Shark Wheel, an innovative skateboard wheel company that appeared on the popular television show “Shark Tank,” has been gaining increased attention in recent years.
The patented design of the wheel provides a unique advantage that can make skateboarding more efficient and enjoyable.
This article seeks to investigate what happened after Shark Wheel’s appearance on ‘Shark Tank’ as well as how their product has continued to evolve since then.
Through interviews with key players and an examination of public records, this investigation will shed light onto the success of Shark Wheel since its initial debut.
Shark Wheel’s Story
Shark Wheel is a skateboard wheel company that was featured on Shark Tank in 2013. Founded by David Patrick and Aaron Fotheringham, the business revolutionized skateboarding with its unique design which features octagonal shaped wheels for improved traction and grip. The brand’s mission was to provide an innovative solution to the traditional challenges of skating.
The founders had a clear branding strategy from the beginning, focused on targeting young people who were looking for new ways to enjoy their sport while also challenging industry norms. With this target market in mind, they developed marketing campaigns and content aimed at reaching out directly to these customers through social media platforms such as Instagram and YouTube.
They also created partnerships with influencers within the skateboarding community to further spread awareness of their product. The appearance on Shark Tank gave Shark Wheel more visibility than ever before, helping them gain significant momentum leading up to the launch of their first official line of products in 2014.
Since then, the company has grown into one of the most popular brands in the skateboarding industry, providing riders around the world with high-quality products that have been designed specifically for maximum performance.
Appearing On Shark Tank
The Shark Wheel, a technological advancement in the skateboarding industry, has gained noteworthy recognition since appearing on ABC’s popular show ‘Shark Tank.’
The company was founded by David Patrick and his two sons who appeared on the show to pitch their product to potential investors.
Their innovative wheel design was revolutionary and offered superior performance compared to traditional wheels of that era.
Despite not receiving an investment offer from the sharks during the episode, the brothers were able to leverage media exposure gained through being featured on television into substantial sales growth for their business.
Following their appearance on Shark Tank, Shark Wheel implemented several effective pitching strategies which allowed them to reach out to a wider consumer base.
In addition, they leveraged social media platforms such as Twitter and Instagram to share images of their products with potential customers around the world; ultimately contributing greatly towards increased brand awareness and sales figures.
Moreover, Shark Wheel also sponsored professional athletes in order to gain more attention for their products amongst extreme sports enthusiasts looking for more efficient skating equipment.
This strategy proved successful and significantly improved both visibility and marketability of the company’s products within a short period of time; allowing them to become one of leading brands in competitive skateboarding today.
Reactions To The Pitch
Shark Wheel’s pitch on Shark Tank received a lukewarm reception from the investors. The concept of using hexagonal shapes to form skateboard wheels was not seen as groundbreaking or revolutionary enough by most of the panel. Despite its innovative approach, some saw it as an unnecessary gimmick and were unsure if it would be successful.
The founder, David Patrick, made his case for why this new wheel design could potentially revolutionize the industry but didn’t get any offers from the Sharks. While there were no deals made that day, Shark Wheel still managed to receive plenty of media attention after appearing on the show.
Interest in their product spiked following the episode’s airing and has since grown significantly due to online word-of-mouth marketing campaigns and celebrity endorsements. As a result, Shark Wheel has become one of the leading companies when it comes to developing cutting edge skateboard technology:
- They have sold over 200K units worldwide
- Their products are available at more than 10k retail stores across 30 countries
- Their team consists of 50+ members
- They’ve been featured in numerous publications including ESPN Magazine, Popular Science, Vice Media, etc.
Investment And Partnerships
The success of Shark Wheel’s pitch on the hit show Shark Tank captured the attention of millions. After its appearance, Shark Wheel experienced a massive surge in public interest and demand for their product.
Through this increased exposure, they were able to establish partnerships with major companies and receive investments that allowed them to protect their patents and invest heavily in marketing strategies. With the help of these new partners, Shark Wheel was able to expand into larger markets across the globe.
They also secured patent protection for their unique wheel design which enabled them to continue as industry leaders without fear of imitation or replication from competitors. With funds from investors, they established an online store dedicated exclusively to selling their products as well as creating effective digital advertising campaigns targeting younger generations who are tech savvy and environmentally conscious.
Shark Wheel continued to grow rapidly after their successful pitch and soon became one of the most popular skateboard-related brands worldwide. Their innovative designs combined with aggressive marketing tactics contributed greatly to their long-term success; showing no signs of slowing down even years later.
