A Rockville-area couple is bringing their latest homegrown invention from backyard bonfires to the TV reality show Shark Tankhoping to secure an investment. Viewers can find out whether they land a deal when the episode airs Wednesday night.
Tiffany and Chris McCasland, co-founders of The Chair Blanket, will appear on the ABC show that features entrepreneurs pitching their products to a panel of wealthy investors, or “sharks,” who decide if they want to invest. The episode airs locally at 10 p.m.
The McCaslands are promoting a product they say was born out of a desire to keep families comfortable outdoors after dealing too often with muddy lawn chairs and chilly evenings. They describe The Chair Blanket, priced at $59.99, as a simple but versatile solution: a stretchy chair cover with a waterproof backing and a soft polar fleece front designed to drape securely over outdoor seats.
“It keeps you clean, dry and cozy,” Tiffany McCasland told Bethesda Today on Monday. “I use it on my office chair too.”
The product evolved from the couple’s first venture, City Bonfires, a portable mini fire pit and s’mores kit business launched after Chris McCasland lost his job during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the McCaslands and others they knew gathered around backyard fires, they noticed a recurring problem: outdoor chairs that were wet, dusty or stained, leaving marks on clothing and legs.
“It started as an accessory to our fire pit,” Tiffany McCasland said. “You’re sitting on Adirondack chairs that have been outside — they might have leaves or bird droppings on them — and depending on the weather, it’s either too hot or too cold. We wanted something that solved that.”
The McCaslands participated in the Shark Tank casting process with City Bonfires but did not advance to the final stage. When they launched The Chair Blanket, they reconnected with casting producers and ultimately secured a spot in front of the show’s investors.
Tiffany McCasland described the experience as one of the most challenging of her professional career.
“There are so many steps — video interviews, rehearsals, making sure your pitch is memorized,” she said. “I recorded myself and listened to it while walking in the neighborhood so I could get it down perfectly.”
The couple split responsibilities evenly during their presentation, having rehearsed extensively in their backyard and garage. Family members, including their two sons, aged 9 and 3, even role-played as the “sharks,” peppering them with mock investor questions. Chris McCasland leaned into humor to win over the panel, while Tiffany focused on product details and negotiation points.
Viewers can see the results when the episode airs Wednesday night. The McCaslands are hosting a public watch party at Quincy’s Potomac Bar & Grille, a family-friendly sports bar where they are part owners. The event begins at 8:30 p.m., with the episode airing at 10 p.m. on all of televisions in the restaurant at 1093 Seven Locks Road in Potomac.
“It’ll be the first time we see the full segment too,” Tiffany McCasland said. “We’re excited — and a little nervous — to watch it with our friends and family.”
Since the episode’s filming in June, the product has already evolved, according to the couple. The softer polar fleece is a change from the original Berber-style fabric, and the back design has shifted from a pull-tie to a stretch fit for easier use. Each blanket now comes with a matching attached carry bag, and the color selection has expanded to about 10 options.
The Chair Blanket is sold on the company’s website, as well as through Amazon, Walmart and a number of smaller retailers. Additional major retail partnerships are expected later this year, according to the couple.
For the McCaslands, the business is about more than product expansion. It is a family operation rooted in Montgomery County. Chris McCasland, a Germantown native and graduate of Watkins Mill High School in Gaithersburg, now employs several relatives, including his father as warehouse manager.
“We’ve sacrificed a lot to build this,” Tiffany McCasland said. “But being able to create jobs — especially for family and for people in the county — is really important to us.
