Photo credit: Shark Tank
Mark enjoyed a series of successes that ultimately led to him pitching his invention on ABC’s Shark Tank. Seen by more than 8.2 million people, the episode made Melni a household name for electricians nationwide. As a result, the company landed several large projects, and kicked production and distribution into high gear. The team of five that makes up Melni Connectors is enthused by the booming interest in their product, and Mark hopes to develop new products and expand their company.
One of the biggest obstacles facing the Twin Falls region’s future growth is finding a reliable workforce. While the region has a low unemployment rate of 2-4 percent, older workers are retiring, and companies are in search of new employees to take their place. The city is tackling this problem by investing in workforce training programs, and small-scale manufacturers can attract new talent and residents by bringing vitality to downtowns. With demand increasing for his product, Mark anticipates the need to recruit local talent to sustain his company’s operations.
Old building, new purpose
Today, Melni Connectors is headquartered in an historic building of Twin Falls, the old Pepsi-Cola bottling building from the 1930’s. In this way, small-scale manufacturing presents an opportunity to retrofit old buildings that might otherwise be neglected. These businesses both activate the community through local investment, and they productively preserve historically important buildings. These historic buildings are especially appealing to entrepreneurs, findings that support surveys conducted in the SGA’s Core Values report.