Stella and Dot is jewelry and accessories business that offers entrepreneurial woman the opportunity to start their own business out of their home, without a big investment. If you wish you could be like the many successful women entrepreneurs seen on Shark Tank, but you aren’t interested in inventing a product, perhaps Stella and Dot […]
Bean Bag Bed Chair
March 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bean bag chairs have been around for a long time, but a bean bag bed is still a relatively new concept. Entrepreneur Byron Young has been churning out CordaRoy’s since 1998. It’s a bean bag chair with a twist: it unfolds and becomes a bean bag bed! CordaRoys bean bag bed is touted as the […]
Traveling Disco Van
March 2, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A traveling disco van doesn’t seem like much of a business on the surface. Entrepreneurs Andy Blackman and Heather Murphy would beg to differ. They’ve been traveling around the country in their custom traveling disco van since 2006 putting on disco parties for families. It’s a kid-based business that, much like Th LA Coop did earlier […]
Protective Cell Phone Case
March 1, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A protective cell phone case for iPhones unlike any other on the planet pitches the Sharks in episode 417. The company, Cell Helmet, was founded by three Pittsburgh guys: Mike Kane, Bryan, McHenry, and Dave Artuso with $700. They were selling cell phone cases on eBay and cellpig.com when they decided they wanted to make […]
Ryan Cowboy Ehmann
February 28, 2013 by 7 Comments
Ryan Cowboy Ehmann knows adversity. He claims he went from living in a trailer, having $67,000 in debt and suffering chronic back pain to winning a Nationally Televised Rodeo, shredding his abs, and selling over $1 million worth of his weight loss program in about 2 years. It’s quite a motivational story and he’ll tell […]
Mike Kane Cell Helmet Pre-Show Interview
February 28, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Mike Kane is the co-founder and CEO of Cell Helmet. He’ll pitch the company, along with business partner Dave Artuso, to the Sharks in episode 417. While trying to verify which cell phone case business was going to appear on the show, I stumbled into a conversation with Mike on the phone. He wouldn’t tell […]
Ketchup on a Hot Dog & Entrepreneurs
February 27, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I’ve always had a thing about putting ketchup on a hot dog. It just seems so unnatural to me. Don’t get me wrong, I like ketchup. I put ketchup on fries and sometimes eggs, but I NEVER put ketchup on a hot dog! Like the folks who appear on Shark Tank, I am an entrepreneur. […]
Romy Taormina Psi Bands Pre-Show Interview
February 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Romy Taormina is the inventor and founder of Psi Bands. She’ll be appearing on Shark Tank in episode 420 to pitch her acupressure wrist bands that ease nausea for motion sickness, morning sickness, and chemotherapy related nausea. I caught up with Romy Taormina for a pre-Shark Tank interview. Romy Taormina Background Romy Taormina has a […]
Grill Charms Update Interview with Leslie Haywood
February 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I spoke with Leslie Haywood recently to get a Grill Charms update. Leslie successfully charmed the Sharks in season 1, netting Robert Herjavec as a business partner. Grill Charms are metallic “labels” for your grilled meats so you can distinguish who gets a rare piece or a well done piece or for any purpose. They’re […]
Xeroshoes Update Interview with Steve and Lena
February 26, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A Xeroshoes update was in the works when I spoke to Steve Sashen and Lena Phoenix before they aired on Shark Tank. When I first spoke to them, they knew the outcome of their pitch, but they didn’t know how they’d be portrayed in their edit. When I called Steve and Lena to get a […]
Bea Arthur Pretty Padded Room Update Interview
February 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Bea Arthur says she gets asked about the other Bea Arthur about once an hour! Her parents are from Ghana and had no idea who that Bea Arthur was when they named their child, but Bea has been fielding questions about her name for her entire life. Maybe it was all those questions that gave […]
Stiletto Heel Switched for Wedge Flats
February 25, 2013 by Leave a Comment
A Stiletto Heel Switched for Wedge flats sounds like a unique innovation in women’s shoes. Jeska Shoe Company entrepreneur Jessica Haynes brings her prototype shoes from Jeska Shoe Company to the Shark Tank in episode 420. Jessica won accolades (and first prize) at the Southern Arkansas University Donald W. Reynold’s Governor’s Cup in 2011 for her business […]
Engaging the Tween Entrepreneur
February 24, 2013 by Leave a Comment
I got this email from Joan M: I teach an entrepreneurship class to 7th and 8th graders. The students have to create a business plan and present their idea to a group of potential investers. They watch Shark Tank to earn extra credit for the class. I would love to share my experiences. This is […]
Susie Taylor Bibbitec Update Interview
February 24, 2013 by 4 Comments
Susie Taylor and her husband Steve didn’t get a deal in episode 413, but the story about their Bibbitec bib resonated with viewers, even though the Sharks didn’t invest. Kevin O’Leary thought the Taylors should take the bib “out behind the barn and shoot it,” but Susie Taylor is one tough, driven, momtrepreneur; she doesn’t […]
Huntrepreneurs Muddy Water Camo in the Shark Tank
February 22, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Two “huntrepreneurs” make their way into the Shark Tank in Episode 416. They Muddy Water Camo folks were kind enough to forward their press release, which is published here. Huntrepreneurs Press Release: Forbes magazine called the “Shark Tank” reality show “a picture of what the American dream is all about.” That’s why Madison, Mississippi’s Muddy […]
7 things I wish I knew about being an Entrepreneur FIRST!
