Some colorful string and an idea

It started as a simple idea in the summer of 2011 for two friends to make some extra money on the weekends. Now, it has two local moms hammering out paperwork with attorneys to franchise their company across the country.

Heidi Cohen, of Oceanside, and Colleen Demas, of Valley Stream, launched Lanyard Ladies with an initial investment of $500 to purchase string and lanyards, and to mail some fliers out. In November, Lanyard Ladies took first prize and $20,000 in the “Bethenny in Your Business’ $20K Giveaway!” contest on FOX’s daytime talk show “Bethenny.”

Cohen and Demas submitted a Skype video in September to enter the contest and were named as one of three finalists in mid-November. The following week, on Nov. 21, the duo was named as winners. After host Bethenny Frankel announced their win, Cohen and Demas raised their arms in victory and hugged as balloons began to fall.

“It was crazy,” Cohen, a mother of three boys, said of the experience, adding she never thought they would win. Demas, who has two twin boys, said she believed their idea was unique enough that they had a shot to win, but “didn’t think it would happen.”

The two women didn’t know each other prior to working together at a local summer camp in 2011. Cohen, a former courtroom reporter, and Demas, a teacher’s aide in Hewlett, were in charge of the camp’s lanyard and friendship bracelet making station, which was very popular with boys and girls at the camp. They thought it would be smart to offer this summer activity year-round at birthday parties, graduations and religious celebrations.

According to Cohen, the business first started taking off after three months, but within six months it “went crazy” with people looking to book them. They have launched a popular website and put out an instructional DVD and craft kit.

Demas has some experience in managing a retail store, but for the most part, they taught themselves how to operate a small business. They have two other full-time employees and book about six parties per weekend, Cohen said, adding that the month of June is normally the busiest with graduation parties. The Lanyard Ladies typically stay at a party for one hour and do three projects with kids.