“How can I separate my shoes from my laptop or my purse essentials from my banana? I had to figure things out and problem-solve, and really, the engineering mind went to work.”
“I just wanted one bag that I could organize,” Mosee said. Throughout her years in that role, she noticed moms schlepping around their diaper bags, bookbags and purses-a problem she could relate to. After getting laid off in 1998, she shifted to nonprofit work, starting a Philadelphia-based organization to help single mothers in college pay for child care. The Baltimore native studied engineering at UMD-first aerospace, then electrical-and initially put her degree to work at General Electric and Lockheed Martin. “It was a wonderful, wonderful experience to know that I sold out, meaning that people loved the product, they wanted to experience the product, and they saw themselves at some point carrying multiple bags, so they understood the problem,” she said in an interview.ĭespite the pitching prowess, Mosee actually doesn’t come from a fashion or manufacturing background.
Mosee’s Mariah Backpack, a hybrid work bag-travel bag-purse, came out on top in the show’s debut, selling out inventory and landing her a $100,000 purchase order with Macy’s. At the end of the hour, the contestant who earned the most money in sales wins a deal with one of the show’s panelists, who represent companies including Macy’s, Lowe’s and QVC/HSN. Inspired by executive producer Joy Mangano, whose self-wringing Miracle Mop launched an inventing empire, the show gives four entrepreneurs two and a half minutes to pitch their products, which viewers can then purchase in real time. Sherrill Mosee ’86, founder of all-in-one handbag company MinkeeBlue, last month won the premiere episode of “ America’s Big Deal,” USA Network’s new live, “shoppable” pitch competition. For a University of Maryland alum, entrepreneurial success is in the bag-along with her laptop, lunch, workout shoes, water bottle and keys, all impressively organized.
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