Updates To The Product
Since its appearance on Shark Tank in 2013, there have been several updates to the innovative designs and marketing strategies of California-based skateboard company Shark Wheel.
The most notable update has been the addition of a new line of longboards with custom shapes and sizes created using the company’s proprietary technology.
Additionally, they have focused more heavily on digital marketing campaigns that expand their reach beyond just traditional skateboarding communities.
The company has also seen success in licensing agreements for apparel and accessories featuring their iconic shark wheel logo. This helps create brand visibility as well as attract customers who may not be familiar with skateboarding culture but would still recognize the unique design of the wheels.
Speaking about this strategy, CEO David Patrick said “We wanted to make sure our message was reaching people outside of our core customer base so we could continue to grow our business.”
In recent years, Shark Wheel has partnered with multiple professional athletes from various action sports disciplines such as snowboarding, BMX biking, and roller derby skating. These partnerships are mutually beneficial since it allows both parties to leverage each other’s fan bases while also providing additional exposure for the product itself.
Alongside these partnerships is an ongoing commitment to giving back by donating products or sponsoring events that promote education and involvement in extreme sports amongst younger generations.
All these efforts combined have helped solidify Shark Wheel’s position within the industry while continuing to build upon its already successful foundation established by its founder four years ago.
Increasing Popularity
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Shark Wheel, an innovative skateboard wheel design, gained a significant spike in popularity after being featured on the popular television show Shark Tank.
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The company has since sought to increase its market share by targeting a variety of skateboarders, including those who focus on downhill and cruising.
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The company has also looked to expand its distribution to more retailers, both online and brick-and-mortar.
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Through these efforts, Shark Wheel has been able to grow its customer base and has seen sales steadily increase since their appearance on Shark Tank.
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The company has also continued to innovate their product line, adding new shapes and sizes to their wheels, as well as expanding into other skateboard accessories.
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As a result of their efforts, Shark Wheel has been able to create a strong brand and become a leader in the skateboard wheel market.
Gaining Market Share
Since its appearance on Shark Tank in 2014, Shark Wheel has worked to gain market share and increase their popularity.
In order to appeal to a wider audience, the company focused on energy efficiency by producing wheels with fewer spokes than traditional skateboard wheels while still maintaining product durability.
This allowed skaters to achieve more speed with less effort, leading to an overall improved riding experience.
To further capitalize on this new technology, the company partnered with several prominent retailers and distributors around the world, which increased its visibility and reach significantly.
Evidently, these strategies have proven successful as they continue to expand rapidly into new territories and drive sales growth year after year.
It is clear that Shark Wheel’s post-Shark Tank success can be attributed largely to their commitment to innovation and dedication to providing customers with a quality product.
Expanding Distribution
In order to further their post-Shark Tank success, Shark Wheel has implemented various branding strategies and digital marketing campaigns.
Through these initiatives, the company hopes to broaden its customer base by expanding distribution across more regions worldwide.
To support this goal, they have collaborated with several retailers and distributors in different countries who can help put their products on store shelves and increase visibility.
Additionally, they are investing heavily into digital marketing initiatives such as social media advertisements and influencer collaborations that will allow them to reach a wider audience than ever before.
With this strategy in place, Shark Wheel is well positioned for continued growth and market share expansion.
Growing Customer Base
The growing customer base of Shark Wheel is a critical part of the company’s strategy for increasing popularity.
To this end, they have been exploring new markets to reach potential customers and expanding their distribution network worldwide.
This has included collaborating with retailers and distributors in different countries who can help make their products available on store shelves.
Moreover, Shark Wheel has also invested heavily into digital marketing initiatives such as social media advertisements and influencer collaborations that allow them to target prospective consumers more effectively.
As a result of these efforts, the company is now able to capitalize on its rapidly growing fan base which will ultimately lead to increased market share.
International Expansion
The success of Shark Wheel on the ABC series Shark Tank has resulted in a remarkable boost to their popularity.
The unique combination of traditional skateboard designs with an innovative cube-shaped wheel design created an entirely new and exciting product line.
To capitalize on this newfound exposure, the company had to undertake two primary tasks: product improvements and marketing strategies.
Upon appearing on Shark Tank, founders David Patrick and Robert Wagner set out to perfect their products for the commercial market by making them faster, more durable and better performing than ever before.
