Squatty Potty is yet another Shark Tank success. This product helps you do your business in the bathroom. It all started with Bobby Edwards’ mother, Judy Edwards. Judy always had constipation growing up, and her doctors told her that it was only going to get worse as she aged. There was no help but one physician told her to lift her knees up when she is defecating. He thought that this would relieve discomfort and make it easier for her. She took his word and it actually worked!
She used a stool but it didn’t store away easily. She told her son, Bobby about it and he got to work. He realized that there was nothing on the market for a stool when you go to the bathroom. They made a stool with a half circle cut out so that it could slide under the toilet easily. He also added some great branding and marketing techniques to get this simple product selling. Bobby sent it to YouTubers who would review the product which got the ball rolling. He later appeared on Dr. Oz and then filed for Shark Tank.
In his pitch, he explained the story and the anatomy of the human body when one goes to the bathroom. your colon muscle is not fully relaxed when at a 90 degree angle. This is because another colon is pulling on it, creating restricted flow. The Sharks were skeptical but then Bobby shared that he has millions of dollars of sales. They eventually worked out a deal with Lori Greiner for $350K for 10% stake of the company. This was just the beginning.
Squatty Potty experienced post-Shark-Tank success, a phenomenon that even the Sharks recognize themselves. They even turn down people who just want exposure and who aren’t trying to get a deal with the Sharks. But Squatty Potty was trying to get a deal and after their exposure, they got $1 million in sales days after they aired. In the next three months, they got $12 million in sales and received another $15.7 million in funding. You can find them in many big name retailers today.
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It seems like a silly idea and name, but I’m impressed by how well they did marketing it. I liked how they took a problem from their own lives and found a solution to a problem that millions of other people have as well. I’m impressed by how much they made right after Shark Tank, with a simple solution, but it works. The shark who partnered with them made a good decision; they looked past the silly name and notion and saw a sucessful product that solved a problem that a lot of people have, but few have tried to solve.
I love the concept. My weirdo of a neighbor swears by it and the marketing for it is fantastic! It’s a very interesting product that some wonder how they made it, but they did!
I honestly never thought I would see something like this but it just goes to show that their is enough of a demand for a product like this. It is also super interesting how she marketed it and explained her product. The most amazing part however is the amount of success it has had after its Shark-tank run.