Shark Tank and More

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10 Most Successful Products from Shark Tank

With seven seasons and 142 episodes under its belt, ABC's entrepreneur pitch show, Shark Tank, has seen it all. The premise of the show is simple: inventors and entrepreneurs pitch their products to real-life investors (called sharks). The sharks evaluate the products and decide whether to back the fledgling companies with their own money. From alarm clocks that wake you up with the smell of bacon, to a scented candle that simulates the most alluring scents to attract a man (apparently this is beer, pot roast and barbecue), the show has exposed its audience of 7.5 million viewers to some of the silliest inventions ever conceived. However, over the years, the sharks have also seen some great ideas that just needed an investor (with deep pockets) to take off. Here are the top 10 most successful products that got their start in the Shark Tank (sales figures from the Financial Post).

10. Simple Sugars
The Product: All-natural skin care products made from non-genetically modified pure cane sugar and a custom blend of all-natural oils.
Sharks that bit: Entrepreneur and investor Mark Cuban ($100,000 for 33% in equity).
Sales: 18-year-old founder Lani Lazzaro saw sales of her product jump to $220,000 from $50,000 within a day of her episode’s premier. Sales hit the $1 million mark just six weeks later. In fiscal year 2014 (the most recent figures available) Simple Sugars brought in $3 million in revenue.

9. ReadeRest
The Product: A magnetic eyewear holder that allows users to fasten their glasses somewhere on their body.
Sharks that bit: Inventor and investor Lori Greiner, known as the warm-blooded shark and the Queen of QVC ($150,000 for 65% of the company).
Sales: More than $8 million total sales since the Shark Tank pitch.

8. Lollacup
The Product: A BPA and phthalate-free children’s drinking cup featuring a flexible straw that allows toddlers to drink easily and effectively.
Sharks that bit: Mark Cuban and Croatia-born, Canadian entrepreneur Robert Herjavec ($100,000 for 40% equity in the company).
Sales: More than $1 million in sales since the Shark Tank pitch.

7. Wicked Good Cupcakes
The Product: Gourmet cupcakes in a jar shipped nationwide.
Shark that bit: Canadian investor and financial pundit Kevin O’Leary, known as the tough shark ($75,000 for royalties and $1 per cupcake sold until he broke even, then $.50 per cupcake thereafter).
Sales: Have grown to $4.8 million annually.

6. ChordBuddy
The Product: A device that attaches to a guitar’s neck, allowing beginners to learn guitar chords without overly stressing their fingers.
Sharks that bit: Robert Herjavec ($175,000 for a 20% stake).
Sales: Herjavec secured country singer John Rich of Big and Rich as a spokesperson. ChordBuddy expected sales of $2 million in FY 2014 (the most recent figures available), up from $150,000 prior to the Shark Tank appearance.

5. Ten Thirty One Productions
The Product: Live-action horror entertainment company (think haunted house hay rides on steroids).
Sharks that bit: Mark Cuban ($2 million for a 20% stake).
Sales: The company has counted more than 400,000 customers since launch in 2009, $3 million in revenue in FY 2014 and aimed for $5 million in revenue in 2015.

4. Breathometer
The Product: A portable breathalyzer that plugs directly into the headphone jack of most smartphones.
Sharks that bit: All five sharks bit. They are Mark Cuban, Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Lori Greiner and FUBU clothing company CEO and founder Daymond John ($650,000 for a 30% stake).
Sales: The Breathometer saw $10 million in sales in FY 2014 and expected to hit $20 million in FY 2015.

3. Buggy Beds
The Product: An early detection and prevention system for bed bugs.
Sharks that bit: All five sharks bit. They are Kevin O’Leary, Robert Herjavec, Mark Cuban, Daymond John and real estate entrepreneur and investor Barbara Corcoran ($250,000 for 25%).
Sales: International growth across 23 countries with sales of more than $1.2 million after the Shark Tank pitch.

2. Groovebook
The Product: A subscription-based service that allows customers to receive a bound book of high-resolution photos taken from their smartphones.
Sharks that bit: Mark Cuban and Kevin O’Leary ($150,000 in exchange for 80% licensing profits).
Sales: A gain of 50,000 subscribers shortly after the pitch. Acquired by Shutterfly Inc. (SFLY) in 2014 for $14.5 million.

