R. Riveter Celebrates Incredible Growth Four Years After Teaming Up with Mark Cuban on ABC’s Shark Tank
Four years after their appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank, Cameron Cruse and Lisa Bradley have accomplished big things with R. Riveter, their American-made handbag company powered by military spouses.
With storefronts in Southern Pines, N.C. and Columbus, Ohio, as well as two 5,000-square foot manufacturing centers in Southern Pines and Wauchula, Fla., R. Riveter has come a long way from its humble beginnings.
Teaming up with “Shark” and billionaire investor Mark Cuban in 2016 allowed for much of this expansion.
Staying true to its original mission, the company currently has 42 team members, known as “Remote Riveters,” working in 15 states across the country.
Passionate about embracing the challenges of military spouse employment, including frequent moves and duty stations in remote locations, Army spouses Bradley and Cruse set out on a mission to create an opportunity for mobile and flexible incomes for fellow military spouses.
“We knew what the challenges were. We wanted to find a way to become a part of the solution,” Bradley said.
Bradley and Cruse looked to the original Rosie the Riveter for inspiration. Today, R. Riveter’s unique production model puts military spouses to work, crafting components of the handbags from their homes, no matter where they live or how often they move.
Riveter continues to grow its network of military spouses and plans on doubling its number of riveters this year. "R. Riveter doesn't hire military spouses to make handbags. We make handbags to hire military spouses, and create a greater sense of mission," said Cruse. Military spouses also hold roles in product design, project management, marketing, and more.
The Season 12 premiere of ABC’s Shark Tank airs Friday, October 16th at 8 p.m.
