R. Riveter is a company started by two Army spouses, Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruse, that employs other military spouses across the country to create beautiful and meaningful handbags and gifts that represent the stories of each woman who worked on them. Their business model allows these women to have productive and flexible careers while following their military spouses from one assignment to the next.
Sara talks with Lisa and Cameron all about their story and progress with their business and as Military spouses. They talk also about their successful appearance on Shark Tank in 2016 and how they made a match with entrepreneur, Mark Cuban.
A Mission for Military Spouses, R. Riveter Handbags, and Shark Tank
Riveter is a company started by two Army spouses that employs other military spouses across the country to create beautiful and meaningful handbags and gifts that represent the stories of each woman who worked on them. Their business model allows these women to have productive and flexible careers while following their military spouses from one assignment to the next. Just like their namesake, R. Riveter, is a symbol of a true purpose-driven sisterhood, one that aims to help create a better future for everyone. Teaming up with “Shark” and billionaire investor, Mark Cuban, in 2016 allowed for much of this expansion. The company was started by Lisa Bradley and Cameron Cruise.
Lisa grew up in Columbus, MT–a small Rocky Mountain town. She studied business and Entrepreneurship in the “big city” of Bismarck, ND, where she met Jason Bradley. Soon after, she married into the Army and the two enjoyed four duty stations in just over six years. Lisa combined a “roll up the sleeves” mentality with her MBA to launch R. Riveter with her friend and co-founder, Cameron Cruse. Lisa was named one of the 25 people changing the future of retail in 2019 by the National Retail Foundation.
Cameron Cruse, CCO/Co-Founder
Cameron Cruse co-founded R. Riveter in 2011 and set out to provide mobile, flexible income for military spouses across the country. She graduated from SCAD, first with a BFA in 2010, and then again with a master’s in architecture in 2011. From 2014-2021 she lived in Southern Pines, NC with her family which became home to the company’s flagship retail store. She is currently living life “tiny” in an RV with her family as they build their dream home and start their next chapter in the great state of Texas. Cameron was named one of the 25 people changing the future of retail in 2019 by the NRF and Apparel’s 30 under 30 in 2018. Cameron is a mother of two and a proud military spouse. She is a firm believer that we are stronger together than we are apart.
Sara talks with Lisa and Cameron all about their story and progress with their business and as military spouses, Lisa and Cameron joined together to do something not only creative but also created jobs for other military spouses who move around a lot. 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.
They talk also about their successful appearance on Shark Tank in 2016 and made a match with entrepreneur, Mark Cuban. Hear how they talked of backing out prior to their appearance. And how they pushed themselves to do a hard thing and how it so paid off. They were off on a faster growth track and it’s worked out for their thriving business. Riveter continues to grow its network of military spouses, “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.
What can be more timely now than highlighting these entrepreneurs with a mission. Military spouses are their own community.. moving every few years, being the stay-at-home mom, and holding things together while their husbands can be anywhere and in various degrees of danger. R.Riveter holds the community in a circle of creativity, community, and earning potential for the spouses.
Yes, as Sara says, Live Boldly and We Can Do Hard Things!!
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