On September 25, Detroit-based entrepreneur and McClary Bros. CEO/”Shrubist Extraordinaire” Jess McClary will appear on ABC’s program “Shark Tank.”
McClary Bros. produces small batches of drinking vinegars and partners with Hopeful Harvest, the for-profit arm of the nonprofit food rescue organization Forgotten Harvest.
“Shark Tank” features entrepreneurs making the case for their business to a panel of “sharks”— experienced investors— who decides whether or not to invest in a business based on an entrepreneur’s idea pitch.
“We went on the show because we were looking for a strategic partner to work with,” McClary says. “We’ve been growing a lot in the past year, year and a half, and we really knew there were a lot of different paths we could take. We wanted to be able to work with someone who had some experience that could help us qualify those opportunities and see what was going to be a good option for us. And, of course, it’s great to have an avenue to showcase your product to the whole country.”
McClary adds that the filming process was an enjoyable learning experience.
“It was fun being there, meeting some other entrepreneurs who were pitching their products and getting to see how it all comes together, getting to see the whole TV magic of it all that you take for granted when you’re watching it. It was a little bit surreal when you’re standing there and you feel like you’ve stepped foot into your favorite TV show. That was a little wild.”
McClary’s appearance comes as her company shifts its focus toward national expansion. McClary is working on a nonprofit partnership in New Orleans that’s analogous to her relationship with Forgotten Harvest. McClary says she’s excited at the prospect of sourcing its products from a new localized region in order to help foster economic growth and help local New Orleans entrepreneurs.
“Now we can have our Michigan flavors based in Michigan and our Louisiana flavors based in Louisiana so that we have this kind of dual personality of flavors,” McClary says. “They’ll have a very different profile to them and really showcase what’s being grown locally, because that’s always been really important to us.”
McClary also says that Michiganders have been instrumental to McClary Bros. success as the company begins to expand.
“Here, we’ve found such great support. Everybody wanted to love us just because we were local, and that sentiment travels so well all over this region. In Michigan, people will give Michigan products a chance just because they want to support Michigan. That’s not something you see everywhere.”
McClary Bros. drinking vinegars are available in bars and restaurants all across Michigan and in 16 other states. mcclarybros.com
|
|
|
