Surprise Cake Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 12
Special events need a special cake, too! A cake that’s different from traditional ones—a cake that carries surprises with it! That is exactly what the business Surprise Cake offers.
Mother-son team Liz Charm and Jordan Long hope the Sharks take a slice out of Surprise Cake, their cake stand that pops a sealed vessel for gifts out of a cake, in Shark Tank episode 1205. Charm came up with the concept for her daughter’s 12th birthday. She sealed a new cell phone inside a plastic bag and placed it between layers of the cake. When her daughter blew out the candles, the cake started ringing. They cut the cake to reveal the gift, and it was a big hit.
Since food safety rules don’t allow placing gifts inside a cake, she turned to her son Jordan (an engineer) to come up with a solution. Together, they created a cake stand that gives the illusion of a gift popping out of the cake. They also added music to the popping stand. When you hit a special trigger attached to the stand, up pops the gift cylinder—just like a Jack-in-the-Box.
Liz and Jordan likely want a Shark’s cash and help with cutting manufacturing costs. Will a Shark want a piece of this business?
About Surprise Cake
| Category | Details |
| Founder (Plural if multiple) | Liz Charm & Jordan Long |
| Product Type | Cake stand with a pop-up gift feature |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Self-Funded |
| Investment Asked | $200,000 |
| Equity Offered | 8% |
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What Happened on the Shark Tank Episode?
The mother-son pair presents a very fun pitch with beautiful visuals. Just like their product, they get into a giant surprise cake and start their pitch. They demonstrate how the surprise pops out of the cake, followed by some music to enhance the vibe. They provide each Shark with a personal sample surprise cake, each containing exciting surprises. The Sharks were pleased to join in the fun.
The entrepreneur duo explains how their cakes can fit into any event and add their magic. You can have them for birthdays, gender reveal parties, and much more. Each Surprise Cake Stand comes with a special corer to cut a perfect hole for the gift cylinder.
They recommend getting a cake with no decorations in the center and using extra frosting to cover the top of the cylinder. You can also get a stand with a plate if you want to stack cupcakes. Since the stand is spring-loaded, it requires no batteries. It’s reusable and hand-washable too.
The basic stand costs $37, but the most popular item is the stand with the music box trigger and cupcake plate for $68. The products are in stock on Amazon and ready to ship.
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What Makes Surprise Cake Unique?
The Surprise Cakes Popping Stand is a cake accessory designed to spice up any celebration with an element of surprise. It has a secret spot inside where you can hide gifts like money, notes, or toys. When you push a button (or use a remote on some models), the hidden spot pops open, and the surprise comes out.
It’s also made to be easy to use. It’s safe for food, and you can use it over and over again. You can put it in any cake, whether you made it or bought it, and it won’t mess up the cake. You can put all sorts of surprises in it, like money for a special cake, a ring for an engagement, a birthday message, or to reveal if it’s a boy or girl.
Find more interesting posts about different businesses that appeared on Shark Tank on the Shark Tank Blog. Also, read the article The Surprise Cake – Jack in the Box Cake Stand for additional information about the company Surprise Cake.
Did Surprise Cake Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Liz and Jordan enter the Tank seeking $200,000 for 8% of their business. They make quite a splash, jumping out of a life-sized cake. Unfortunately, that was the high point of their pitch.
The Sharks point out one too many problems with the business, from the business model to the product. Kevin explains that mixing cakes and gifts together is a bad idea when it comes to doing business, as gifts have no shelf life, but cakes do. While selling cakes, there are many things one needs to keep in mind.
Barbara Ann Corcoran guesses that maybe because the entrepreneurs aren’t able to make enough sales with the “cake stand” alone, they are selling cakes with it, too.
Kevin points out that each piece could be sold only once because the stands are reusable, so no family is going to buy it again. The entrepreneurs say that they plan to curate gift pods that will ensure customers come back for more business. Mark feels that is a horrible idea.
Shark Lori Greiner likes their idea; she feels it could become a family tradition. The only thing she did not like very much was the high valuation.
The Sharks unilaterally think the duo isn’t focused enough to make the company good for an investor. All the Sharks decline to make an offer, and they leave with no deal.
What Happened to Surprise Cake After Shark Tank?
The Shark Tank Blog keeps track of the businesses that appear on Shark Tank. We provide updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs and the company, as well as anything that happened after the show. Even though they did not get a deal, the company continues to sell products. They are very active on their social media pages, and it appears they’ll continue to do business for quite some time. The company also added cake stands and cake-carrying kits to their line.
In the spring of 2022, they began shipping cakes direct to recipients. The 4-inch cakes come in a box that, when opened, shoots confetti out; you can pick from a dozen different flavors for the cakes and customize the box with photos, handwritten phrases, gift cards, champagne, stuffed animals, and more. They start at $54.99 and go up as you customize. All Surprise Cakes ship next day air. As of July 2024, annual revenue is $1-$2 million, and the company’s net worth is $3.5 million.
Where Can You Buy It?
Make celebrations unforgettable with Surprise Cake’s interactive, reveal-filled cakes, available on their official website. Ditch the ordinary desserts and find a truly unique experience by ordering your Surprise Cake from Amazon.
For more information about the company and their show-stopping cakes, visit their website. Stay updated on their latest designs and party ideas by following them on social media.
Quick Summary
- Liz Charm and Jordan Long seek $200,000 for 8% equity in Surprise Cake, a cake stand that reveals a hidden gift when triggered, creating a memorable surprise for special occasions.
- Despite their energetic presentation, the Sharks express concerns about the duo’s focus and scalability, ultimately deciding not to invest.
- Post-Shark Tank, Surprise Cake continues to thrive, expanding its product line and shipping customizable surprise cakes, with annual revenue reaching $1-$2 million as of July 2024.
