Gardening is a popular hobby that gives many benefits like reducing stress, keeping fresh. etc. 80% of traditional gardening can be harmful. Many conventional plant care products contain toxic ingredients that pose health risks, particularly for households with children and animals.
Exposure to these toxic chemicals can cause skin irritation, respiratory issues, and long-term health problems. Recognizing this situation, Vanessa Dawson realized there should be chemical free gardening products. So, Vanessa started a company called Arber. Arber offers chemical free and eco- friendly gardening products. The basic motivation behind this was to make gardening a safe hobby from a health point of view.
These products are made for numerous gardening needs, which include indoor plants, vegetable gardens, and lawns. Each product costs between $21 and $25, with concentrated formulations that require mixing with water for application.
Vanessa was in search of $500,000 for 4% equity in the business and presented their product to Sharks, requesting funding to expand their company.
Arber Net Worth 2024 Shark Tank Update
Vanessa Dawson was looking for an investment of $500,000 in exchange for 4% equity in the company. At the time of the episode, she valued her company, Arber, at $12.5 million. Dawson did not secure a deal with any of the Sharks, as Kevin O’Leary’s counteroffer of $500,000 for a 5% stake plus a royalty of $1 per unit (until $1.5 million is paid back) was not accepted. After the show aired, Arber continued to grow and gain recognition in multiple publications such as INC, Vogue, and Forbes. The company expanded its product range and presence in stores like Target. As per my rough estimate, the current net worth of Arber is around $15 million.
Shark(s) name | Offer & Demand | Counteroffer | Accepted? |
Kevin O’Leary | $500,000 for a 5% stake + a royalty of $1 per unit (until $1.5M is paid back). | $500,000 for a 5% stake + a royalty of 50 cents per unit royalty (until $1.5M is paid back). | No |
Candace Nelson | Out | N/A | N/A |
Lori Greiner | Out | N/A | N/A |
Daymond John | Out | N/A | N/A |
Mark Cuban | Out | N/A | N/A |
Founders Backstory-Initial Pitch
When Vanessa became a mother, she used to spend her time gardening. Later on, she thought traditional gardening products were not safe to use because of their toxic chemicals. She couldn’t take this for granted because it was not safe for her child and pet, too, when they played in the garden. Therefore, she made up her mind to make chemical-free gardening products, particularly for families having children and pets. Hence, she founded the company Arber, which offers a streamlined of organic, non-toxic plant care products.
In the early stages, Dawson faced some challenges in sourcing appropriate natural ingredients that should be affordable and effective. Developing products that meet the exact requirements of the people and are budget friendly was a challenge for her. Moreover, teaching consumers about these products when they are used to using chemical products was a hurdle. However, she tackled everything through collaborations with experts.
Dawson presented her product to sharks, highlighting its benefits and why she introduced these products to ordinary people. She explained to sharks how these chemical free products prove advantageous for the plant’s health. She also told them about the growing need of non toxic healthy products for plants and how these traditional gardening products harm the health of kids and pets.
Dawson was seeking $500,000 for 4% equity in business. Dawson was seeking $500,000 for 4% equity in business. She was seeking a shark partner for funding to expand her company but Dawson countered with a different royalty structure, which led to the negotiation ending without a deal.
Queries, Shark’s Response, & Final Deal
Sharks asked various questionnaires about Arber’s products. They were interested to know about the efficiency of these products. They talk about how these products are different from other gardening products, how these products are formed, etc. They also question the cost of the product and what about market demand, how Arber teaches people about these chemical free products.
Also, they were interested to know about the company’s financial health and if they give funds to Arber, what changes and facilities will it make for other people.
The discussion revealed a division in the Shark’s perspectives. While they appreciate the potential of Arber’s products, concerns about profitability and the complexity of educating consumers.Moreove dawson also elaborated that Arber;s market position is well and the company had generated $2.7 million in revenue in the previous year and projected $4.5 million for the current year.
