufacturers to make the components, including a company in New Berlin that makes the cus- tomizable plastic disks that go into the Zip Clipz that Heal calls Zip Chips. Two manufacturers in China make the other com- ponents: a metal hook to connect to the zipper, a rub- ber border and a plastic internal part. The plastic used to make the zip chips is versatile and the owner can use stickers, markers, col- ored pencils and paint on them. "For me, I love to draw," Heal said. "I sort of envision my customers breaking out colored pencils and markers and drawing their favorite character." Of late, he has been drawing "Star Wars" characters on his chips. "It helps their creativity and their imagination," Heal said. Charles Auer/ Freeman Staff Greg Heal sits with his Zip Clipz, zipper pulls designed to be customized by the owner. How to get YOUR news into Brookfield Elm Grove This Month We want your community news! Submissions must be typed or emailed. Please identify people in photos. Please send news items and photos to: news@conleynet.com See CLIPZ, PAGE 4A Brookfield entrepreneur launches product for kids The Force never needed awakening for local 'Star Wars' fangirl Page 1B

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