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In season 8 of Shark Tank, entrepreneurs Tara and Jason O'Mara presented PDX Pet Design, seeking $300,000 for their cat toy company. The couple showcased two main products: SHRU, an electronic cat companion selling for $119, and LICKI Brush, a grooming tool priced at $25. With a 15% equity offering, they valued their company at $2 million. Their pitch took an unusual direction when they announced:
"We're gonna give each of you guys a cat and a LICKI brush and a SHRU so you can test it out."
The demonstration featured Robert Herjavec testing the LICKI Brush, which involved him placing it in his mouth to "lick" the cat, simulating grooming. This created one of the show's memorable moments. While the Shark Tank pitch generated significant media attention, PDX Pet Design received no investment and eventually closed operations in October 2021.
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Cat toy company's Shark Tank pitch ended without investment
PDX Pet Design founders Tara and Jason O'Mara started their Shark Tank presentation by showing SHRU, an electronic device that moved in patterns to keep cats engaged while their owners were away. The product used built-in sensors and motors to create random movements, making it appear like a small animal.
The founders shared their distribution strategy through multiple channels. Their products reached customers through their website sales, Amazon marketplace listings, and partnerships with select pet stores across the country. The company had generated $250,000 in SHRU sales before appearing on the show.
The presentation shifted when they introduced the LICKI Brush, a silicone grooming tool designed to mimic cat tongues. Jason demonstrated the product's purpose by showing how it replicated natural cat grooming behaviors. The mood in the tank changed as Tara suggested the sharks try the products themselves.
Robert Herjavec initially resisted testing the LICKI Brush.
"Oh no, you are not," he stated in a surprise.
Despite his initial reluctance, the Shark Tank investor agreed to try the product. The silicon tongue-shaped brush demonstration had the other sharks watching intently.
Kevin O'Leary attempted to refocus the conversation on business matters. He said:
"Okay guys, I want to take it seriously because you asked for 300,000 dollars before I saw you lick a cat. How many did you sell to date?"
The founders revealed their LICKI Brush pre-order sales reached $52,000. They outlined their marketing approach, which centered on creating viral content. Tara explained their future plans, mentioning five additional product designs that were in development. Their strategy relied heavily on social media engagement and understanding their target market of cat owners.
The couple explained their production process in China, with SHRU manufacturing costs at $47 per unit and LICKI Brush at $8. They maintained stock in a Portland warehouse and managed direct shipping to customers.
Lori Greiner questioned the sales performance compared to their viral marketing success. The LICKI Brush video had accumulated millions of views across social platforms.
Final outcome
Each shark provided specific reasons for not investing. Lori Greiner pointed out the gap between social media attention and actual sales numbers. Mark Cuban stated the valuation exceeded reasonable multiples for their revenue.
Robert Herjavec mentioned concerns about scaling production. Daymond John questioned the long-term market potential. Kevin O'Leary concluded the product line might remain too niche for significant growth.
As per Shark Tank Blog, the company continued operations independently after the show. They worked on developing additional prototypes. However, none of these new products reached the market. In February 2020, the episode appeared on Shark Tank's "Greatest of All Time" special in the memorable pitch category.
PDX Pet Design's business journey ended in October 2021. Their website began redirecting to Amazon. Their social media accounts went inactive by early 2022. The LICKI Brush listings disappeared from online marketplaces.
Watch new episodes of Shark Tank on the ABC network.
