Shark Tank is a TV Show that allows aspiring entrepreneurs to pitch their business ideas in front of multi-millionaire investors known as ‘Sharks’. The sharks then evaluate the ideas (and dish out a hefty dose of criticism) before deciding whether they would like to invest their own money.
The show has proven time and again that while bad business ideas may exist, what actually determines their success is how they are packaged and presented. Here are some bizarre business ideas to help inspire your creativity.
Top 10 Bizarre Businesses on Shark Tank that actually became Successful
- Potato Parcel
Parcel Potato is a website that allows people to send personalized messaged to anyone ON POTATOES! That’s right. And while you find the idea humorous, the website did eventually get sold for $42,000!
Alex Craig, the company’s founder says that he wanted to “create a brand new way of sending a message outside of apps and technology by allowing anyone to send an anonymous message…on a potato”.
- Tipsy Elves
Tipsy Elves is a company that sells ugly sweaters. Not just sweaters, ugly sweaters.
Sounds ridiculous? Yes, but the company’s revenue was projected to hit $8 million in 2016. Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec invested $100,000 for 10% equity stake in the company. He later said in an interview that “I always want to invest in somebody who’s incredibly, deeply passionate about the business, and these guys wanted to run a business. I mean they wanted to be there 24/7.”
- Squatty Potty
Squatty Potty makes foot stools which are placed under a toilet so that users can raise their knees while seating on the toilet. The squatting posture helps relax the colon and makes it easier to poop.
The product came about when Bobby’s (the founder’s) mother had trouble in the bathroom and a therapist recommended she uses a footstool to raise her knees. To her surprise, the suggestion worked perfectly. There was no such product in the market and Bobby saw the business opportunity.
- Scrub Daddy
Scrub Daddy is a reusable dish-washing sponge that has been designed in the shape of a smiling face. The sponge gets firm when dipped in cold water and soft in warm water. It can be used to clean several types of complex stains.
Aaron Krause, the founder, accidentally stumbled upon his multi-million dollar idea while working in his product development company called ‘Dedication to Detail’. The original product was intended to help auto-workers clean grease from their hands, however after his company was acquired, he had to find better use for the prototypes which had already been produced. Then came Scrub Daddy, one of the most successful Shark Tank products of all time.
- CitiKitty
As cat owners know, cleaning and maintaining a cat’s litter box is not a pleasant activity. CitiKitty is a training kit that teaches cats how to use a toilet. According to the training program, it should only take about 5 weeks for your cat to adjust to using the toilet as opposed to a litterbox.
- DropStop
Do you know that space between your car’s front seats and the center console where objects often fall into, and then become almost impossible to retrieve?
DropStop blocks that gap. A simple yet ingenious product that helps solve a problem.
The company has sold more than 2.4 million units with revenues exceeding $24 million.
- ReadeREST
After turning 40, Rick Hopper began wearing glasses for the first time in his life. His product idea came about because he often dropped or lost his glasses and he knew that it was a common problem for many people.
ReadeREST is a tiny piece of metal with magnets that helps secure glasses to a shirt when not in use. It is a simple improvisation that has now resulted to millions worth of sales.
- PlateTopper
PlateTopper provides a solution to storing left over food by converting any plate into an air-tight sealed container. The product essentially transforms a kitchen plate into a storage container while keeping the food fresh.
Michael Tseng, PlateTopper’s founder, managed to walk away with $90,000 for 8% stake of his company from the shark Lori Greiner.
- OrigAudio
OrigAudio’s Rock-It is a portable speaker which turns any object into a loud speaker using its signature vibration technology. You simply connect the jack to your phone (or any music player) and then stick the other end to any object, and alas! You have got yourself a booming speaker. You have to see it work to truly understand how magnificent it is.
The company made over $750,000 in sales after just one year in business.
- BevBuckle
BevBuckle is a stylish belt which has a retractable buckle that can be used to hold a can or anything else fits. That means you can keep your hands free while enjoying a refreshing drink!
The product was one of the most viral products of 2017 with over 47 million views on its Facebook video.
The world is full of unexploited business opportunities if you can just pay attention to your surroundings. No product is stupid if there is a niche that appreciates its value.
Remember that sometimes it helps to ignore what everyone thinks and just follow your heart (that’s after you established that your product is indeed viable and has a niche in the market). Anything that offers a solution to any problem is most likely going to be a winner.