Lori Greiner, Nelson, John, and Cuban all decided to pass on the opportunity because of various reasons such as market demand and doubt about the company’s growth potential. Kelvin offered $500,000 for a 5% stake + a royalty of $1 per unit (until $1.5M is paid back) for which Dawson encountered 50 cents per unit royalty. After further discussions and negotiations, Dawson decided not to accept his offer, leading to no deal being finalized.
What Went Wrong With Arber On Shark Tank?
Sharks didn’t accept the offer due to a number of factors, including market demand, company growth, royalty negotiations, etc. While Arber had an impressive growth rate, reaching $2.7M in the previous year and projecting $4.5M for the current year, the company was not yet profitable. The low-profit margins raised concerns among the Sharks about the long-term viability and scalability of the business model.
Cuban and Grenier felt the loss of profit so they refused to contribute. Nelson and Daymond rejected it because of the challenges in educating people about organic and chemical-free plant products. However, Kelvin gave an offer to Dawson $500,000 for a 5% stake + a royalty of $1 per unit (until $1.5M is paid back) for which Dawson encountered 50 cents per unit royalty but Kelvin refused to accept this.
A variety of challenges are faced by the company, like low profit margins, the need for extensive consumer education, and a saturated market, etc. These factors made Sharks doubtful to contribute their investment for the company. They were worried whether they would be able to quickly expand Arber into a big company and thus see a significant return on their investment. Additionally, the difficulties in distinguishing products in such a competitive market environment left the investors cold.
All the Sharks opted out because of a lack of profit, market saturation, and education of consumers. They were doubtful about Arber’s progress in the market. They thought about the company’s growth. These rising questions in their mind made the investment too risky for most of the Sharks.
Product Availability
The products are available on the company’s website arber.com. The website offers a great range of chemical-free products, including Organic Bio Insecticides, Bio Fungicides, Bio Protectant, and Plant Food. The website gives detailed information about the product, which consists of pricing, benefits, and usage,
Arber’s products are affordable alternatives to traditional gardening chemical-based products. It targets middle-class families so that they can reach the products, too. Each product on the website costs between $21 and $25. Arber’s products are available on online platforms, including Amazon. Also, the company is trying to expand its market to offline stores.
What Happened to the Company After Shark Tank?
The Arber company is still in working. Although Sharks didn’t agree to contribute to the company, it still got a valuable position in the world. Over the recent years, Arber has been seen and praised in numerous publications, including INC, Vogue, CNN Money, Forbes, House Beautiful, Veranda, Business Insider, and more. The company offers gardeners a variety of products, including fertilizers, flower food, and basic gardening accessories. In early 2024, Arber expanded from four SKUs at Target to ten and consumers have more Arber products to choose from. Arber is extremely popular with mainstream consumers. It can be seen that 2024 will be a growth year for Arber.
Conclusion:
Vanessa Dawson, the founder of Arber, presented her company’s products to Shark Tank. Arber offers a variety of eco-friendly, chemical-free, and advantageous products for plants. These products are 100% organic and a safe alternative to other chemical products.
Dawson was seeking $500,000 for 5% equity in the business, requesting the Sharks for funding to expand her company. Cuban and Grenier felt a loss of profit, so they declined to contribute. Nelson and Daymond rejected it due to the difficulty of educating people about organic and chemical-free plant products.
Kelvin, on the other hand, offered Dawson $500,000 for a 5% stake plus a royalty of $1 per unit (until $1.5 million was paid back), for which Dawson received a royalty of 50 cents per unit, but Kelvin refused to accept it. So, the deal was not secured by Shark Tanks. However, now Arber is making progress in the market and making a profit, and it will continue to grow in the future, too.
Hello, Fareena Khan here. I am an Electrical Engineer with a passion for innovation and technology, and now, I am pursuing my master’s degree from NUST, Islamabad. I have been watching Shark Tank for the past 2 years, and then, it served as a way to kill my free time. It’s inspiring to see how ordinary people, with determination, creativity, hard work, and consistency, can achieve extraordinary things. Moreover, the curiosity of whether the company owner will strike the deal or not makes the program more interesting. This show can be a cause of motivation for others who want to go for business in future.