Huntington Business Looks to Land Deal on CNBC's 'Billion Dollar Buyer'

A Huntington business owner looks to land the biggest deal his company has ever seen by pitching his product to a big time business mogul on the new CNBC show “Billion Dollar Buyer” next month.

Billionaire Tilman J. Fertitta will meet with Huntington resident Joe Marcellino check out his handmade leather women’s handbag line. If the line sparks Fertitta’s interest, this local businessman’s company could totally change.

“The deal could bring me to the next level,” Marcellino, the owner of Marcellino New York, told Patch.

Marcelino says he had to pitch his product and make a deal to Fertitta, the Chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry’s, Inc. Fertitta oversees more than 500 properties such as Morton’s The Steakhouse, Rainforest Cafe, five Golden Nugget Casinos and many more.

The billionaire is now searching the county for entrepreneurs and the best innovative new products to add to his portfolio.

The first episode of “Billion Dollar Buyer” officially premiered Tuesday at 10 p.m. Catch the episode featuring Marcellino New York on Tuesday, April 5. Huntington Village is expected to make an appearance.

If you’re a fan of ABC’s “Shark Tank” and CNBC’s “The Profit,” you might be interested in checking out “Billion Dollar Buyer.”

Marcellino built his business from the ground-up with his fashion designer wife. “We’re an American brand,” he said.

Marcellino uses vegetable-tanned leather, which is exactly the way our ancestors did it. “It’s all high-quality, high-end stuff,” he said. Most leather goods these days are chrome-tanned leather, which is made with chemicals in order to be made more quickly.

Marcellino spent years honing his craft to launch Marcellino New York and has since created a name for himself assembling men’s briefcases.

Marcellino briefcases last about 20 to 20 years and have a lifetime warranty.

The briefcases are popular with lawyers, including a $6,000 one that is bulletproof. The briefcase has a level 3 protection, meaning it could stop a .45.

The Marcellino Latch briefcase is also considered “virtually indestructible,” he says.

The show wanted Marcellino to create a women’s handbag collection, which is something he’s never done before. “I had no experience in that,” Marcellino said. “It’s new to me.”

The episode will show Marcellino working on a new handbag collection called “Aleia,” which is named after his daughter.

“If I get the deal, it will change my brand forever,” Marcellino said. “If I don’t, I’m up sh-- creek.”

Fertitta will see what Marcellino New York has to offer, but not without nitpicking the product and operations, sharing his advice and deciding whether or not he will place a transformative purchase order with the leather goods company.

Marcellino can’t say what happens on the show, but he can say the show has changed the way he looks at his business, especially on the manufacturing level. “The show has made me think I should work with factories,” he said.

“After the show, you’ll know if I’m crying or if I’m happy.”