S16.E07: Coordinates; Gnome Advent Calendar; Snow Scholars; Wildcoat

[CrazyInAlabama]

New 12/13/2024  (This is probably the midseason break until January).

Sharks- Kevin, Lori,  Mark, Robert, Daymond  (Holiday Theme)

The Shark Tank is transformed into a winter wonderland, and entrepreneurs present Sharks with business opportunities that celebrate the magic of the holiday season.

Coordinates-  Matching pajamas and loungewear.   Family focused pajama and loungewear business.   Seeking $100,000 for 10%.   They do coordinated branding for events, like the upcoming U.S. Olympics.  Husband was a football player with two Super Bowl rings,   wife is track and field four time, Olympic Gold Medalist in the 400 meters.  She’s the American record holder 48.7 seconds.    The couple have been wearing matching outfits since freshman year in college.    They have the license for the USOC Olympics, exclusive loungewear and pajama brand for the 2028 L.A. Olympics.  The print on the pjs is positive words, and Robert loves that. 

Kevin is out, not his wheelhouse.  Mark is out for the same reason.  Lori is out for the same reason too.  Daymond says company is a powerhouse, but it’s too early for him.   They need money, relationships, and mentorship.

Robert says change the name to reflect what the business is, they need branding help.  Robert wants to help the presenters.   They’re open to changing the branding.  $100,000 for 25%.  Daymond offers $100,000 for 20%.

They make the deal with Robert $100,000, for 20%.

 

Gnome Advent Calendar-Advent calendars for a variety of holidays, Christmas has 24 Gnomes, Valentine’s, Easter and Halloween 31 Gnomes .     Seeking $45,000 for 10%. Each calendar day has a unique, handcrafted gnome stuffie.  The Christmas calendar is a 24 days of gnomes, other holidays are fewer gnomes.   The gnomes are 12” tall.  They are online only. Christmas is $147 retail, costs $47 to make and ship.    Sales are $160,000 over 18 months, sold on Tic Tok shop, and their own online, no marketing money.   She uses influencers.     Gnomes are the top searches online.  Kevin, Robert, and Daymond say they’re too cheap.  Robert is out, says keep running it without investors.  Lori is out. Mark is out, says raise retail prices.  Daymond made a deal with Wendy’s Gnome Shop, so he’s out. Kevin says stay in-house, and he’s out.

(Yes, people will spend $147 for their kids to get more stuffed animals.)

No deal. She doesn’t need a Shark.  I bet being on the show will increase her business a lot.  

Snow Scholars Student Snow Removal – Operates on six college campuses across the country. Seeking $ 75,000 for 10%.  Full season and vacation plans, either shoveling, salting and sanding for where ever the homeowners wants.  On two campuses, expanding to four more this year.  Average cost is $74.56, competitors charge much more, they shovel at 1”.    They have their own software.  $116,000, profited over $80,000.   Shovelers make $100 plus per day, and the shovelers can decide how many homes they shovel.       Kevin offers $75,000 for 25%.  Daymond has a similar business, offers $75,000 for 25%.   Lori is out.  Robert questions scaling the business, and he's out.   Mark will give $150,000 for 20%

Deal with Mark $150,000 for 20%.  

Wildcoats Animal Winter Coats-  Animal look coats for winter skiing.   Seeking $350,000 for 10%. I’m out, I think they look ridiculous. Adjustable hood that fits over a helmet, seven oversized pockets.  you can detach the clawed mittens.    They all try on the coats, and look bizarre.  They have polar bears, wolf, grizzlies, tiger, pandas and all faux fur.  $449 for the coat, any version.  Margins are decent, all online sales.     Sales are $500,000 last year, project $700,000 this year.     Robert has to mention Tipsy Elves.   They broke even last year.  Kevin is out, valuation is ridiculous.   Lori is out, too niche.  Mark says too niche, he's out, and says raise their prices.   Daymond offers $350,000 for 30%, but wants to expand the line by licensing gloves, etc.   Robert offers $350,000 for 25%.   Daymond want to license mittens, etc.  Both Daymond and Robert go to 23%. Daymond and Robert won't partner up. 

Deal with Robert for $350,000 for 23%. 

Update- Heather’s Choice-Gourmet camping food.  Sharks gave her advice, and she was broke, no deal.   She’s received a bunch of feedback from the Sharks and others.   She has a co-manufacturer in the continental U.S. and co-packing partner by the end of the year.  $1 million sales in the last 7 months, and doing better.   (I’m shocked she’s still in business.  I think this is the Shark Tank effect, coming on the show gave her a huge bump in sales, and she finally listened to what the Sharks and everyone else told her.)

Edited December 14 by CrazyInAlabama

[Kleav]

$147 for an advent calendar seems ridiculous. Are there really people who would pay 300?

[DrSpaceman73]

7 hours ago, Kleav said:

$147 for an advent calendar seems ridiculous. Are there really people who would pay 300?

I've never seen the appeal of advent calendars period. 

 

Wildcoats was the best one. But I would have gone with daymond.  I like robert but he's awful cocky over one successful clothing brand whereas daymond pointed out, it's been his whole life. 