They also introduced several variations like longboards, mini cruisers, street boards and downhill boards that would appeal to various types of riders.
In addition, they used high-grade materials such as aluminum alloy trucks and 78A Durometer urethane wheels that provided stability while skating at higher speeds.
As a result of these ongoing product enhancements, sales increased by over 800% within four months after airing on television.
In order to generate further awareness about their brand worldwide, Shark Wheel employed targeted marketing campaigns across both digital and print platforms utilizing social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook along with influencer endorsements from professional skaters like Tony Hawk who have been featured in branded content videos promoting their wheels.
This combined strategy allowed them to reach millions of potential customers around the world including countries like Japan where they received international recognition due to their advertising efforts.
With each successful campaign came additional revenue streams from retail partnerships which enabled them to become one of the fastest growing skate companies in history.
Overall, Shark Wheel’s appearance on Shark tank catapulted them into mainstream consciousness through careful planning and execution of creative product improvements coupled with effective global marketing strategies that reached far beyond what was initially expected.
Continued Growth
After Shark Tank, Shark Wheel’s growth was nothing short of spectacular. The company began to expand its branding strategy and product line with the aim of increasing their customer base.
In 2013, it introduced the ‘shark bite’ feature which allowed customers to customize their wheels by adding a variety of shapes and colors. This pricing model proved popular and sales increased significantly as a result, allowing Shark Wheel to gain more attention in the skateboarding community.
As word spread about this new wheel design, demand for the product rose considerably leading to an increase in production capabilities. This made it possible for them to offer a wider range of products at competitive prices while maintaining quality standards and providing excellent customer service.
The introduction of advanced technologies such as 3D printing further fueled the company’s success, enabling them to create custom designs that could be used on any type of terrain or surface. To keep up with market trends, Shark Wheel also invested heavily in research and development initiatives aimed at creating innovative solutions for skaters all over the world.
Their commitment towards innovation has enabled them to remain relevant despite intense competition from other brands offering similar products.
Future Plans
After their successful appearance on Shark Tank, Shark Wheel has continued to grow and gain awareness.
As the saying goes, ‘you are only as strong as your weakest link’, and in this case the company’s strength is derived from its commitment to innovation and customer satisfaction.
Through crowdfunding campaigns, Shark Wheel has been able to obtain necessary capital for development of new products that bring more value to customers.
The feedback from customers has also helped shape product design decisions within the company.
The majority of reviews from buyers have been positive which speaks volumes about how reliable the product is despite being an innovative concept.
Continuous testing by professionals such as skateboarders, snowboarders, surfers, and skaters helps ensure quality standards remain high while adapting to different terrain conditions.
Going forward, Shark Wheel plans to continue innovating with a focus on durability and performance improvements so that riders can push their limits when out on the street or slopes.
With more research and development into wheels technology underway, it will be interesting to see what further advancements come out of this dynamic business in the future.
Takeaways
The impact of Shark Tank on the success of Shark Wheel has been widely discussed. Since appearing on the show in 2013, the company has continued to grow and expand its reach.
Through patent protection, brand recognition and strategic partnerships with major retailers, Shark Wheel has succeeded in making itself into a recognizable name in skateboarding circles. Shark Wheels became available for purchase online shortly after their appearance on the show, allowing them to increase their sales exponentially as more people learned about their product.
The innovative design created by founder David Patrick allowed them to secure numerous patents which provided legal protection while also helping build brand recognition through media coverage and word-of-mouth advertising from satisfied customers. In addition, strategic partnerships with well known retail stores such Amazon, Target and Walmart helped Shark Wheel gain exposure to wider audiences outside of skateboarding communities.
This enabled them to further establish themselves as an industry leader among other wheel manufacturers. In 2020, they launched another new line of wheels made out of recycled materials that have already begun to garner attention from investors and consumers alike.
Conclusion
Shark Wheel’s journey since its time on Shark Tank has been an incredible success story. The company was able to garner a substantial investment and partnerships, update their product with innovative designs, expand internationally, and experience continued growth even after the show had aired.
Simile can be drawn between Shark Wheels’ rise in popularity and that of a phoenix rising from the ashes; this metaphor being especially apt as it was originally created out of necessity due to California’s drought conditions.
It is clear that without the help of Shark Tank, Shark Wheel would not have become such an influential brand today. As they look towards the future, there is no telling what new heights they will reach.