‘Shark Tank’ preview: The Lip Bar, FunBites, BevBoy, Himalayan Dog Chew, and a Nuts ‘N More update
This is another one of those weeks where we are getting the luxury of seeing two new episodes of “Shark Tank” in the span of a few short days, which really is all sorts of awesome and then some. As for the products that are coming up on Friday, let’s just say that they have some interesting challenges. These are not brands that are necessarily creating things that consumers have to have or fill a new purpose. They are things that are nice or interesting. They really have to sell that they are worth the money, even though they are largely commodities.
As per always with these previews, let’s begin with a reminder that the sharks this week are all in the attached photo, and the official synopsis via ABC:
“Two brothers and a friend originally from Nepal, India now living in Mukilteo, WA, hope the Sharks will make their American Dream come true by investing in their yak and cow milk dog chews; two women from Brooklyn, NY ask the Sharks to pucker up and invest in their all-natural and colorful lipsticks; a man from Akron, OH whose business is located in Charleston, SC, has a beverage holder that is built to float in water without spilling its’ contents; and a mom from Westport, CT has a product to make meal times fun for kids who are picky eaters.”
Now, we move on to some of the products!
BevBoy – This is a product that probably wishes it was on TV in May, when people were actually thinking about swimming pools and not shoveling snow. It’s pretty simple: A drink holder that floats in the water. Maybe if you really want to have your favorite beverage close to you, this is a good investment; however, we cannot really picture a universe in which we would feel desperate to actually spend money when we can just put a drink by the side of the pool.
FunBites – It’s a novelty product, but we suppose there’s value if you want to have what is effectively a cookie cutter for other food products. You basically use this to cut food into fun, bite-sized shapes. It’s probably not for every parent, but it could be a good way to convince picky kids to eat. Also, the product seems to know very well its audience, and markets accordingly.
Himalayan Dog Chew – They are yak and cow-milk dog chews that apparently come from a Himalayan recipe. Is it better than any other chew out there? This basically has the same limitation as the other two products we’ve mentioned here; it comes down to presence. We’re going to have more on these guys tomorrow, but let’s just say that they have quite a bit of success already.
The Lip Bar – This product may be a diamond in the rough. The words “responsibly made” are big right now for green consumers, and there is something that makes these lip products stand out. Even the names (which are named after drinks for the most part) are clever. This is a company that really just needs guidance. The website’s a little messy, and it took a few minutes to understand what makes the product special.
If you missed it, head over here to read our review of Tuesday night’s new episode. Also, sign up to grab some other updates on everything we cover via our CarterMatt Newsletter. (Photo: ABC.)