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
Thanks :)
Thanks Sylvia…“Wish I had babies…” :) In due time!
Thanks Julie! Be careful, Shark Tank is addicting!
Allison – congrats on your second! I am due in a month with my third! Have a great pregnancy.
Thanks Anne!
We totally agree! We lucked out!
Thank you for sharing the article and your kinds words or support.
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.
Thanks for your support Fabiana!
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.
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!
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!
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.
I saw you on Sharktank a few months back, and was just browsing thebump.com (I’m 20 weeks pregnant) and there was your product!
It must be so cool :) Way to go. I hope your business keeps on growing! Best of luck.
Thank you for the kind words!
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!!
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! :)
thanks for your support!
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 supporting our business! Mark and Robert are awesome to work with!