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Daymond John’s missed opportunity with COVERPLAY

Daymond John from Shark Tank

Daymond John puts his money where his mouth is, and who’d expect anything less of a hungry, sharp-toothed shark? Yes, John is the CEO and Creator of the apparel giant FUBU label and as well as the author of Display of Power: How FUBU Changed a World of Fashion, Brand and Lifestyle, but he’s also one of the sharks that missed out on the opportunity to support, finance and promote COVERPLAY’s own Shark Tank Entrepreneurs Allison and Amy. The TV series will wrap up its first season at 8 p.m. ET/PT tonight, and TVStar sat down with one of Shark Tank’s sharks, Daymond John, to talk about the show, his experience on it, and the odds of a second season. Check out what TVStar found out in their story below.

What was your initial reaction when you heard about Shark Tank?
I don’t know why anyone would want to invest and spend their own money. And then I remembered my own start as an entrepreneur. I remember my drive, my passion, and the sacrifices that I had to make in order to start my career. I borrowed my mom’s sewing machine in the morning and then sold hats on the streets of New York at night. And in order to grow the business, we mortgaged our home for $100,000 so we could come up with start-up capital for FUBU. And then my mom moved out so we could turn the house into a makeshift factory and office space.

Some businessmen prefer to stay behind the scenes and others are very much the face of their company. How comfortable were you with the idea of suddenly being on TV and potentially recognized by millions of people? Has it been good for business?
I have been the face of my company, FUBU, for many years, so there was no difference. I have been on TV many times before. That is nothing new. In terms of business, yes, it’s good for me. It helps bring awareness to my personal brand and the aspect of how I work with other brands by consulting and advising them as well as running own company.

What have been the most interesting people/things you’ve seen when it comes to entrepreneurs and products? Anything you’re kicking yourself over for not biting on or not biting hard enough?
The most interesting people I have encountered have been Lisa Lloyd, Treasure Chest Pets, Gayla Bentley and Mr. Todd’s Pie Factory. And I am kicking myself on COVERPLAY. Should have hit that harder. That slipcover was a great idea.

What’s the likelihood of a season two? And how interested would you be in doing another season?
Season two is in the hands of the powers that be. I like the cast and the concept of the show. And depending on my availability, I would love to do it again.

What else do you have going on at the moment?
I am currently running my fashion business, releasing my new book in early 2010, and consulting with a few new brands.

If they had a show like Shark Tank on the air when you were an aspiring businessman starting out, how likely would you have been to go on as an entrepreneur?
I wouldn’t have made it on the show. I would have overvalued my company and I would have failed.

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Update on those SHARK TANK Entrepreneurs

So what are the SHARK TANK Entrepreneurs up to now? In this video, they are at the largest baby product show in the U.S. According to Allison and Amy, since making the deal with Barbara, their business has shot through the roof and many new deals and attractive propositions have opened up to them. Soon, COVERPLAY slipcovers will be sold in Babies R Us and they have more orders than they can keep up with.

Recently, they contacted one of the largest hotel chains in the U.S., and they are in the process of closing a deal that will put COVERPLAY slipcovers into every one of their properties. “Closing the $350,000 deal on SHARK TANK with Barbara was the best thing that could have happened to the company and we wouldn’t have been able to just walk into a bank and get a loan that size,” says Amy. The show allowed their successful business to explode.

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More DIRTY Hotels

How often do you check into a hotel and immediately regret it the second you walked into the door? Here is a video with the top 10 dirtiest hotels in America based on customer reviews. The New York Inn for example was #6 on the list, it had mold around the bathroom faucet, a towel stuffed in the window to hold it shut and a suspicious brown stain on the mattress.

Other hotels had mold on the coffeemaker, the mini-fridge and even on the bed frame. Check out some of the trip reviews on TripAdvisor. The managers of these hotels said improvements are being made and blame a weak cleaning staff and a hurricane over two years ago. Regardless of their excuses, you should have no excuses for not protecting your baby. This video is a great example of why Pack ‘n Play play yard slipcovers are a must on vacations.

COVERPLAY slipcovers are easy to pack, easy to use and will help keep your baby safe from germs and bacteria that may be all over your room.

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Flu Season and Vaccines Recommendations

Regular immunizations protect your baby against many dangerous childhood diseases, and now that we are getting into the flu season, it’s a perfect time to talk about it. Here’s what you should know about your baby’s vaccines.

