Viewers are always curious to know what happens to the contestants on Shark Tank after they have appear on the show. Does their idea become a success or do they fail in the long run? Does getting an investment help them make a success of their business or are they still unable to make a profit? We bring you details of what happened to four of the business ideas that were once pitched to the investors on Shark Tank.
Over the years, Shark Tank has become necessary viewing for millions of viewers all across the United States.
Shark Tank is an American reality television series that showcases aspiring and ambitious entrepreneurs as they present their business models to a pre-selected panel of five “shark” investors. If the sharks like the pitch, they negotiate a deal to invest in the business idea or product.
The show has been a success for ABC ever since it first aired on August 9, 2009, and has already completed nine seasons in America. We bring you details of what happened to some of the contestants’ businesses after they appeared on Shark Tank.
#1. ZinePak
Kim Kaupe(Left) & Brittany Hodak(Right), Owner of ZinePak. Credits:Facebook/SharkTank
Owners: Kim Kaupe & Brittany Hodak
The Product
ZinePak is an entertainment agency that helps the world’s top entertainers and brands engage with millions of their fans.
It produces unique, content-driven promotional items like collectibles, magazines, and mixed media packages that help in boosting album and product sales. By interacting with fans, it turns consumers into superfans.
ZinePak after Shark Tank
On Shark Tank, the duo accepted an offer of $725,000 investment for 17.5% of their company from the sharks Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec.
Today, ZinePak is growing at a fast rate by lending their typical creativity in superfan products that range from album packaging, music festivals exclusives, photos, interactive interviews, swag, tickets, and more.
Basically, when a fan buys a ticket to a concert, they receive a ZinePak that not only includes the ticket itself, but also includes loads of extras that any fan would find appealing.
The business has grown steadily, and the company now operates from New York City where all the action takes place, in an office that now employs over 35 people.
ZinePak is among the 2% of women-owned businesses that make more than a million dollars in revenue a year. All their employees are currently women, and they create a family-like atmosphere when they work with clients.
Kaupe and Hodak are proud of the fact that repeat clients account for more than 75% of their business, which shows that they do really high-quality work and their clients are more than satisfied.
They have now added some seriously big names to their roster of clientele, too! Taylor Swift, Justin Bieber, KISS, The Beach Boys, and many more have all been clients of ZinePak!
Currently, they are very excited about a particular project of theirs where they are working with a company called Ace Comic-Con on new and exciting properties.
#2. SnagaStool
Jamie Manning, Owner of SnagaStool. Credits:Instagram/snagastool
Owners: Jamie Manning & Dean Whitney
The Product
SnagaStool is the first mobile app through which you can get your favorite seat at the bar. This way, you get the best seat, the best view, and the best service at the bar. Not only that, you also get an uninterrupted view of the television and get to chat with the helpful bartender.
The way it works is that you can use the app to book a seat at any bar that partners with the SnagaStool company, long before you even reach the bar. This ensures that you never end up in a situation where you go to your favorite bar and find that all the seats are taken, and you have no place to sit!
SnagaStool after Shark Tank
SnagaStool is still working but has had limited growth as it is available only on the Apple App Store.
But the founders are still playing up the fact that they were featured on Shark Tank by using it’s logo on their header photo. They have struck some deals so far with services such as Lyft, which includes a $50 credit towards a ride.
However, SnagaStool is facing fierce competition from other similar services like the popular dinner reservation service, OpenTable, who has spotted the potential in reserving seats in bars. They have now added this particular feature to their service offering.
#3. Buck Mason
Sasha Koehn(Left) & Erik Allen Ford(Right), Owner of Buck Mason. (Credits:Facebook/buckmasonusa)
Owners: Sasha Koehn & Erik Allen Ford
The Product
Buck Mason has earned a substantial following among men who value quality fabrics and prefer clothes in classic styles.
Buck Mason stays away from frills and short-time trends and offers clothes that do not have dominant logos, unique silhouettes, and tacky decorations.
Instead, they provide wardrobe essentials like jeans, fitted T-shirts in subdued colors, swim trunks, cotton sweaters, and bomber and moto jackets. They deliberately have a limited collection, and unlike many big brands, their products are flying out of the shops.
Buck Mason after Shark Tank
Buck Mason is taking a slow and steady approach towards growing their business. By 2019, they plan to open seven brick and mortar stores across the United States, which is a big achievement considering that they started their venture only in 2013.
They will continue to sell their products on their successful e-commerce platform, as well.
Buck Mason has focused on slow, scalable growth, and that strategy has seemingly paid off. So far, they have designed only 60 products, but their clients absolutely love them.
Hence Buck Mason opened stores in Silver Lake, California, in 2016 and the New York store in 2017. They now plan to open two more stores in New York in 2018 and another one in Los Angeles, California. In 2019, Buck Mason will open their first store in Texas.
Buck Mason is also investing in pop-up stores across the United States.
They operate a mobile retail concept which is called “The Open Road” and is a 1997 GMC school bus entirely converted to a functioning retail store. This gives them the freedom to sell their products at any place convenient to them. Their goal is to cover all 50 states in America in 2018.
#4. Noene USA
Owner: Brian Scott
The Product
Noene USA are hi-tech insoles that absorb and distribute both high and low-frequency energy that enters the wearer’s body whenever he or she is jumping, walking, or running.
Most consumers buy flimsy insoles that are inefficient, while Scott proves that his product is superior with a physical demonstration. Scott bounces a ball on the insoles, and the ball bounces back proving that the insoles will reflect the energy back up into our bodies. This is called the “rebound effect.”
Scott finally made a deal on Shark Tank with two sharks who invested $200,000 in exchange for a 30% stake in his company.
Noene USA after Shark Tank
Noene USA is doing quite well today, and their website shows the many receipts of shipments delivered to their consumers. There are just two products currently, the Noene Invisible and the Noene Dance Lite.
The Noene Invisible is meant for shoes of all types and sells for $29.99, while the Noene Dance Lite is meant for women’s heels and shoes. Dance Lite is focused more on fashion and design rather than on everyday utility and sells for $39.99.
The men’s insoles come in a range of sizes and are available from a men’s size 6 to all the way to a men’s size 14. Scott is very positive about his business and believes that his superior product will outsell other lower quality competitors. Only time will tell!