[CrazyInAlabama]

8 hours ago, Kleav said:

$147 for an advent calendar seems ridiculous. Are there really people who would pay 300?

Yes, see the update on Heather's meals, they were dramatically overpriced, but they're selling well.   

[bilgistic]

The snow shovelers that those college kids hire make more per hour ($25!!) than I do with 25+ years of work experience.

Don't get an English degree and work in marketing, folks.🙃

[SG429]

That's two shows in a row with themed/matching family clothes. How do these premium products ever compete with the same, but cheaper, (and just as tacky imo) silk-screened novelties at Walmart?

Edited December 14 by SG429

[Quickbeam]

Interesting show. I thought the female Olympian with the pajamas doesn’t listen. She talked over all the sharks. Good luck Robert. 
 

Advent calendars have blown up in the past few years. I know people with 4 or 5 they display every year. I don’t get it but it’s big out there. 
 

If only I could get some college kid to shovel my walk. The UW business doesn’t come out as far as my town. They should do more in the southern WI area, my Nextdoor feed is filled with people who can’t find shoveling service. 

[bilgistic]

18 hours ago, SG429 said:

That's two shows in a row with themed/matching family clothes. How do these premium products ever compete with the same, but cheaper, (and just as tacky imo) silk-screened novelties at Walmart?

I immediately thought of Old Navy. They've had matching pajama sets for the whole family for years.

[seacliffsal]

With this episode it seems that Robert has taken the clothing 'crown' from Daymond.  Daymond mentioned his numerous businesses and the success of Bombas socks, but Robert has Tipsy Elves, the butter cloth guy, and other successful companies.  It seems that Robert has more of a large scale niche.

It also seemed in the episode that the Sharks don't understand the financial reality of a lot of viewers.  When the gnome presenter (and I personally don't understand the huge appeal of gnomes) said her Christmas advent was $147, the Sharks all encouraged her to raise her prices.  What?  I thought $147 was a lot.  Then, Mark told the wildcoat guy to raise his prices (and his wildcats were $499 each).  Both of those items are well out of my budget range (although the advent calendar does seem reasonable relative to how many stuffed toys are included).  And, they are actively encouraging them to raise the prices even higher.  Come on folds, at least pretend that you know what it's like to have to budget and live within one's means.

[bilgistic]

I'd argue that only Daymond and Robert remember where they came from. Barbara also didn't come from much, but she's so out of touch from the regular person now. Mark at least tries to give back and used his wealth for some good. I've used his pharmacy service even when I had insurance because it was cheaper.

[DEL901]

58 minutes ago, bilgistic said:

I'd argue that only Daymond and Robert remember where they came from. Barbara also didn't come from much, but she's so out of touch from the regular person now. Mark at least tries to give back and used his wealth for some good. I've used his pharmacy service even when I had insurance because it was cheaper.

Yeah, even when he gets annoying, I remember that Mark is doing some good and he has demonstrated you can make money and do good…he has priced the drugs he sells to cover cost of doing business plus a return of 15%.

[aemom]

On 12/14/2024 at 12:07 AM, Kleav said:

$147 for an advent calendar seems ridiculous. Are there really people who would pay 300?

I was also actually expecting it to be that much based on what's in her calendar and the prices of others I've seen.

The craziest one I've seen is the Swarovski which is $1,000.

 

Maybe it's because of where I live, but the snow shoveling business would get zero traction here. People have contracts with snow contractors who come with their tractor snow blowing trucks and blow out your driveway for the season. They come when 1 inch of snow has fallen, and they typically make multiple passes per snowfall. My double wide driveway costs $350 for the entire winter, so $75 per visit seems insanely expensive to me.

[bilgistic]

I live in NC and have lived here all my life. The whole world here shuts down when a flake falls from the sky, so I don't know how you folks in the North deal with snow.😂

[DrSpaceman73]

20 hours ago, bilgistic said:

I live in NC and have lived here all my life. The whole world here shuts down when a flake falls from the sky, so I don't know how you folks in the North deal with snow.😂

I grew up in indiana and now live in NC

Much prefer NC idea of just staying home until it melts.  Which is usually a day or less

[Tango64]

Even aside from the price, who wants so many cheap throwaway plush toys from an advent calendar? From the three calendars on their website now, you'd end up with 58 of them! Hard no.

[DrSpaceman73]

1 hour ago, Tango64 said:

Even aside from the price, who wants so many cheap throwaway plush toys from an advent calendar? From the three calendars on their website now, you'd end up with 58 of them! Hard no.

Most people don't but some people Ike tchotchke crap as souvenirs of sort. 

[lh25]

3 hours ago, Tango64 said:

Even aside from the price, who wants so many cheap throwaway plush toys from an advent calendar? From the three calendars on their website now, you'd end up with 58 of them! Hard no.

That's what I was thinking.  I like gnomes, I have 5 of them around my house, but that's just too many for me.  And once a customer has them all, they probably won't be repeat a customer.

 

I wanted to make a drinking game - take a drink each time Robert mentioned Tipsy Elves.