Two young start-up entrepreneurs from Alabama hit the big time Friday night on the nationally televised show "Shark Tank."
Darien Craig and Brandon Echols of Hayden competed against three other start-ups to pitch their businesses to five tough investor types. Their business has a distinctive Southern name: Y'all Sweet Tea. They were successful in their televised pitch.
Y'all Sweet Tea won an offer from two investors on the show for a half-million dollars in exchange for a 15% equity stake in their company. They accepted.
Watch as the two boys from Bama pitch their company to the sharks:
They now have $500,000 additional cash on hand and a significant boost in credibility and visibility with the two new investors — second-time guest investor Rashaun Williams and regular Lori Grenier. Both are seasoned investors, and Williams is a co-owner of the Atlanta Falcons.
In addition to their basic product, a standard tea bag, Y'all has added cookware, ground coffee and spices to their line.
The two young men are major users of social media for sales. One of their collaborators is another successful Alabama food entrepreneur, Brenda Gantt of Andalusia, with four million followers.
Another is the grandmother of Darien, Sue Garrett of Harperville. "Mama Sue" has been successful in her own online operation. She contributed her recipe for tea to the mix and her followers. She made a surprise appearance on Shark Tank and helped serve the drinks to the sharks.
Mama Sue's Southern Kitchen has attracted 3.5 million viewers to her video.
Never to pass up an opportunity to promote their brand, Y'all Sweet Tea was ready to go with an online promotion as soon as they finished their November 15 appearance on "Shark Tank." They posted a special online offer named "The Shark Tank Bundle." It has the three selections of tea that Y'all Sweet Tea served to the sharks on Season 16, Episode 5.
"Each shark got our regular tea made sweet and unsweet. Mr. Wonderful had Peach to taste, and Barbara got Watermelon to sample!"
Jim' Zig' Zeigler writes about Alabama's people, places, events, groups and prominent deaths. He is a former Alabama Public Service Commissioner and State Auditor. You can reach him for comments at ZeiglerElderCare@yahoo.com.
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