Shark Tank Master Thread, Episode Discussion

[DeletedUser12]

I guess I'm a sucker for nicely designed things, but I thought the floating mug was pretty innovative and has potential when combined with the glass idea.

 

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[samuraijack]

Do you guys think that some of these successful shark tank ideas or ideas in general could have been formed without being directly exposed to the need/problem?

Or is it just that a greater amount of effort has to be put in to find a need if one isn't obvious to you?

 

[Vigilante]

So much drama on that show.

Not half as much as in here.

 

[GuestUser113]

Not half as much as in here.

I liked roominate. I also like the sleeping baby & kronos putter. Favorite quote from o'leary "i've been rich & poor, rich is better." lol

Those folks with the wedding van was by far the stupidest. Let me sell this to go start it in Miami. Let me sell Miami & start it in New York. smfh.

 

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[LOYD]

^^^^I could not for the life of me understand why they sold the Vegas market away despite acknowledging that it's the top market for weddings.

 

[KLaw]

They kept hammering on the young ladies (roominate - i think) with.. "but you must make your sell through". What exactly does that mean? Thanks.

 

[ShadowX]

What do you think on dragons den? It's like a UK version of the programme.

I'm surprised we are allowed to watch these lol, I always thought "Oh it's a waste of time, full of mental masturbation.", but I do find these shows useful though. So not all TV is a waste of time that's good.

 

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[LOYD]

They kept hammering on the young ladies (roominate - i think) with.. "but you must make your sell through". What exactly does that mean? Thanks.

Sell through is basically the ratio of what you send to a retailer vs what is actually sold in the stores. That's one of the double edged swords with retail. Just because your product is in Toys R Us doesn't guarantee it'll all sell. That's what they meant. They wanted to see that what they had already sent to the retailer was going to sell.

 

[KLaw]

Sell through is basically the ratio of what you send to a retailer vs what is actually sold in the stores. That's one of the double edged swords with retail. Just because your product is in Toys R Us doesn't guarantee it'll all sell. That's what they meant. They wanted to see that what they had already sent to the retailer was going to sell.

Thats what I thought but these folks are in start-up mode. Obviously, it depends on their future sales. I just thought it was odd they were hammering on that point. As a potential investor that is the risk you must evaluate. It almost seemed as if Barbara was dogging them because they haven't sold off their inventory - yet.

 

[LOYD]

Thats what I thought but these folks are in start-up mode. Obviously, it depends on their future sales. I just thought it was odd they were hammering on that point. As a potential investor that is the risk you must evaluate. It almost seemed as if Barbara was dogging them because they haven't sold off their inventory - yet.

I think the biggest reason was because they were in the toy industry which is incredibly competitive. And holiday seasons are make or break for toys. Having Sharks on board and the exposure of the show will definitely help in that regard. But they probably wouldn't have hammered in the sell through as much if it were any other industry.

 

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[Drive2Riches]

Anyone know where to watch these online?

It's available on Hulu (or HuluPlus subscr) the day after it airs... available for 35 days.

 

[smarty]

It's available on Hulu (or HuluPlus subscr) the day after it airs... available for 35 days.

Or youtube

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[RHL]

Alright, so I finally finished the new episodes... just have so much going on this weekend.

So, my thoughts-1, I the phone charge thing... I think that could be a big money maker at airports, because one of the problems with those stupid "charging stations" is that you have to stand around like an idiot amid the bussle of SEATAC or LAX at a table with no seat while your phone regenerates, leaving it while eating is a way better option. Last time I was in Las Vegas, some guys opened up a sealed off socket with a screwdriver and managed to get their phones charging off of it, so this definitely does solve a huge need. However, it suffered a classic problem that afflicted other products, including the girl's building set:

It took something that worked and made it different (and not as well) for the sake of being original and trying to live off the dregs left behind by the clear leader.

In this case, all these guys needed was to jetison the scanner and make it a locker-type system, where people insert a dollar in quarters (have a change machine nearby), and they pull a little key out that locks the phone in its holder. Then, you come back in an hour when it's charged, with a large bank of these chargers you'd not only be able to sell ad space but make $30-50/hr on what's likely <$1 expenditure. Come back, insert your key, get your phone. There's no reason to have the casing be clear either, that's just inviting criminals to avoid stealing the Net-10 clamshell and make their most concerted attempt at the iPhone6. Putting it behind the bar would prevent theft, it could be like a concierge service where your key is passed over the bar and the bartender unlocks it, so unscrupulous individuals won't be prying at it too. Best of all, you could build a setup like this for about $20, $70 if you wanted to make it look sexy. Damn, I should be on Shark Tank.

