Business Opportunities Weblog

June 7, 2007 by Rich Whittle | 1 Comment

Tampa Tribune:

Crushing a dream was the hardest part for Sara Blakely.

Having turned her own idea into a lucrative product, she found it difficult to dash the hopes of entrepreneurial wanna-bes.

The inventor of Spanx body shapers has joined the judges’ panel for the second season of “American Inventor.” It debuted at 9pm Wednesday on ABC.

Working on the reality show “has been the most incredible experience,” Blakely said recently in a telephone interview. “It was inspiring, at times heartbreaking, and also a lot of fun.”

The 35-year-old former stand-up comic and graduate of Clearwater High School founded her Atlanta-based Spanx undergarment company in 2000. She started in her apartment with a $5,000 investment and the motto “Don’t Worry, We’ve Got Your Butt Covered.”

Blakely, who once auditioned in a chipmunk costume to get a job at Walt Disney World, has taped most of the episodes of “American Inventor,” which has a summer run.

The last episodes will be live and America will pick the winner. The best inventor gets $1 million and a chance to develop his or her idea.

Photo by womensleadershipexchange.

In Competition, Invention, Women | 1 Comment