In theatre, heavy makeup is worn to project the eyes of dancers across the stage to the audience. Applying eye makeup and false eyelashes is a time consuming and tedious process. As a theatrical dancer, Chips Klein needed a device that would make it easier and quicker to apply makeup, false eyelashes, and contact lenses. Chips researched mirrors available on the market, and was unable to find a mirror that met her requirements. Inspired by personal need Chips invented The Eye Maker Mirror.

Chips began designing at her kitchen table with cardboard cut in various sizes, and plasticine. At the time, she did not realize that she was designing prototypes. The mirror that she came up with is composed of three mirrors placed at specific angles to each other, making the eye visible from all perspectives. Chips revised the design twice. The mirror is sold as a vanity model, and as a compact. The mirror is currently sold on the internet through an agent. Hundreds of thousands of mirrors have been sold throughout Canada, and internationally.

Chips remembers seeing The Eye Makeup Mirror in an upscale boutique on Rodeo drive. Rodeo Drive is an affluent shopping area in Los Angeles. Chips was standing in the boutique observing her mirror, when a salesman approached her, and told her that the device was invented by a dancer and was fabulous for makeup application. When Chips informed him that she had invented the mirror, he scoffed at her in disbelief. Presentation of her business card and some identification, confirmed that she was the inventor of the mirror. The salesmen then became excited, because he had never met an inventor before. Chips compared the sensation of that meeting, to the feeling of a mother who is told that her baby is beautiful.

About the Inventor

Chips Klein is a recognized authority on business, women as inventors and entrepreneurs and gender communication issues. A distinguished, always-in-demand speaker for radio, television and international conferences and workshops, her speaking engagements have taken her as far a field as Southern Africa, South East Asia, Scandinavia, Israel and the North American continent. Most recently, Chips has been in Russia and Ukraine to work with organizations on business management, marketing and gender sensitivity training.

Chips Klein founded Chipco Canada Inc. in 1982 to manufacture and distribute The Eye Maker line of mirrors. Drawing on her extensive, practical knowledge and experience, Chips created Chipco Communications, a business consulting division. Recently, Chipco Communications has expanded to provide a more complete range of services such as international marketing and funding source development.

Today, Chips Klein is a leading business consultant, executive coach and mentor and the role model for The Book for Women Who Invent or Want To, a Canadian best seller. In 1986 Chips became involved with the Women Inventors Project, a national, non-profit, charitable organization working to increase the number of successful inventors and entrepreneurs in North America and today Chips is Co-Director of this organization. Chips was a founding member and mentor in the Step Ahead one-on-one Mentoring Program from 1991 - 1999, and wrote a popular business column for the Globe and Mail from 1993. Presently, Chips sits on the Small Business and Entrepreneur Advisory Council for the Royal Bank.

In 1990 Chips was nominated for the YWCA of Metropolitan Toronto "Woman of Distinction" award and The Ontario March of Dimes gave her an "Award of Commendation" for her work with mentally and physically challenged persons. In 1997 Chips was inducted into The WhoÕs Who of Canadian Women and in 1998 she was the recipient of the South African Women for Women award in the category of Entrepreneurial Role Model. In May 1999, Chips was again honoured by the WhoÕs Who of Canadian Women and received their award on behalf of The Women Inventors Project for initiatives developed for women entrepreneurs and inventors. Chips Klein was also one of the few select Canadians nominated for the 1999 Melitta Bentz Woman of Innovation and Invention award.

Born and educated in South Africa, Chips came to Canada 24 years ago, where she has raised her children. Throughout the inventing process, Chips took marketing, and accounting courses. She believes that knowledge gained through education, and experience betters a person, and the way they see the world. As a learner, Chips likes to compare herself to a sponge: a wet sponge absorbs more than a dry sponge. Occasionally Chips squeezes, and then she starts all over again. Chips cautions inventors that things won't always work out, but as long as they learn why things didn't work out, they can learn from the situation, and apply the knowledge elsewhere. She considers this learning part of her continuing education.

Chips has been enriched by her experiences inventing, gaining tremendous confidence. She has also developed an appreciation for the creativity of women, and an understanding the contribution of women to society. She hopes that as a society, we can accommodate the styles and contributions of women to the world of invention. Women and men design in different ways: it is important that the method of female design is not lost in a world of male design.

Chips enjoys the money she has received as a result of her work. She is very happy that she is in a position to reap the rewards of many years of long, hard work. As the grandmother of a one year old girl, Chips wants to teach and encourage her to be creative. She wants to give her granddaughter the confidence and tools that will help her to play an important role in the world in which she lives. She enjoys being able to instill pride and inspiration in her granddaughter, and wants to be a role model for her.

In the face of challenges involved with marketing, and promoting The Eye Makeup Mirror, Chips was aided by the words "this too shall pass." Chips also faced challenges as a women in a male dominated area: she was not always taken seriously, and treated fairly. Chips believes that women blame themselves when something goes wrong, and that women inventors must learn how to stop this. She believes it is important to build one's self-confidence, and to realize when certain things are outside one's control.

Chips considers her fantastic husband as her most ardent supporter: a pat on her shoulder, kiss or hug, and words of encouragement helped Chips stay on track and not give up. Chips' children were also a great source of support.

Chips is currently focussing on her work with the Women Inventors Project conducting a Gap Analysis across Canada. They are assessing the needs of women inventors, and entrepreneurs, in order to improve the services they receive from Inventor and Entrepreneur service providers.