Paul McLendon's inspiration came after a walk down the modeling runway and a late night trip to the bathroom. Now if it only results in the next great fashion accessory, and a business to boot.
A Woodstock High School teacher, McLendon, 34, was moonlighting as a model when, at a show in December 2007, he struggled with the fit of the dress shirt he was supposed to wear. There was too much material around the waist, forcing him to cinch it in back with bulky and uncomfortable binder clips like he used for papers at his day job.
Short of costly tailoring, he found, there was no other solution available. That night he awoke and went to the bathroom where he grabbed a dry erase marker that he and his wife, Brittany, 25, used to write notes on the mirror. This time he roughed out the schematics of a small, plastic device that he named the Shurt Clip.
Called an "adjustable tailoring device," the Shurt Clip requires three steps: the wearer folds extra material from the shirt toward the back, slides the Shurt Clip over the folded material, and finally tucks it in for a smooth fit.
Three years later, the Shurt Clip is a real product, for sale on the company's website ($14.99 for a pair) and eventually, the McLendons hope, in stores. They continue to teach (English for her, history and economics for him), but foresee a time when their invention could be their main occupation.
"We have this graveyard of ideas," said Paul McLendon of his many plans that have not come to fruition, with the Shurt Clip the ready exception. "We had this ah-ha. We thought we could make a dollar off that."
"He's a productive sleeper," said Brittany, who initially played devil's advocate, challenging her husband's vision.
The McLendons had no business background and no entrepreneurs in their family. When they began researching what they needed to do -- seeking patent protection, finding a shop to design and manufacture the product, marketing it -- it was a learning experience.
A costly one, too. The couple invested $40,000, with no help from others. And they really haven't begun marketing, though they're about to put up a billboard off I-85.
The Shurt Clip has received some early support within the industry.
"I really like it. I've used it a few times. There's definitely a need for it, especially for men who don't want to be paying for tailoring shirts," said Tom Patterson, founder of Tommy John, a New York-based, form-fitting underwear brand. Patterson likes the Shurt Clip name, packaging and concept. The key, he said, "is getting guys to try it. There's nothing like it on the market."
Whatever happens with Shurt Clip, the McLendons are happy where it's taken them.
"It's opened a whole new world for us," Brittany McLendon said.
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