1. Scrub Daddy
The Product: A reusable super sponge in the shape of a smiling face that gets firm in cold water and soft in warm water. Scrub Daddy has also been lab tested to rinse clear of debris and resist odors for up to two months. The ergonomic shape is designed to clean both sides of kitchen utensils at once.
Sharks that bit: Lori Greiner ($200,000 for 20% equity).
Sales: Scrub Daddy has moved 10 million units for total sales of more than $50 million since the pitch. Before Shark Tank, the company had $100,000 in sales.

Honorable Mention: Copa Di Vino
The Product: A portfolio of seven different wines in a recycled glass-like container (patented) with a resealable, pull-off lid.
Sharks that bit: None. Despite two appearances on the show, a deal could not be reached with the sharks.
Sales: Copa Di Vina had sales of $500,000 before the pitch and $25 million after the pitch.

The Bottom Line
Over the years, the Shark Tank stage has seen many great ideas and also a lot of duds. The countdown of its 10 greatest products demonstrate there is still room for new ideas. No doubt, by offering exposure to millions of viewers and funding from shark investors, the Shark Tank will continue to launch successful entrepreneurs and products.

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Shark Tank
Emily Kendy 04.24.14 Business 459Shares
“Why didn’t I come up with that?” How many times have you watched an episode of Shark Tank and pondered that question, while some guy in updated camouflage or a girl with a cat toilet pitches the practical applications of their products? It’s happened to many fans of the show, no doubt, given the fact 500+ business ideas have been showcased in the tank over five seasons. But if it makes you feel better, more than 50 per cent of those “great” ideas that are OK’d on air don’t end up sealing deals for investments off-camera. Not that it matters to the 8 million viewers tuning in every week to watch what happens in front of the cameras for the 0.4 %  of applicants that actually make it through the audition rounds for a spot on air.

While sometimes the business tycoons in the comfy chairs (aka: the Sharks) take the bait, often times they will rip a newbie entrepreneur to bits, shredding ineffective sales pitches, marketing plans or crummy products to bloody lifeless pulps. Too graphic? Well, it can get ugly in the Shark Tank. So it’s a spectacular feat for those that come out of the tank with all the limbs of their business intact, to shake hands with business gurus like Barbara Corcoran, Daymond John or Mark Cuban. The clever few who’ve landed the coveted golden handshake see rewards that don’t just come in the form of invaluable business partnerships after the show. The Primetime exposure can lead to $1 million in sales within 48-hours of viewing. Now that’s one heck of a return on investment! Below is a list of ten of the most successful pitches to date.

10. Kisstixx – $500,000
This sexy lip balm sold the chemistry factor after encouraging a demo smooch between Corcoran and Mr. Wonderful (aka: Kevin O’Leary) . It was enough to solidify a deal with Mark Cuban, who seems to have a decent sense of humour. Owners Dallas Robinson and Mike Buonomo got a deal of $200,000 for Cuban’s 40 per cent stake in the company.
The creators came up with the flavoured duo stick lip-balm after their time in University saw them honing their make-out skills. Immediately following their appearance on the show, the company saw a traffic increase of 3,000% to their website, selling an instant 5,000+ units. In the months since, the business duo has found distribution in over seven countries, while currently receiving some friendly promo assistance from country music star Danielle Peck.

9. AVA the Elephant – $1 million.
Long-time viewers of the show will no doubt remember this adorable pitch by young mom Tiffany Krumins. The product, which helps kids take their medicine in an elephant-friendly way, is noted as one of the first and biggest Shark Tank Success stories.
Tiffany appeared on the show in 2009, and although she didn’t have a patent yet for her medicine dispenser – much to Kevin O’Leary’s disgust – Barbara Corcoran stepped up and made a deal with the feisty entrepreneur of $50,000 for 50 per cent. The deal was worth it, to say the least. AVA the Elephant is currently sold in over 10,000 retail outlets including giant drug store chains CVS and Walgreens, and available in 10 countries. A sudden bout of cancer didn’t slow Krumins down; she’s since overcome the disease and has continued to build the brand of AVA with Corcoran’s help, as well as developing more AVA products.

