Television reality show swims into Greenville

Published 6:50 pm Thursday, July 24, 2014

Joyce Mitchell was enjoying her time at the Shark Tank auditions on Thursday.

Joyce Mitchell was enjoying her time at the Shark Tank auditions on Thursday.

 

Three Beaufort County residents presented their unique items to the producers of the hit ABC reality show, “Shark Tank” on Thursday morning at The Martinsboro in Uptown Greenville.

“We’re here because US Cellular said we want to take you guys where you don’t normally go,” said Scott Salyers, Shark Tank casting director. “The turn out has been fantastic. It is on par with Boston, Seattle and Denver, so it’s been great.”

Over 200 wristbands were given out to people that came as far as the northern suburbs of Chicago and Houston. The show was looking for the next biggest and brightest product ideas.

Beaufort County residents Scott Campbell, Joyce Mitchell and Joseph Savage all went before Shark Tank producers to pitch their products for their chance to go on the reality show. The Emmy-nominated show is co-hosted by Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban.

Mitchell was the first of the Beaufort County trio to pitch a product. She makes jewelry and flip flop straps out of recycled soda and beer tabs, and calls her business Marleigh Chainz.

“She (the producer) told me I did well. Isn’t that exciting?” Mitchell said. “She said I did a great job, and I’m really excited.”

Mitchell said prior to going before producers, she wasn’t nervous about pitching her product and is proud that she was at the casting call.

Savage, meanwhile, brought his Savage Beast car cleaner to the Shark Tank auditions. His product is made to clean car tires, leather, chrome and vinyl.

“I think it went quite well. I made a good impression, especially on my Super Beast product,” Savage said. “I told her (the producer) that my cleaner makes it so slick a mosquito slides off and breaks its neck.”

Campbell was the last of the Washington area residents to make his pitch, which was a “Wine Egg” or “Weg.” The Weg is shaped like an egg and holds box-wine bladders for serving wine.

“It was quite easy and quite painless,” Campbell said.  “It was as casual or as rigid as you wanted it to be. In the interview they asked a series of questions like, What is your next step? How much are you going to need? They were very nice about the whole thing.”

The three Beaufort County residents will now have to wait about a week before hearing back from producers and directors about the next step in the process.

 

About Tony Black

252-946-2144 ext. 231

email author More by Tony