Plot

A commerce flower business; anti-aging lifting strips; a breakaway hanger; tablewear made from renewable plant materials; a follow up of Groovebook.

In this episode of Shark Tank, several entrepreneurs presented their businesses to the Sharks: Mark, Barbara, Kevin, Lori, and Robert.

The first business, "The Bouqs Company," offered simplified floral bouquets. John Tabis sought $258,000 for a 3% stake in the company. The bouquets were priced at $40, including shipping, and the company sourced its soil from the side of a volcano for flower cultivation. The Bouqs Company had an online commerce model and achieved $700,000 in sales within 11 months. The cost per acquisition (CPA) was $13, increasing to $20 in the last month, and $70,000 was allocated to marketing. The company boasted profit margins of 40-50% and promised delivery within 6 days. They planned to launch overnight shipping in three weeks, which would incur an additional $10 charge. The flowers were freshly cut on the farm and could last 2-3 weeks at home, unlike those sold by florists that were already cut for over a week. The Bouqs Company reported sales of $1.2 million and pre-tax profits of $240,000. They had secured a seed round investment of $1.1 million, valuing the company at $5.2 million post money. However, Mark, Lori, Robert, Barbara, and Kevin declined to invest for various reasons.

Next, the entrepreneurs behind "Angellift" pitched their facial lifting strips. Aaron and Kelly Bruce sought $500,000 for a 10% stake. They had generated $3 million in sales with $1.2 million in profits. The product had a pending patent and was sold for $50. Aaron intended to temporarily remove the product from the market to refine it. Robert, Barbara, Kevin, and Mark decided not to invest, citing concerns about packaging and trust. Lori, however, offered $500,000 for a 25% stake, contingent upon proof of patent, past sales, and clinical trials. After negotiations, Lori agreed to invest $500,000 for a 15% stake, including all contingencies, with the funds specifically allocated for QVC purchase orders.

The third business, "HangEase," presented a folding plastic clothes hanger invented by Ryan Landis as a grade 3 project ten years ago. Ryan sought $80,000 for a 30% stake. He had previously sold 400,000 hangers to Walmart, generating $200,000 in revenue and $70,000 in profits. Walmart sold a pack of four hangers for $3.89, while a regular hanger cost 88 cents. Ryan held a utility patent for his invention. Robert, Kevin, and Barbara opted not to invest, as they didn't see the application or potential for achieving scale. Mark, however, offered the requested amount of $80,000 for a 30% stake, contingent upon patent verification. Lori joined the deal, and Ryan accepted their offer.

The last business, "Susty Party," focused on environment friendly party supplies. Jessica Holsey and Emily Doubilet sought $250,000 for a 10% stake. Since they used contract manufacturers, their product was not exclusive. The plates they offered cost $5 for a pack of eight, which was twice as expensive as paper plates. They projected $1.5 million in sales for the year and aimed to reach $5 million in the following year. Susty Party had been profitable for the past three months but anticipated an $80,000 loss due to slotting fees for the current year. The company had $30,000 in the bank, $125,000 in inventory, and $200,000 in debt. They planned to launch 28 new SKUs but had no purchase orders. Barbara, Robert, Lori, and Mark declined to invest for various reasons, such as doubts about profitability or competing investments. Kevin offered a loan of $250,000 for a 30% equity stake at a 10% interest rate. However, the entrepreneurs countered by proposing a $250,000 loan with an option for Kevin to purchase equity at a discounted valuation later, which he rejected.

The update provided information on the progress of "GrooveBook," a photo-book service that struck a deal with Kevin and Mark in a previous episode (Episode 513). After the show aired, GrooveBook gained 50,000 new customers within five days and achieved $3 million in sales. Additionally, it was mentioned that Kevin had appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Prior to this episode, a special program called "Swimming With Sharks" aired, offering a behind-the-scenes look at Shark Tank production and updates on past businesses from the show.