Neckwear business to benefit Birky family

Years from now, the legacy of IU student Nichole Birky, who died in April, will still help financially support her family.\nBirky's best friends have made sure of that. \nSeniors Amanda Gibson and Tara Jones have produced an innovative ear and neck warmer, called The Nic, that will go on sale in Bloomington tonight. About 5 percent of the profits will go to Birky's family for as long as the accessories are selling, Jones said.\nAnd with them already selling well elsewhere at nearly $50 each, Birky's family -- left financially strapped by loans taken out to pay her school fees -- may be in for some relief.\n"One of (Birky's) main motivations for going to college was to make money so that she could help her family," Jones said. "As her best friends, we wanted to make something that would fulfill that dream." \nThe accessories, already selling at Clodhoppers in Louisville, Ky., will go on sale at 8 p.m. tonight at B Boutique, 601 N. College Ave. The opening will be the one chance to get The Nic at a discounted price of $30, with prices expected to be almost $50 after the opening. In Louisville, they sell for about $47 apiece. \nJones and Gibson dreamed up The Nic as Jones was knitting a scarf one night. The pair stayed up all night perfecting the idea, and once it was created the two received an overwhelming response, Gibson said. \n"The first time I wore mine out, within 10 minutes I'd already had three people ask me about it," Jones said.\n"Whenever I'm out I always get asked about it," Gibson said.\nAfter all the positive feedback, Jones and Gibson realized the commercial possibilities of the neck-warmers and created Groundless Youth Designs to sell them. So far, they have not sold any in Bloomington but did give a few away to friends.\nWith a patent pending, Jones and Gibson are already looking to expand. After being approached by workers in several different department stores, the two are hopeful they will be able to sell the product to Neiman Marcus, Von Maur or Nordstrom, Gibson said. \nBut the best part of their entrepreneurial endeavor, Jones said, is honoring Birky.\n"I used to call her Nic," Jones said. "And now we are going around saying her name, and so are other people"