8. Daisy Cakes – +$1.2 million
Mother-daughter team Kim “Daisy” Nelson and Geraldine Adams brought their deal to the tank in 2011. Nelson, a South Carolina baker with a back-pocket full of old family recipes, had parlayed her skills into a popular mail-order cake business. While she pointed out, on the show, that the male sharks were gobbling up the cake but reticent to make a deal, Barbara saw the irony and stepped up with the offer of $50,000 for 25 per cent.
Since the partnership, Nelson has been highlighted on QVC several times, as well as other daytime shows including “The Nate Berkus Show,” “Anderson Cooper,” and “The Today Show.” With Corcoran’s help, the growth of Daisy Cakes has seen the company move from Nelson’s parents’ kitchen to taking the baking industry by storm.

7. The Painted Pretzel – +$1.5 million
As a way to exemplify the pursuit of happiness to her young son, stay-at-home mom Raven Thomas decided to follow her dream of entrepreneurship and created The Painted Pretzel, a company that sells sweet and salty chocolate covered pretzels. Her product was such an instant success she found it difficult to keep up with the orders and appeared in the tank in 2012.
With $140,000 in orders she needed to fill and merchandise already available in Neiman Marcus, as well as a $2 million deal with Sam’s Club that she had to walk away from, Thomas needed help, fast. She got it from Mark Cuban who was impressed with her business acumen and she accepted his deal of $100,000 for 25 per cent. Sales shot up even higher after airing and in 2014 she expects to reach $1.15 – $1.5 million in revenue. She’s also been able to diversify her portfolio of clients from big-box stores to specializing in corporate gifting with Fortune 500 companies across the country. Her son is no doubt inspired and proud of this gutsy mom!

6. ChordBuddy – $2 million
As a music teacher for over 30 years, Travis Perry knew a thing or two about the challenges kids faced when learning chords on the guitar. In an effort to decrease the numbers of frustrated students quitting before they got the hang of it, he developed ChordBuddy, a simple device that mounts to the guitar and allows the player to work on right hand rhythm patterns until they’ve learned the chords on their own.
Perry appeared in the tank in 2012, and quickly won over Robert Herjavec, who offered $175,000 for 20 per cent. Revenue doubled over the next year and as of 2013 was nearing the $1.5 million mark. Herjavec also made an appearance after the show to help promote the ChordBuddy on the Canada Shopping Channel, while a QVC appearance is in the works. Currently the product sells in 200 retail outlets, and Perry has since developed a line of acoustic guitars as well. The company has also signed their own spokesperson, country star John Rich, from the duo Big & Rich.

5. Pork Barrel BBQ – +$4.1 million
The sharks were skeptical when founders Heath Hall and Brett Thompson stepped into the tank in 2009 with their BBQ sauce and tempted the sharks with the announcement that they had 10,000 units ready to go. Kevin Harrington asked the obvious question, “What if they don’t sell?” And Barbara Corcoran took a bite out of the businessmen with a quip that Hall would suit a pig costume. But it wasn’t long before Corcoran was changing her tune, and she saw the potential for big business, eventually offering them $50,000 for 50 per cent.
Immediately after airing on the show, Costco called to inquire about stocking the company’s products, while NASCAR teams approached the business about partnership opportunities, and Country singer George Strait requested that the company sponsor his upcoming concert tour. While their first year’s revenue by the time the show aired was a measly $5000, the sauce has been bringing home the bacon since, with roughly $4 million in annual sales. In 2011, the company launched a self-titled restaurant in Alexandria, Va. and presented at the 2012 World Business Forum. They’ve since added five other products, including an all-purpose spice rub, and today their products can be found in more than 3,500 stores in U.S., Europe and Canada. And, naturally, the company has won a number of barbecue competitions, including the 2012 Sam’s Club National BBQ Tour.

4. Tower Paddle Boards – $5 million
The pitch that looked like it was drowning ended up swimming past most of the competition. Appearing on the show in 2012, Stephan Aarstol froze during his pitch. But he pushed through his jitters and made his business sound enticing enough to lure Mark Cuban in at $150,000 for 30 per cent.
Since the show aired the company went from $100,000 in lifetime sales to just under a million in a few months, with sales of $1.5 million in 2011, on track for triple that in 2014. As of today, Tower Paddle Boards are now available in 40+ countries. Aarstol is an example for all future entrepreneurs to the show: even if you get in trouble in the tank you can still keep the sharks at bay – in the best way – with a little determination and refusal to be defeated. Not to be attempted in an actual shark tank, obviously.

