In Shark Tank Season Episode 8, Ginelle pitched a product called Cool Wazoo, seeking $65k in exchange for 25% of her company. After all the Sharks initially refused to invest, Lori agreed to give the desired sum in an unusual turn of events.
In this piece, I will run you through everything to know about Cool Wazoo — what exactly is Cool Wazoo, Cool Wazoo’s Shark Tank Pitch & Deal & Cool Wazoo’s update after Shark Tank.
What is Cool Wazoo?
Cool Wazoo is a multipurpose baby cover. The 5-in-1 baby pad functions as a heat shield for hot car seats and swings, a big diaper changing surface, a restaurant high chair cover, and a grocery cart cover.
Ginelle Mills, a mother of three, got the idea for launching Cool Wazoo after a swing at the playground almost scorched her young daughter. On looking into it, Ginelle discovered that even on an 80-degree day, the swing’s surface could touch a temperature of 150 degrees, ultimately harming the baby’s skin. This finding led her to invent the Cool Wazoo, a pad that reflects heat to its source.
But Ginelle wasn’t just satisfied with her pad just solving one problem. She wanted to make sure the pad solved multiple problems mentioned earlier so that mommies would also have to carry less stuff. So, not only does Cool Wazoo serve numerous purposes, but it also fits easily in a purse or a diaper bag when folded up. Cool Wazoo also can act as a germ barrier for changing diapers in public.
Cool Wazoo Shark Tank Pitch
During her Shark Tank appearance, Ginelle asked for $65K in exchange for 25% of her company. After sharing how she got the idea for Cool Wazoo, she explained how Cool Wazoo works.
If the Sharks play ball, their investment will be used by Ginelle to buy inventory. However, they seem disinterested when she informs Sharks that she has already sunk $96k. Robert doesn’t seem keen to be a part of the Cool Wazoo story, so he says he’s out. Mr. Wonderful is too perplexed to understand what problem the product solves, so he is out too. Mark isn’t interested in funding Ginelle’s business education, so he bows out as well. Daymond thinks he can’t bring any value to the table, so he also passes the opportunity. Lori is fond of Ginelle but isn’t sure about investing, so she refuses to invest.
Because none of the Sharks show interest in investing, Ginelle is reduced to tears. Ginelle gets candid and shares how much she sacrificed to get this business up and running. Sympathizing with her second emotional pitch, Lori agrees to invest $65k in exchange for 25%. The two women shared a warm embrace, and Lori consoled Ginelle by saying they would find a way to make the business work.
What Happened to Cool Wazoo After Shark Tank (Cool Wazoo Shark Tank Update)
For some reason, the deal with Lori never closed. After her Shark Tank appearance, Ginelle continued to sell on the Cool Wazoo website, which was redesigned as a Shopify e-commerce store.
In Sep 2015, the Cool Wazoo products were licensed to kids2, which sells under the name ‘Comfort and Harmony’ in Babies R Us Stores. Today, Cool Wazoo products are available on its website and Amazon.
Ginelle also launched two new products, Box Partie & Blew Bubble, other than Cool Wazoo.