February 21, 2013 by 4 Comments
So you think you have the next big thing, ‘eh? Maybe you had a little “situation” like I did and went out and solved your own problem. And maybe you decided to follow your heart to help people solve those same problems, too. Maybe you’ve been thinking about starting a business to sell a product. […]
Quadra-Fire Warms up Winter
February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This post brought to you by QuadraFire. All opinions are 100% mine. Quadra-Fire Pellet Stoves can save you a small fortune on your heating bill and get you a tax credit in the process! Pellet stoves have been around for quite a while – they heat like a wood stove, but they use pellets made […]
Megan Gage Hot Tot Update Interview
February 20, 2013 by 1 Comment
Megan Gage got a deal for Hot Tot, her kids hair care products in Shark Tank episode 412. Mark Cuban offered $75K for 40% of the company. The deal went through as portrayed on the show and Megan has been hard at work building the Hot Tot brand. I caught up with Megan Gage to […]
Shark Tank Success Stories
February 20, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Shark Tank Success Stories go beyond what happens on TV. Behind each business that appears on the show is a hard-working person or group of people who share a dream to make their business succeed. Each week, ABC highlights their Shark Tank success stories in the update segment (usually following the first pitch). These updates […]
Acupressure Wrist Bands
February 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Acupressure wrist bands are nothing new under the sun. Boaters have used them for years to combat sea sickness; I used them in a sail to Bermuda in 1987 and on numerous cruises. The problem with most acupressure wrist bands is they look like dorky tennis wrist bands; they just aren’t cool. PSI Bands is […]
Fortified Nut Butters
February 19, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Nut Butters appeared on Shark Tank before – anyone remember the Wild Squirrel Nut butter gals? They got a deal with Barbara Corcoran in episode 315 in season three and had an update in episode 412 in season 4. In episode 420, Dennis Iannotti and Peter Ferreira, two fitness and nutrition experts from Pawtucket Rhode Island, bring […]
Stuffed Sharks on New AMC Series Immortalized
February 18, 2013 by Leave a Comment
This post brought to you by Immortalized On AMC. All opinions are 100% mine. Immortalized is a new reality TV show that highlights the world of Taxidermy. Odd or offbeat professions are great content for the new breed of reality TV, and the Immortalizers is the latest entrant in this genre. The show airs Thursdays […]
SassaB and The Shark Tank Effect
February 18, 2013 by 4 Comments
You’ll never see SassaB being pitched on the Shark Tank. Entrepreneur Tracy Sanders loves the show and she’s a huge fan, but she’ll never apply. She doesn’t have to, her linkable hair charms business is already successful. While she’ll never be on air, Tracy attributes the success of SassaB to the Shark Tank! It’s a […]
Home Tattoo Removal
February 18, 2013 by 2 Comments
Home Tattoo removal sounds like it’s an idea that’s just as bad as giving yourself a tattoo at home. Tattoos are usually put on people in a tattoo parlor, not at home, but there are many people who use primitive tattooing methods at home – usually with less than desirable results. Tattoo artistry dates back […]
Wood Sunglasses
February 15, 2013 by Leave a Comment
Wood sunglasses and eyeglasses make a lot of sense to a guy like me: I am never without my “shades.” The three Dame brothers,Taylor, Brooks, and Tanner, started crafting wood sunglasses back in 2010 out of a garage. Their grandfather owned a sawmill, so the boys grew up with wood and woodworking. They’ve used that […]