With the girl's toy, I felt kinda bad for them. Anyone who gets into MIT is a genius, and Cal-Tech is nearly as good, but in this space, Lego is the internal combustion engine, while everyone else is bicycle cars, sail cars, unicycles, fuel cells, etc. They all sort of work, and some even get popular, but ultimately, when someone has done your thing so well for so long, you're not going to grab a substantial market share just by being different, especially when different always means slightly worse. Their playsets looked flimsy and airy and confusing, unlike legos, which can often look like a picture-perfect representation of the real thing with enough blocks. It doesn't take into account that lego could release a new pastel line with girl models on the front and a $20M ad campaign and put them out of business in a weekend if they wanted to.

I agree with whoever said that Cuban was betting on them and not the product. The product's traction was impressive but it was ultimately not as great as the potential of those two. I think this is why Harvard, MIT, etc. grads (like ex-Navy SEALS) are so successful even when they completely depart from their field of study, not because they went to a great school, but because they got in and through their programs by being brilliant, being focused, taking action, and kicking a$$.

The swaddle will probably be the biggest product, but nothing in the show really blew my mind the way that vibrating paoramic photo app or others (Sal's wasn't mind blowing as a design as much as "how in the heck has a patent not been filed on this like 50 years ago") did.

 

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[Turner]

What do you think on dragons den? It's like a UK version of the programme.

I'm surprised we are allowed to watch these lol, I always thought "Oh it's a waste of time, full of mental masturbation.", but I do find these shows useful though. So not all TV is a waste of time that's good.

I like the Canadian version of Dragons Den. It was where O'leary and Herjavic got their start and have since been poached by ABC to do Shark Tank exclusively. It is interesting to see the two of them before Hollywood took over. The quality of entrepeneurs on DD is not near as great as Shark Tank but DD is more "real" and less polished, scripted, and dare I say it, phoney than ST. DD provides updates on pitchers whose deals both worked out and did not vs. the rosy and scripted ST updates. I watch both but lean towards ST as I like O'leary and Cuban.

 

[Tiago]

The Hammer and Nails idea was OK in my opinion, but as Daymond said, you've got to upsell it. Put a bar in it, a tailor and maybe a cigar room. But I absolutely loved how he spoke, very strong story telling skills.

 

[RHL]

I thought Hammer and Nails was cringeworthy. For straight men it's often enough of a Rubicon to move from using your teeth to using nail clippers. You're not going to convince me to pay $30 to get my toenails taken care of when I pay $11 to get my hair cut.

 

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[smarty]

You're not going to convince me to pay $30 to get my toenails taken care of when I pay $11 to get my hair cut.

$11 for a hair cut, holy crap. It's $1.5 in my country

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[MJ DeMarco]

You're not going to convince me to pay $30 to get my toenails taken care of when I pay $11 to get my hair cut.

I'm probably in the minority here, but I've had GF's drag me to the salon to get a variety of things, facials, manicures, pedicures and they're worth every dollar. And in each instance (yea, its happened several times) I found myself saying "Wow, I wish they had this shit for men because Ill never come in here solo." I don't think the Hammer/Nails is such a bad idea, but agree that more add on services would be needed to make it Fastlane Franchisable.

 

[socaldude]

OMG the charging station was absolutely horrible.

Yeah a bar is gonna pay $2k so people can charge their phone.

If my phone is running low on battery I simply charge it in my car.

There are so many other better and way cheaper alternatives.

And if you are drunk? SMH.

 

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[socaldude]

I think the Hammer and Nails idea would be better if they get rid of the nail salon association. Instead how about a men's grooming salon that targets the hip hop crowd and professionals. Hair cuts, facial hair, pedicures etc. An all in one service. Your hair, your feet, your face everything. Make it look hip and luxurious. The first thing I would think if i heard "a nail salon for men" would be hell no. But, mens grooming club? way better. Get rid of the words "salon" and "nails", its way too feminine. And plus it won't cost that much more money to offer more services. Thats how powerful associations are in marketing and branding. be careful.

