by Michelle Spigner

On tonight’s episode of Shark Tank, Jonathan Miller is up first with his idea to bring customizable energy bars to the public. But when he enters the tank the sharks don’t realize they are dealing with a young shark themselves. Jonathan is asking for $150,000 for 15% stake in his company, Element Bars, an online business that allows users to build an all-natural bar using their favorite ingredients. After sampling the bars, the sharks agree they taste fantastic, but they just don’t think the company is worth what he is asking. Like a true salesman, Jonathan keeps pushing for a deal and tells them they should believe in him as a person.

Even still, most of the sharks are out. Daymond believes in Element Bars and asks for 75% for the $150,000. Kevin H. will put up the $150,000, but wants the entire company and will give Jonathan 4% royalty forever. Jonathan keeps trying to persuade the sharks why his business will be profitable. He proposes a counter offer of $150,000 for just 20% stake, and Daymond pulls out. Kevin H. is so impressed by Jonathan’s shark-like negotiating he agrees to meet Jonathan half way and will go down to 35% stake. Jonathan still wants less and they finally decide to meet at 30% stake. All the sharks applaud him for his great sales techniques.

David Chodosh is up next with an idea that he hopes will bring out the child in the sharks, and it surprisingly does. His invention, the Fizz, is a small container that fits on top of any soda bottle. When the container is filled with a scoop of ice cream and conjoined to a soda bottle with a straw it creates a root beer float just without a separate glass. The sharks all love their samples and Kevin H. enjoys how it connects him to his boyhood memories. However, even though they enjoy it, they don’t think it will make them any money. The problem is the container does not come with ice cream. David hopes he will get a partnership with an ice cream company, but he just isn’t there yet. For this reason David doesn’t get any deals. Hopefully, the Fizz will continue on.

Kimberly Cayce was up next with her company that was made by women for women. Her product line Kalyx sports bras offer flattering and functional styles that are engineered to work with a woman’s body to support the breasts depending on the type of athletic activity. She is asking for $125,000 for 20% of the company that she honestly admits is running on fumes. The company is brand new and has had only one order from a retail store. The sharks understand her passion but don’t think her product is unique enough to compete with the Nike, Champion and the other big athletic wear powerhouses. Kevin O. was particularly adamant about getting the reality across to Kimberly saying, “there is no hope, you are going to zero for this.”

After two entrepreneurs left the tank without any offers I was hopeful the next candidates would be more successful. Up next were Buck and Arlene Weimer, an adorable elderly couple who created their product to help save their marriage. Buck created Underease Underwear for flatulent to protect his nose from his wife’s gas after she had been diagnosed with an inflammatory bowel condition. This underwear has an odor control strip and elastic at the legs to work like a deodorizing Ziploc bag to trap and control the smell at the source. The Weimer’s did a particular good job dealing with such a delicate and yet humorous subject, but the sharks just aren’t into this type of investment. 

Last up, are Brett Thompson and Heath Hall with their company Pork Barrel BBQ, which includes BBQ sauce and spice rub products. The sauce will be distributed in a major East coast grocery store and Brett and Heath anticipate $4.1 million dollars in revenue over the next year. These numbers blow the sharks away, especially since the company is a hobby for the two entrepreneurs. They are asking for $50,000 for 10% stake in Pork Barrel and Barbara is the only one interested in the company. She is happy to give the $50,000 but wants 50% of the business. The boys try to negotiate down to 40%, but Barbara won’t budge. They accept the 50% stake and hope to make Pork Barrel BBQ sauce a must at every American barbeque.

Shark Tank airs Sunday nights at 9pm ET on ABC.

(Image courtesy of ABC)

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