A Look Back at Shark Tank
Posted on February 07 2013
Lollacup in line at the Shark Tank Season 3 Open Casting Call
Our episode of Shark Tank is re-airing tonight on ABC at 8 p.m., so I thought I would take a stroll down memory lane.
Although our actual segment on Shark Tank only lasted 10+ minutes, we stood negotiating in front of the sharks for well over an hour. It was an incredibly stressful yet exhilarating experience. How often does one have an idea, turn it into a product, and then pitch the business to moguls like the "sharks"!
Things I never want to forget:
- Getting called back after each round of casting
- Landing, not one, but TWO sharks as investors/business partners
- The fun viewing party we had with close friends and family at our old high school, where Mark and I met
- Running [and growing] this business, hand-in-hand, with my husband
- Opening my email inbox after our Shark Tank segment aired and seeing 3000+ emails.
- Receiving our first email from Mark Cuban and Robert Herjavec
- All the amazing people we've met as a result of this business and being on the show
- All the friends, family, colleagues, and strangers who've helped us get to this point
Things I'd like to forget:
- Mark spilling a bottle of water down his shirt moments before our taping
- The eternal wait in between each round of casting
- Wondering if we would ever get the chance to pitch in front of the sharks
- Going on backorder for months soon after our segment aired = a lot of lost revenue for a small business like ours
- The incredible stresses [& sleepless nights] of owning and running a small business
Overall, our experience on Shark Tank has been like the gift that keeps on giving. Now that it's been about a year since we first appeared on Shark Tank, people often ask us, "Was it worth it?" and "Would you do it again?" Absolutely! One thing I learned about entrepreneurship is that you have to seize every opportunity, and not take luck and timing for granted.
41 comments
Saw you guys the first time your episode aired on shark tank and my cousin purchased the pink cup for my now 9th month old daughter for Christmas. My daughter has absolutely refused bottles and was breastfeeding every two hours! we have tried every bottle and sippy cup on the market and then just about a month ago I saw your lollacup just sitting there and tried it and she now drinks out of a straw no problem! It was a life saver! I love the cup and my daughter thinks its funny when I close the lid to hide the straw and the face pops up! My only suggestion would be that I wish the cup had measurements letting me know how many ounces she is drinking! Best of luck!
Jennifer – Thanks for sharing this story with us. We are working on adding measurement markings, so hopefully soon!
Karen – We did get the exact deal we made on tv, and they are AWESOME partners…just the right amount of involvement and an excellent resource!
I’m completely in love with your product. As soon as your segment was over, I turned to my husband and said, “go get your credit card…or else!” ;) I’m excited to receive it and for my 10 month old to try it…and ENJOY IT. Will be keeping up with you guys via FB & Twitter. Looking forward to more! Congratulations!
Hey. My name is Justin with Etchpressions,LLC. Loved your segmant.. We have a great idea that goes into any market that i would like to take to shark tank.. Can you kinda give me a couple of tips on how to start the process. Ive applied via email to casting, but wondered when they do open auditions.
Just saw this on C&L: http://crooksandliars.com/susie-madrak/shark-tank-vulture-chides-couple-maki
SOOOOOO glad to know you didn’t take up Kevin O’Leary’s so-called ‘offer’ to take 50% of your profit while forcing you to manufacture in China! I know it’s unfair to regard EVERY Chinese product as cheap, nasty and unsafe, but the track record has been so abysmal, the first thing I do is look on the label to see where it’s made – if it’s Chinese, I pass. Particularly when it comes to anything to do with food. I prefer my clothing without formaldehyde and my food without melamine.
I wish you both huge success, and hope you start exporting them as well – I’m sure there are a lot of Australian parents who’d snap them up in a heartbeat!
I loved watching your segment on SharkTank. It is great to see a great couple with a terrific couple get the investors you did. I love Mark and Robert – what terrific partners! Thanks!
As a new mommy of a 7 month old baby girl, I am thrilled to have come across your product! I am constantly in search of baby products made in the USA, and was deeply impressed by your refusal to take production overseas. My husband and I are HAPPY to pay extra for a product we can trust, that keeps dollars in the hands of small business owners and whose manufacturing pays a living wage.
We have an order in for our first Lollacup! Best of luck to you and we will be on the look out for more American-made innovations from you in the future.
Thanks for your support Fabiana!
Justin – We literally checked the website daily – they will one day post the open casting call schedule. We applied online, but made progress by attending the open casting call.
Thank you for sharing the article and your kinds words or support.
We totally agree! We lucked out!
Thanks Anne!
Just ordered an orange Lollacup. I like the product, and I also like the philosophy of your company, which is to offer a product that’s made in the USA. I always look for products that are made in the USA because I would like to support our economy. (FYI: Robert Herjavec & Mark Cuban are my 2 favorite sharks. They’re nice.)
thanks for supporting our business! Mark and Robert are awesome to work with!
After seeing you and your product on Shark Tank I was greatly impressed. I’m buying cups for my twin grandchildren. Your decision to keep production in the states had me cheering for you. Like others here I check labels and prefer to buy American when I can even if it means spending a bit more. Thanks for staying true to yourselves!
thanks for your support!
I just wanted to say I caught that episode with you on it and then tonight I was on a mommy blog and saw your button (and recognized the sippy cup!) in a sidebar. Shark Tank is one of my favorite shows! I love to see start-up businesses thriving! How wonderful! Congratulations! :)
Just saw you on a re-run of Shark Tank, it’s Monday 08/19/2013 and I had to look you guys up. I thought your presentation was fantastic, I love the idea of your product and would certainly buy/order if I had a young child. However, I am the mother of a 20 year old, so I have no need for your product, but as a fellow entrepreneur, I wish you nothing but the best!!
Thank you for the kind words!