 

[RHL]

I think the Hammer and Nails idea would be better if they get rid of the nail salon association. Instead how about a men's grooming salon that targets the hip hop crowd and professionals. Hair cuts, facial hair, pedicures etc. An all in one service. Your hair, your feet, your face everything. Make it look hip and luxurious. The first thing I would think if i heard "a nail salon for men" would be hell no. But, mens grooming club? better. And plus it won't cost that much more money to offer more services. Thats how powerful associations are in marketing and branding. be careful.

This is incredibly accurate.

 

[JustKris]

Was out with friends yesterday---they said as soon as they saw the SleepingBaby swaddle, they paused the TV and ordered one IMMEDIATELY. They're going to be huge.

The wedding van was one of the worst pitches I've seen on Shark Tank. Who sells their Las Vegas van? And why couldn't anyone just buy a van and perform the saddest wedding ceremonies on earth?

The little guy who wanted to beat up the Sharks---oh my God, that was hilarious. His friends are going to make fun of that for years. Take it easy, Napoleon. It's just a TV show.

 

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[SJVC]

@ShadowX I think the UK's 'Dragons Den' is much worse in terms of businesses and production value. It's actually encouraging because some of the businesses that get funded can be so rubbish.

For Hammer and Nails - they need to re-brand it as a male grooming place that focuses on all male grooming opposed to just nails.

Also thought the second product from the floating mug guy was overlooked, it needed some refinement but that actually solves a need as Kevin said.

 

[AubreyJ]

The wedding van was one of the worst pitches I've seen on Shark Tank. Who sells their Las Vegas van? And why couldn't anyone just buy a van and perform the saddest wedding ceremonies on earth?

I thought it was a terrible pitch and a terrible idea. I don't know about other people, but I would rather go to Justice of the Peace than get married out of a van. The fact that they essentially sold their business in Vegas was a huge mistake, but aside from that I just thought the idea was bad.

Hammer and Nails is such a ridiculous idea, it's unbelievable. Turning men into women. Essentially a transgender salon.

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I disagree- almost every guy I've dated has gone to the nail salon with me at least once- almost all of them have enjoyed it, but ALL of them felt uncomfortable because they where the only guy in there. Going to get a pedicure is really relaxing, and so I don't really know why it has to be a gender specific activity. But I agree with what a lot of other people have said- it should be mens grooming, not just mens nails.

 

[smarty]

I disagree- almost every guy I've dated has gone to the nail salon with me at least once- almost all of them have enjoyed it, but ALL of them felt uncomfortable because they where the only guy in there.

well, I guess we're not meant to be together

 

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[The-J]

I think the Hammer and Nails idea would be better if they get rid of the nail salon association. Instead how about a men's grooming salon that targets the hip hop crowd and professionals. Hair cuts, facial hair, pedicures etc. An all in one service. Your hair, your feet, your face everything. Make it look hip and luxurious. The first thing I would think if i heard "a nail salon for men" would be hell no. But, mens grooming club? way better. Get rid of the words "salon" and "nails", its way too feminine. And plus it won't cost that much more money to offer more services. Thats how powerful associations are in marketing and branding. be careful.

A "made man" ultimate grooming parlor for the masculine professional. We'll do your hair, shave you with a straight razor, trim and style your beard, trim your nosehairs (ew), shine your shoes, do your nails, and cover your blemishes. You want to look like a made man, not a scruffy oaf.

Look good for your woman on your anniversary by coming over just before dinner. Be presentable at your next board meeting before your big presentation. Or simply come in to look good and feel good. No matter what it is, you'll be glad you came.

FOR FIRST TIMERS: Get the all-in-one package for only $45. You'll be begging to come back after!

 

[MJ DeMarco]

A "made man" ultimate grooming parlor for the masculine professional. We'll do your hair, shave you with a straight razor, trim and style your beard, trim your nosehairs (ew), shine your shoes, do your nails, and cover your blemishes.

Made Man is actually a great name. Or "Groomed for Success". Every time I go to Vegas I splurge on facials and massages. Sorry, ya'll don't know what you're missing. As for the concept, Sport Clips has proven demand for concept although I'd consider that the Walmart of men's grooming.

 

[Determined2012]

every guy I've dated has gone to the nail salon with me at least once

I second this! I don't even think any guy was uncomfortable. Guys liked getting pampered just as much as we do.

Made Man

This is an awesome name for that type of place. The branding would be very effective.

 

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[MoneyDoc]

When is episode 3 coming out.


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[Vigilante]

Take it easy, Napoleon. It's just a TV show.

Thanks for making me smile this morning. You should hang around here more often.