3. Readerest – $8 million

One of the more memorable and enigmatic pitchers to the show, Rick Hopper tripped his way onto the set to demonstrate his product Readerest (formerly SpecSecure). The magnetic eyeglass holder was a simple and ingenious solution to an age-old problem. While Kevin O’Leary saw only “a piece of metal with two magnets,” Lori Greiner saw dollar signs and secured a deal with Hopper at $150,000 for 65 per cent.
Prior to appearing on the show, Hopper’s product revenue was somewhere around the $65,000 mark. Revenue as of 2012 was a cool $3 million with $8 million plus in the last two years. Readerest currently employs 14 in a 6,000 sq/ft building and the product is sold in over 6,000 stores, while Hopper recently sat down for deal opportunities with Wal-Mart, Ace Hardware and Walgreens. The great sales success can also be owed to the popularity of Greiner’s QVC show. Hopper couldn’t be more thrilled; as an entrepreneur and inventor since the age of 13, his experiments to find a way to hold his reading glasses on his shirt have since proven the most lucrative. Kevin O’Leary must be kicking himself, at least a little bit, for his lack of imagination on this one.

2. Plate Topper – $10 million

A doctor with an interest in food storage seemed an unlikely opener for this pitch from Michael Tseng in 2014. The storage device, known as PlateTopper, is a plastic, storage container-meets-suction device that keeps itself fastened to a plate and makes storing leftovers more convenient. Tseng, an engineer by hobby, was working on the invention for years before entering the tank. He piqued the interest of a number of sharks, who started a bidding war for the product and set a record for the length of time he spent on set – two hours – through the brow-mopping tension of negotiations.
Amazingly, when it was all said and done, Tseng walked away without a deal. That hasn’t hurt PlateTopper’s phenomenal success. He’s been able to stock the shelves in 1000 Walmart locations as well as landing a placement on walmart.com, after winning their American-Idol style contest called “Get On The Shelf”. Despite no deal being solidified with Lori Greiner during the due diligence process after the show, he continues to sell regularly, and successfully, on QVC.

1. Scrub Daddy – $18 million
And who could forget another one of those “Why didn’t I think of that?” moments on the show with inventor Aaron Krause’s bright happy-faced pitch for his product, Scrub Daddy. The cleaning product changes firmness depending on the temperature of the water to tackle any cleaning task you can think of around the house. It’s superb versatility and infomercial-type pitch from Krause was a clincher for Lori Greiner who fought off Kevin O’Leary and Daymond John with a negotiated offer of $200,000 for 20 per cent. Since airing on the show in 2012, the product has rocketed from $100,000 in sales to $18 million. It’s been featured on QVC a number of times, selling out in every instance, the first appearance taking less than six minutes to do so. It is currently in 1000s of retail outlets across the country, and Krause is now working with Greiner on new product lines including scrub blocks.

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Shark Tank is an American reality television series that premiered on August 9, 2009, on ABC. The show is a franchise of the international format Dragons' Den, which originated in Japan in 2001.

Shark Tank shows aspiring entrepreneur-contestants as they make business presentations to a panel of "shark" investors, who then choose whether or not to invest.

Shark Tank has been a ratings success in its time slot and has won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Structured Reality Program three times. The show is currently in its eighth season, which premiered on September 23, 2016.Shark Tank is produced by Mark Burnett and based on the format Dragons' Den, which originated in 2001 with the Japanese show Tigers of Money.

The show, however, more closely resembles the format of the British version, Dragons' Den, which premiered in 2005.

The show features a panel of potential investors, called "sharks," who consider offers from aspiring entrepreneurs seeking investments for their business or product.

The sharks are paid for their participation in the show, but the money they invest is their own.

The entrepreneur can make a deal on the show if a panel member is interested. However, if all of the panel members opt out, the entrepreneur leaves empty-handed.

The show is said to portray "the drama of pitch meetings and the interaction between the entrepreneurs and tycoons."

A one-hour pitch by a contestant is edited down to "a dramatic 10-minute segment."

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The 15 biggest 'Shark Tank' success stories of all time

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Non Shark Tank