A pair of military spouses are making an appearance on the ABC Shark Tank episode set to air February 5 – and doing the whole community proud in the process.
Founded by military spouses Cameron Cruse and Lisa Bradley, R. Riveter sells handmade bags, made in the U.S. by military spouses from up-cycled Army canvas and deer hide leather. The company employs 15 military spouses at their headquarters and retail store near Fort Bragg, North Carolina and has about 10 military spouse contractors making bags and doing other work remote, said Stacy Selken, who manages sales and operations for the company.
The bags are gorgeous – let’s just say that up front. I am by no means a fancy dresser, but I know a nice handbag when I see one. And these definitely qualify.
Selken couldn’t talk about what happens on the show before it airs, but she did tell me that they’re hoping that being on the episode results in exposure and getting an investor.
“Were just hoping that with that platform the rest of America can see what we’re doing,” she said. “We’re hoping to potentially get an investor, but to also get that exposure and to let the rest of America know that we’re here.”
Riveter was founded in part to give military spouses steady employment despite moves. As the company expands, Selken said, more military spouses can be hired.
“Our mission as a company is to give military spouses mobile and flexible income number one, and affter that is to do the whole handmade, hand-crafted hand bag in the United Sates,” she said. “It’s definitely a special item.”
You can catch the episode and see how it goes for the R. Riveter team on ABC on February 5 at 9 p.m. ET. The company is also doing a giveaway around Valentines Day which you can enter here.