Early childhood immunizations are an important safeguard against serious illnesses for your baby. While it may be difficult to hear your baby cry when getting a shot, remember the pain only lasts a few seconds, but the benefits will last a lifetime. Here is a brief rundown of each of the vaccines your baby needs:

  • Hepatitis B vaccine
    Hepatitis B is an infection of the liver that’s caused by a virus and can result in liver damage or failure. Some babies can develop Hepatitis B if their mothers are infected with it before or during pregnancy. If mom tests positive for Hepatitis B or her status is unknown, the baby may be given the vaccine in the hospital right after birth. If the baby doesn’t receive the vaccine in the hospital, this vaccination should be given within the first 2 months. Two additional doses also are recommended within the baby’s first year.
  • Diphtheria, Tetanus and Pertussis (DTaP)
    This vaccine protects against three diseases — diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis (whooping cough):

    • Diphtheria is a serious infectious disease caused by bacteria that produce toxins which inflame the nervous system and heart and can result in heart failure and paralysis.
    • Tetanus results from bacteria that grow in wounds and that produce a toxin which affects the nervous system and causes muscle spasms and paralysis, especially in the jaw area. It’s also called lockjaw.
    • Pertussis, or whooping cough, another infectious disease caused by bacteria, is especially dangerous for babies under the age of 1. It’s most well-known symptom is a debilitating racking cough.
  • Haemophilus Influenzae Type B (HIB)
    Haemophilus Influenzae Type B isn’t the viral infection that everybody calls the flu. Instead, it’s a fast-moving bacterial infection that can cause your baby to have ear and bronchial infections. HIB also can lead to meningitis in children under the age of 2, so it is important that you protect your child with three doses of the HIB vaccine during the first year — at age 2 months, 4 months and 6 months. Experts also recommend that a fourth dose be given before your child’s second birthday.
  • Polio
    Polio, short for poliomyelitis, is a serious viral disease that starts with a fever and can lead to paralysis, muscle atrophy and permanent disability. In its most severe forms, polio can cause death. Polio vaccine comes in two forms, IPV (inactivated polio vaccine) which is given by injection and OPV (oral polio vaccine) which is given by mouth. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends giving the vaccine at 2 months, 4 months, 12–18 months, and between 4–6 years of age. You and your baby’s doctor can decide whether a schedule of all-OPV, all-IPV or a combination of both forms is best for your baby.
  • Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR)
    This vaccine provides coverage for three diseases in a single shot — measles, mumps and rubella (or German measles):

    • Measles is a viral infection that causes distinctive red spots and is characterized by cold-like symptoms and a high fever.
    • Mumps is an infectious viral disease that results in swelling of the parotid gland that’s just in front of the ear and the salivary glands. The swelling can occur on the sides of one or both cheeks. Mumps usually is accompanied by a fever and pain when the patient opens his mouth or eats.
    • Rubella, or German measles, is similar to measles in that it’s a viral infection that results in a fever, swollen glands and a rash.

    The first MMR vaccine is usually given when the baby is between 12-15 months and very rarely has any serious side effects. The second shot (booster) is recommended between 4–6 years of age. Your baby, however, may be more sleepy than usual and have a mild rash, slight fever, or slight swelling in the neck or diaper area.

  • Varicella
    This vaccine protects against chicken pox, a viral infection which is highly contagious and results in a blister-like rash that’s very itchy. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all children receive the varicella vaccine between the ages of 12–18 months. A second dose also is recommended at between 11–12 years of age.

While many of these shots have to be given at hospitals, flu shots for adults can be received at any Walgreens, Rite Aid and many others. They usually only cost between $25-30.

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Are You a Shark?

Daymond John, fashion mogul and FUBU Founder and CEO discusses the roller coaster ride in episode four of The Shark Tank. In his post, he includes his thoughts on other entrepreneurs that came on before COVERPLAY, how much he loved Allison and Amy’s idea and business savvy, and why he wasn’t able to negotiate his “better deal” with the COVERPLAY owners and now Shark Tank Entrepreneurs in his blog below.

Wow! Sunday night’s episode of Shark Tank once again gave me hope in the American dream. It made me scratch my head about things people come up with and made me yell at the TV screen in the battle of the sexes…and all within one hour! It was a roller coaster ride to say the least. The funny part about it is that I was actually there and already knew the outcome. But seeing it from an outsider’s point of view for the second time was just as engaging as the first time for me.

photo from Shark Tank

I clearly remember when filming the show, entrepreneur Kwame (Kuadey) had such pride, such confidence and a warming smile as he presented his “Gift Card Rescue” to us. We were all truly inspired and felt grateful to have all lived the same American dream that he was clearly pursuing. His ability to close the deal with the toughest shark on the show was a prime example of how he’ll never let anything get in his way!

I then was stumped and amazed how a guy that claimed to have a 25-year sales history (Coffee Brand Gifts) could go through years of patent research, product development and the branding of his company to lack the only thing that shows a true demand for his product… SALES!

photo from Shark Tank

The finale of the show really took me up and down! The COVERPLAY women had such a great idea. I loved the idea and I loved their spunk! But then all of a sudden, we found out the patent wasn’t put into the deal. All sharks immediately dropped their original deals when we realized this important issue. In a blink of an eye, the patent was in and the deal was back on! Barbara, with limited knowledge of the product to store business, cut a great deal with the girls and played on their heartstrings with “girl power”. This angle put Kevin, Robert and I in a bad position to negotiate what I think was truly a better deal, due to my experience in this space. The bottom line is… Barb did a great job of out sharking the sharks!!!! And that’s what it’s all about! Even I learned an important lesson in this episode. Throw in more human aspects to making deals and become a better “SHARK”.