Whatever Happened To FurZapper After Shark Tank?
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ABC's "Shark Tank" is a competitive program that celebrates the knack for human creativity and ingenuity when it comes to inventing useful products. So much more than just an entertaining and compelling reality show, the series has gone on to help small business owners and product creators, even if it is just through the intense publicity they receive by appearing on the show and winning a deal (per Forbes). In the format of the series, creators and entrepreneurs may already be established before appearing in front of the "Sharks" or, they may go in blind. But either way, the participants are making a bold move for their brand.
Since there have been so many 'Shark Tank" contestants, it is sometimes easy to lose track of the success stories over time. One of the most recent examples in this category is Harry Levin and Michael Sweigart, the creators of FurZapper. The duo appeared in Season 12, Episode 20 of the show, which aired in April 2021, and they accepted a deal from Lori Greiner for $600,000 and a 15% stake of equity in their company. Greiner's offer proved that she believed in the marketable viability of the company, but what eventually became of FurZapper after their memorable "Shark Tank" appearance?
FurZapper has grossed millions of dollars in revenue since appearing on Shark Tank
When it comes to getting rid of pet hair in the home, the process can be a losing battle when it comes to clothing. The FurZapper that Michael Sweigart and Harry Levin of Ocean County, New Jersey, developed addressed this very concern in its basic concept. As explained by the creators on "Shark Tank" (per CNBC Prime), the simple yet innovative product helps pet owners keep dog and/or cat hair off of their clothes by using a gelatinous, sticky, silicone disc that is placed in both the washer and dryer to send as much hair as possible down the drain or into the lint trap respectively. After Lori Greiner's lucrative $600,000 dollar offer to Sweigart and Levin, the duo's success skyrocketed thanks to their deal and their appearance on the show.
Shortly after the episode aired, the official Instagram account for FurZapper reported that business had surged and overwhelmed the company's ordering system. The pet hair removal devices soon became popular with online retailers like Amazon, Walmart, and Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and have been featured on The Rachael Ray Show. It was also reported shortly after the product appeared on "Shark Tank" that total revenue for FurZapper had reached $4 million in total revenue (via App), which was attributed to a boost from finding success on the ABC series. Levin and Sweigart can count themselves as another "Shark Tank" success story.