PiperWai Natural Deodorant on ‘Shark Tank’ — Shark Smells Armpit After 5-Mile Run [Spoilers]
PiperWai is a natural deodorant that was featured on an episode of Shark Tank that aired Friday, December 11. As seen on the PiperWai website, the natural deodorant began when owners Jess and Sarah wanted deodorant that was natural and effective.
“It all started when Jess, Chief Maker (and PiperWai CEO), decided she’d had enough of the toxic stuff, the bad stuff, used in conventional deodorants. So she set off to make a pit potion like no other. One that wouldn’t burn. Wouldn’t make her stink. And one that used entirely natural ingredients in an entirely effective way.”
The PiperWai entrepreneurs came to Shark Tank seeking $50,000 for 10 percent stake in the company. PiperWai gained a name for itself when the PiperWai women contacted online writers and bloggers, sending folks free samples and gaining buzz on the web.
#Digital #Marketing Shark Tank: PiperWai Natural Charcoal Deodorant Earns Investment From Barbara Corcoran for … https://t.co/mFOBM8SFSN
— Jasmine Sandler (@Jasmine_Sandler) December 12, 2015
Not every Shark Tank shark saw the potential in PiperWai. Mr. Wonderful dropped out of making any sort of deal with PiperWai almost immediately. To try and stem any other sharks from not making a Shark Tank deal, the PiperWai demonstrative model shared a personal story about her mother’s battle with cancer. She said the cancer market is huge, and said she tried all the natural deodorants on the market and said PiperWai works. It was called the Holy Grail of natural deodorant.
“After bunches of batches, she found a formula that worked. And this formula was put to task by her life-long best friend, Chief Tester (and PiperWai CFO), Sarah, on a trip to the sweatiest place of all – South America. It held up! Sweaty stink was no more. Sarah proclaimed, ‘We need to sell this because it will change people’s lives!’ And thus PiperWai was born.”
Mark Cuban wasn’t buying all the natural deodorant buzz from the PiperWai people, and said there was a reason why some of the PiperWai customers haven’t come back to buy more. Barbara Corcoran cut off Cuban when he began railing at the PiperWai entrepreneurs, with Mark calling the PiperWai company owners not “self aware” enough. Barbara wanted to give $50,000 for a 33 percent stake instead of 10 percent.
Lori Greiner said she tried every brand of natural deodorant, ones without aluminum, and she agreed she couldn’t find one that worked. Lori was bold enough to sniff the PiperWai model’s armpits after she’d gone on a five-mile run, and said the woman smelled fine. As such, Lori wanted a 35 percent stake in the company.
The PiperWai owners asked both Lori and Barbara if they’d consider going down to a 25 percent stake in the company. Barbara eventually agreed, just to beat Lori and go with her gut.
The PiperWai women said their product costs $11.99 plus shipping — although they currently have a “PiperWai Shark Tank Special – 2 Jars for $22? sale going as of this writing — for the products they make for less than 3 bucks. The PiperWai entrepreneurs say they’ve found a formula that works by their natural product targeting the bacteria that makes armpits stink. It isn’t the sweat that’s foul smelling; it’s the bacteria.
As reported by Heavy, when one of the PiperWai founders visited South America and found it to be a “million degrees” there, and discovered that the PiperWai really worked, the company’s focus was solidified. PiperWai contains activated charcoal in the cream, a trend in the beauty industry with masks and soaps. Activated charcoal was added to PiperWai because it was believed to help gastrointestinal issues when ingested. The PiperWai founders believed there was only one other natural deodorant with charcoal for sale, but called it a messy powder on the market with charcoal.
They have a deal! Big congrats to @PiperWai & @BarbaraCorcoran of #SharkTank! #CBSstartups pic.twitter.com/bOPlMrdT0T
— The Lang Entrepreneurship Center (@LangCenter_CBS) December 12, 2015
Their Shark Tank deal should help the PiperWai women introduce the stick deodorant to the market. PiperWai goes on clear.
“From then on, PiperWai became more than just a product – it became a lifestyle. A force for good. A way to make a difference simply by making a choice. Because what you put on your body should work naturally.”
[Image via PiperWai]
