'Shark Tank' Season 15: Internet calls out Pick-Up Brick's founders for ripping off Suck It from The Office
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Pick-Up Bricks was one of the firms contending for the approval of the 'Shark Tank' panel on the December 8 episode. The company, like many of its predecessors, including 'Shark Tank' Season 13's Handy Pan, is built on a single flagship product.
The main offering from Pick-Up Bricks is a vacuum designed for children, specifically crafted to help and motivate youngsters to tidy up Lego pieces from the floor.
For avid 'Shark Tank' viewers, the notable connection between the product and the 'Suck It' proposal by David Wallace from 'The Office' is unmistakable.
On the show, David, played by Andy Buckley, came up with a product concept in the episode 'Sabre.' It is a toy vacuum that sucks up toys and teaches youngsters to clean up after themselves.
David revealed during a fundraiser dinner in the episode 'Fundraiser' that the United States military acquired the patent for the device for $20 million.
A presentation on the Office website illustrates how David developed Suck It to be versatile for various tasks, including the cleanup of radioactive and nuclear waste.
This is how the US military may utilize it.
He also wrote a song called 'Suck It' for Suck It.
Aurora Weinstock and her brother-in-law, Steven Weinstock, conceived the idea for Pick-Up Bricks while brainstorming ways to encourage their own children to tidy up Legos and other small items after playtime.
The universal experience of the discomfort caused by stepping on a Lego barefoot is well-known to anyone who has ever built with the popular toy.
Pick-Up Bricks isn't just a vacuum that kids can use; with its simplicity of use and toy-like design, it's a vacuum that kids will ideally look forward to adding to their Lego-building activities.
On Facebook, fans wrote, "They ripped off David Wallace’s 'Suck It.' The Office Season 6: Episode 15." While one quipped, "And they didn't even make the vacuum-sucking sound."
On Reddit, some threw a jab at the company saying, "Yay, another stolen idea....they made a Suck It."
While another noted, "These guys actually created the toy David made on The Office."
On X, one user tweeted, "Pick up Bricks is such a rip off of Suck It." While another asked, "Pick Up Bricks on tonight’s @ABCSharkTank is just Suck It from David Wallace/The Office, no?"
Pick up Bricks is such a rip off of Suck It. #SharkTank pic.twitter.com/uKLJTetE6l
— Holly Jolly Golightly 🎅♡🤶 (@2MeURPurfect) December 9, 2023
Pick Up Bricks on tonight’s @ABCSharkTank is just Suck It from David Wallace/The Office, no?#SharkTank #MarkCuban @mcuban @LoriGreiner @kevinolearytv @TheSharkDaymond @BarbaraCorcoran pic.twitter.com/T5LIOh7TIP
— Joey Berry (@joey_barely) December 9, 2023
Pick-Up Bricks got recognition after going viral on TikTok
The initial popularity of Pick-Up Bricks stemmed from a TikTok account belonging to a mother blogger who featured the product.
In January, LaTreese Atkins published a 14-second video exhibiting the Pick-Up Bricks' basic operation, which was accompanied by the Harry Styles song 'As It Was.'
Her account frequently promotes so-called "motherhood life hacks," and text on-screen touts the purchase as an "Amazon find."
Presumably, LaTreese discovered the product through an online search and, after purchasing one, believed it was valuable enough to share with her followers.
LaTreese's video garnered over 90,000 likes and received over 500 comments, exposing the Pick-Up Bricks vacuum to a wider audience than traditional advertising ever could.
Pick-Up Bricks offers accessories and replacement parts for its Lego builders
Pick-Up Bricks is committed to providing items at affordable prices, with its vacuum priced at $99. Additionally, the company frequently runs promotions and discounts, exemplified by their Christmas sale, which presents a generous 30% discount on their products.
Pick-Up Bricks also sells accessories and replacement components, demonstrating their dedication to sustainability and the durability of their products.
Customers have the option to purchase individual components such as a hose for $10 and a charger for $15. This approach ensures that minor faults or wear and tear do not require buying an entirely new product, enhancing the overall value and practicality of their offerings.
Pick-Up Bricks made its TV debut before 'Shark Tank'
After LaTreese's TikTok video featuring the Pick-Up Bricks vacuum went viral, several media outlets featured the video and its trending status. One notable example is The Today Show blog, which interviewed LaTreese about her connection to the product.
Possibly influenced by this segment, a March episode of 'The Today Show' featured a brief demonstration of the Pick-Up Bricks.
Initially met with skepticism by some members of the Today panel, the device piqued the interest of two anchors after they witnessed it in action, prompting them to stand up from their chairs for a closer look.
So 'Shark Tank' isn't the first TV show to showcase Pick-Up Bricks.
'Shark Tank' Season 15 airs on Fridays on ABC at 8 pm ET.
For those who miss the episode, it will be available on demand the following day and on Hulu. Additionally, viewers can explore past seasons and episodes on Amazon Prime Video and iTunes.
