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Shark Tank – “1514” – Passionate entrepreneurs enter the tank for products like scratch-free wall lights, two-handle umbrellas, edged silicone placemats, and gluten-free alternatives to popcorn. Get investment deals. Friday, Jan. 19 (8:00-9:01 p.m. ET) on ABC. (Disney/Christopher Willard) Verin Houghton
Written by Frank Lopez
The Central Valley native has gained national attention by appearing on the most popular television pitch show.
Verlyn Horton appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank on Friday to sell a portion of his company, The Table Tyke, to a celebrity investor referred to on the show as “Shark.”
Horton launched The Table Tike, a baby-safe placement mat that prevents children from hitting their faces on table edges, in late 2020 out of Fresno.
She valued her business at $1 million and was seeking $100,000 for a 10% stake in The Table Tyke. Available now online and in select boutiques.
The Sharks turned down the investment, believing they could not bring any more value to the company. However, they were impressed with the product and suggestions. They said more social media exposure would definitely help her business.
Investors in this episode were Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Barbara Corcoran, Kevin O’Leary, and Robert Herjavec.
Horton said she has placed two emergency orders with manufacturers since the episode aired on Friday. She also received hundreds of support messages and more clicks on her product.
In 2023, the business generated $100,000 in sales. This year, she expects to reach $200,000.
The Table Tyke can be found in 80 boutique stores nationwide. It hit retail stores less than a year ago.
“What I really wanted from Shark was someone who could give me a roadmap, what to focus on, how to market to retailers, how to get distributors, whatever advice would give me a path forward. ,” Horton said. .
Table Tyke really took off after she made a TikTok video about the product, and orders came in overnight. It was a big leap for her at the time.
Horton, a Hanford native, most recently lived in Fresno, where she currently resides, until her husband’s job relocated her to Nashville, Tennessee, last year.
But she maintains local connections, and her entire family is still in Hanford and Fresno. She also works with local public relations firm PREM PR & Social. Horton said PREM CEO Marilyn Cowley was the first person to suggest that the product should be made into a viral TikTok video that gained a lot of attention.
She said she is still working with AMARQUEZ, a local web design and management company based in Fresno. The team there had just rebuilt the website before she appeared on the show.
Mr. Corcoran, a New York real estate investor and former Shark, encouraged Mr. Horton to stay in business as is and try to make more viral videos.
“What we have here now is a business with no room for sharks. I think you’re trying to make a lot of sales right now, and the answer is social media,” Corcoran said.
Horton said it was an entrepreneur’s dream to be on that stage at the show and appreciated the opportunity.
“I want to continue this momentum, and Shark Tank gave me a really big boost. In my business, I think the best way to maintain this momentum and really turn it into something else is to I’m trying to find a way. Expanding the product is on my list,” Horton said.
She said she will be putting orders together for a long time to catch up and is looking forward to it.
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