Swimming with the Sharks
Before our Business Development Manager joined the Steamatic USA team, Brandi Pierce decided to take on the Sharks. The Sharks of Shark Tank to be exact. At 33, Brandi sold her ‘67 barracuda to start her journey as a business owner. Not long after selling her first profitable business, Brandi opened her second business called Southern Swings.
In the first 10 months of opening, Southern Swings was already making about $400,000 in profit sales, but Brandi had an even bigger dream. Wanting everyone to be able to enjoy a slice of this southern charm, Brandi aimed to take Southern Swings global. Needing a little help to make this dream a reality, it comes to no surprise that when Shark Tank had an open call in Nashville, Brandi dove headfirst at the opportunity.
What was the interview Process for shark tank like? Walk us through the process.
“The process was a fun one!
I went to an open call in Nashville, TN and stood in line with hundreds of hopefuls. It was a quick and streamlined process.
You get one minute to pitch your idea to their casting department. They tell you they will call you back within 3-4 weeks if your idea makes it through.
Two weeks later, I got the call telling me I had made it through, and they will need a video submitted. I submitted it and it made its way up the ranks to the final round.
Sadly, the last door between the Sharks and I was closed by an email from the last round casting crew that informed me my journey towards the Sharks had come to an end.”
What would you say was the biggest thing you learned from going through that process?
“I knew going in that I had a great and unique concept and after going through the process, it only confirmed that whatever I set my mind to, I could do.”
If you could go back, would you do anything differently?
“If I could go back through the casting process, I would have sold myself more and how hard I’ve worked to get to where I was. I would have also made my video a little more focused on the experience of Southern Swings. So, a video with all the parties we had coming in and out of the spa having fun! And I would have filmed all the people that came from overseas just to sit in the swings.”
When you weren’t accepted how did that accelerate your drive to succeed in other areas?
“I didn’t get discouraged by not being picked. It just reconfirmed that I’m on the right route in life!”
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Even though this route didn’t go quite as hoped for Brandi, Steamatic is all the better for it! Not long after Brandi sold Southern Swings, she brought her amazing entrepreneurial spirit and skillset to our corporate development team. Some of the most amazing qualities Brandi possesses are her unwillingness to ever back down from a challenge, her consistent positivity, and her willingness to share her knowledge and experiences to help others grow as well. The Sharks missed out, but we know this fierce competitor is only getting warmed up. Thank you for all you do Brandi!