Shark Tank is currently in its 13th season, and it’s well-known that even companies that don’t make it past the pitch phase benefit from a boost in sales known as the “‘Shark Tank’ effect.”
But there’s no denying that some products have been significantly more successful than others and helped some creators stop living paycheck to paycheck.
Following is a look at some of the most successful products in the show’s history.
Sand Cloud
Sand Cloud is an eco-friendly Turkish cotton towel that’s resistant to sand and ultra-absorbent. Part of the proceeds from every Sand Cloud sale go to an environmental charity
When Sand Cloud appeared on “Shark Tank,” they struck a deal with Robert Herjavec. By 2018, the company was making nearly $7 million in revenue.
Ring
This product uses motion-sensing technology to allow home dwellers to monitor who is at their front door. It is popular, so it may surprise you to know that the “Shark Tank” sharks actually rejected the product.
All the sharks declined to invest in the company when it appeared on the show in 2013. In 2018, Ring was famously sold to Amazon for more than $1 billion.
Everlywell
The founders of Everlywell saw it as their mission to bring easy and affordable lab testing to people across the country.
In 2017, Everlywell appeared on “Shark Tank,” where they won over Lori Greiner. Since then, they’ve built an empire of accessible testing that includes screening for colon cancer. Last year, the company was valued at $2.9 billion.
Bombas
Bombas is an apparel company best known for making comfortable socks. The company is also famous for its social mission, which proves that philanthropy and entrepreneurship can mix. For every item sold, a clothing item is donated to someone in need.
Since appearing on “Shark Tank” in 2014, Bombas has had major success, topping $100 million in revenue by 2018.
Simply Fit Board
The Simply Fit Board is a curved piece of plastic designed for people to stand on. It forces you to stabilize your body by using your core muscles, which the company says will help tone your body and define your shape.
Obviously, this was a desirable promise to a lot of people. After appearing on “Shark Tank,” the Simply Fit Board saw sales jump from $575,000 to $9 million in less than a year.
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Squatty Potty
Whether or not it’s pleasant to talk about, our habits in the bathroom have a serious bearing on our well-being. The Squatty Potty is a product with a simple mission: To fix posture in a way that helps prevent health issues such as hemorrhoids and colon problems.
The business owners won over the sharks with their practical and straightforward product. By 2019, the company had done $164 million in sales.
Scrub Daddy
With its smiling face and fun colors, Scrub Daddy is the cutest kitchen sponge around. It also offers flexible functionality by staying firm in cold water and softening in hot water.
Scrub Daddy’s “Shark Tank” episode aired back in 2012. Since then, the company has sold more than 10 million units.
Safe Grabs
How many times have you gone to remove something from the microwave only to accidentally burn your skin? Cyndi Lee, who founded the 8-in-1 silicone mat Safe Grabs, set out to fix this problem.
Although she failed to make it through the “Shark Tank” auditions twice, it turns out that the third time was the charm. And thank goodness she did make it through — in the three years after appearing on “Shark Tank,” Safe Grabs was a profitable startup and doing $5 million in sales.
Bantam Bagels
Every once in a while, a food product appears on “Shark Tank” and blows the sharks away. Bantam Bagels was an example of this — and it’s no wonder since these cream cheese-stuffed bagels were undeniably delicious.
Since appearing on the show in 2015, Bantam Bagels has scored a deal to appear in Starbucks stores. While they had $200,000 in sales before appearing on “Shark Tank,” their sales jumped to $2 million after their appearance.
Kodiak Cakes
Here’s another product that was rejected by the sharks but still made it big post-”Shark Tank.” Kodiak Cakes are a line of pancake and other sweet mixes that promise big taste and healthy ingredients.
Even though they didn’t get a deal on the show, the company’s owners still benefited from the “Shark Tank” effect. They appeared on the show in 2014, and by 2018 they were bringing in $100 million in sales.
Bottom line
Not everyone with a great business idea has the opportunity to appear on “Shark Tank.” By some estimates, just over half of those who make it on the show end up leaving with a deal.
But there are still lessons that the rest of us can glean from the “Shark Tank” experience. Perseverance is really everything since most of these items would have never made it onto product shelves if their creators had given up on the first failure.
If you have a product in the works, don’t be afraid to ask around within your network to see who may be interested. Even if your idea doesn't make you rich, it could help you make some extra cash.
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