In this episode of Shark Tank, there were no fish that swam successfully among the sharks. Anyone who came out with an idea simply tanked. Sitting among the panel, like during the majority of the season, were Mark Cuban, Daymond John, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, and Robert Herjavec. The four entrepreneur wannabees who entered the tank had one thing in common: they wanted too much money for too little a product and too little an exchange. They went over their heads and they came out gutted and soaked in shark terms.
The first one to enter the tank was a woman named Brenda Coffman, also known as Blondie, who had a brand of cookies and brownies. Her cookies were a hit among the sharks, but she wanted $200,000 for just 3% of the company. While she came off as a sweet woman who made a good impression, she didn't have enough of a business for the sharks to invest in. Like several other people who have entered the tank with their own food brand, she came out without an offer.
Ben Wood was the next person to offer his product to the sharks, a workout product known as Viewsport. Asking for $500,000 for 20% of the company, the product was a workout shirt in which a motivational message would appear when enough sweat was accumulated by the person working out. It took several splashes of water to speed the pace. As the sharks saw, the product was a key subject to being flawed. It could only be inevitable where someone works their tail off and comes out with a message that's too faded to contribute to good sales. It would fall under the class of the Marvin's Magic Drawing Kit, only with clothes. Plus the clothes are prone to wearing out quickly.
The most fascinating character to enter the tank on this episode was a man named Mark Sullivan. Already an inventor of so many other inventions, he wants the sharks to invest in his generator. Asking for $1,000,000 to exchange for 10% of the stake, the generator produces electricity and a waste product of gold. The sharks don't grasp the product and go out, though Robert opted to offer $50,000 if Kevin would offer $950,000. Obviously, that doesn't happen. The way Mark Sullivan presented himself made the whole thing hysterical, but he could be someone who holds a hidden genius. I still was laughing at the concept.
Last season, James Martin came into the shark tank with a brand of wine in which you simply peel off the top. This product was Copa Di Vino and he was asking for $300,000 for 5% of the company. He returns to the tank with a more successful company, but needs to keep up with his demand. Kevin, who was upset with the fact he lost out on his offer of $600,000 for 51% of the patenting last season, made the same offer again. Later, he makes a compromise and lowers his offer to $300,000 for 12%, because he believes that's what the company is worth. When James is told to step out for a moment, he gives Jim Koch, founded a Samuel Adams beer, a call and discusses the game plan. While he's willing to do $300,000 for 8%, Mark, Robert, and Kevin are willing to make an offer of $600,000 for 30% of the company. James arrogantly hesitates by cracking open a glass of wine. Agitated, Mark goes out, Robert goes out, and James leaves the tank with nothing. He mentions that he will not return to the tank. Goes to show you how he is one of the greediest entrepreneurs the tank has to offer, but that's business for you.
Those who entered the tank on this episode were victims of wanting more than they were worth. Everyone who entered the tank wanted at least six figures for a company that wasn't worth six figures, and no one walked out with a deal from the sharks. On the next new episode, that notion may be able to change, and we may get somebody who's able to strike a deal of some sorts with one or more sharks. We'll just have to see who wins the battle of greed.
Thank you for this recap! This episode was a riot. I laughed so hard throughout Mark Sullivan's segment. I'm still wondering whether he's a genius, a con artist, or someone who came on just looking to have a good time. Either way, I was thoroughly entertained.
ReplyDeleteI thought James Martin was not only an idiot, but a complete jerk. Did he come just for promotion? Mark, Kevin, and Robert did significantly lower the company valuation, but does he not still need the money to complete the orders and to profit from the sales like he said? Like they said, if he has all these friends advising him, why haven't they given him the money? I think he was just playing with them the whole time. Or really greedy, like you said. Shame. But again, thoroughly entertaining.
I'm glad you enjoyed it. There are plenty of people that have Mark Sullivan's personality in the world of inventions and I have no idea what he was trying to prove.
DeleteAs for James Martin, I agree he was a jerk. He seems to believe that his company is worth much more than it really is and he does not want to give much of it away. He is incredibly greedy, which in some cases seems to work, because these are sharks. He seems to have separated specific people from those who provide advice to those who provide hands on help. It should be obvious that he's going to have to make compromises if he wants to make it out of the tank with an offer. Unfortunately, he doesn't know it too well.
I also believe a lot of what "Shark Tank" has to offer, like all reality shows, is entertainment value. The show doesn't just want to have fascinating, successful products, but also those that are going to catch the attention of the viewer. This also includes people with personalities that may be intelligent to aggressive to greedy to just plain clueless. This also includes the sharks and their personalities. That's part of the reason as to why I believe Mark Cuban got a contract extension during the entire season and Kevin Harrington did not.