Alumnus hawks portable bars

Former UNC scholar-athlete Phillip McLamb is transferring his competitive spirit from the basketball court to the business world.

McLamb's venture - a $350 snap-together, portable bar called Bar-In-A-Box - doesn't have much competition.

"There's a pretty good demand for it," McLamb said.

The Bar-In-A-Box, which can be assembled in less than 10 minutes but comes sans alcohol, is selling better than its initial expectations.

College students aren't buying it, said McLamb's mother, Carol Ann McLamb. But rental agencies, restaurants and wedding planners have been consistently putting in orders for indoor and outdoor entertaining, receptions and tailgating parties.

McLamb, who was a walk-on for the UNC men's basketball team from 2001 to 2004, came up with the idea for the bar in June while at home in Charlotte, where he was looking for a summer job.

He brainstormed ideas for things he wanted as a student during his last few years at UNC, as well as what could be used on a larger scale.

"I put a pencil to paper, and in about a week, I had three different prototypes, and then a week later, I had a full-size model," McLamb said.

McLamb, a 2004 graduate, is handling online orders via e-mail from Seville, Spain, where he is studying.

Although he was a Spanish and history double major, McLamb has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a middle-schooler, he fashioned belts out of climbing rope and sold them to local department stores.

A decade later, his ideas still sell.

The Charlotte company Spot Marketing Inc. is working with McLamb to promote his product.

Betsy Lard of Spot Marketing said the bar's construction, material and portability make it unique. Each Bar-In-A-Box is constructed of melamine, a hard, durable plastic that Lard commended.

Lard couldn't relay the exact number sold, but she said traffic to the Web site is increasing daily and projected that by next summer, Bar-In-A-Box will have turned a significant profit.

Carol Ann McLamb owed the success of the project to her son's consistent hard work and ambition.

"He'll tell you he learned that work ethic from Matt Doherty and Roy Williams," she said.

Phillip McLamb admitted that he owns and uses Bar-In-A-Box.

"It's a quick, easy thing to do, and after it's all done, you can pack it up and put it away in your garage."

Contact the Features Editor at features@unc.edu.