The Scrubbie Didn’t Get a Shark Tank Deal – What Happened to the Company After the Show

The popular TV show Shark Tank saw a plethora of innovative products and passionate entrepreneurs vying for investment, and one of them was Scrubbie. The series is a renowned platform where entrepreneurs strictly follow Shark Tank rules and present your innovative products to a panel of wealthy investors. This opportunity can lead to life-changing deals or sometimes harsh rejections. The show has become a staple for showcasing entrepreneurial spirit and inventive ideas, giving viewers a front-row seat to high-stakes negotiations and the dynamics of business growth.

One of these products that hit the market Shark Tank The stage was The Scrubbie, an inventive cleaning tool designed by Jeff Dakin, Tyler Kessler and Matt Hosey. With the vision of improving daily cleaning tasks, the team hoped to secure an investment to launch their product on the market. Despite their evident passion, they did not deliver the best Shark Tank tone, and the outcome of the show took an unexpected turn. This set the stage for an intriguing post-Shark Tank journey, demonstrating that sometimes true victory lies beyond the confines of the show.

Lori Grenier Criticized The Scrubbie and He Didn’t Get a Shark Tank Deal

Lori Greiner thought the product was very similar to her other investment, Scrub Daddy

The Scrubbie is a versatile cleaning tool designed to attach to faucets and garden hoses, featuring a sponge that allows for efficient scrubbing and rinsing simultaneously. This innovation was born from Jeff Dakin’s idea when cleaning dishes, imagining a sprayer with an integrated sponge to make the process more efficient. Jeff, along with Tyler Kessler and Matt Hosey, developed this concept into a working prototype and began to gain local attention, particularly after introducing it at the 2019 Wichita Women’s Fair.

The opportunity to present Shark Tank came in season 12, episode 22, where they advocated an investment of US$100,000 in exchange for 10% equity. Initial feedback from Sharks was mixed, with concerns about the product’s industrial look and the viability of its subscription service model. Series regular Shark Lori Greiner, in particular, found the product’s branding too similar to her successful investment, Scrub Daddy, which led her to withdraw from negotiations. The other Sharks followed suit, citing problems with the company’s sales numbers and overall brand strategy.

The Scrubbie team struggled to provide convincing sales datarevealing just $13,000 in revenue, which didn’t inspire confidence. This lack of clarity, coupled with perceived similarities to existing products, caused all Sharks to squander the investment opportunity. Despite the disappointment, the team remained hopeful and promised to continue improving their product and business strategy.

Scrubbie even benefited from the Shark Tank effect (and launched a new product)

The Scrubbie Trio is extremely active on social media

Despite not reaching an agreement, Scrubbie experienced the so-called “Shark Tank Effect” – an increase in public interest and website traffic after the episode airs. His website received an influx of 70,000 visitors (via YouTube), leading to a significant increase in sales. The exposure allowed the team to reach a wider audience and build a customer base that appreciated the innovative cleaning tool.

Taking advantage of the momentum, The Scrubbie team has released an improved version of their product, The Scrubbie 2.0addressing some of the criticism they received on the show. The new version featured a more aesthetically pleasing design and improved functionality, aiming to appeal to a wider market. The team also received several acquisition offers and licensing deals, but chose to maintain control of the company, believing in the potential for greater long-term success.

Today, The Scrubbie continues to operate at a modest growth rate. They remain active on social media platforms like Instagram, showcasing the versatility and practicality of their product. Although they have not yet reached the heights they were aiming for, the founders are optimistic about the future and are committed to refining their product and expanding their presence in the market. The Scrubbie’s journey highlights the resilience and determination needed to succeed in the competitive world of entrepreneurship, proving that sometimes true victory lies beyond the limits of Shark Tank.

Other Great Products That Didn’t Get a Shark Tank Deal

Scrubbie wasn’t even the best product that Shark Tank investors passed on. That honor goes to DoorBot. In 2013, Jamie Siminoff presented his product and none of the sharks had any idea it would be successful. While everyone tossed around the doorbell camera idea, seeing no future for it, Smirnoff didn’t give up. He continued to work and improve before remaining with Ring. He sold Ring to Amazon five years later Shark Tank rejected his idea and won $1 billion on sale.

Another great example of rejection Shark Tank product is Eco Nuts, a washing powder made from the fruit peels of a soap tree. This makes it very environmentally friendly, and although it failed to land an investor, it has grown to a value of over $1 million. A food product called Kodiak Cakes is a family recipe introduced by Joel Clark. None of the investors were interested, but the company became worth more than $100 million in 2018.

Hammer and Nails was a nail salon aimed at men. Investors said no, but it’s now worth more than $100 million. Finally, there is the story of James Martin, who continued Shark Tank twice, but I never got a deal on either of them. The first appearance was in season 2, where Kevin O’Leary made him an offer for his patents, but he rejected the offer. The second time was in season 4, where he came back with US$5 million in sales for Copa Di Vino, but was still rejected. His company is now worth $67 million.

Sources: Forbes, YouTube