FurZapper on 'Shark Tank': What is the cost, who are the founders and does device remove pet hair from clothes?
While there's no denying that owning a pet is one of the biggest joys in life, however, the pet hair that comes with it can wreak havoc on your clothes and home. This is one of the biggest complaints that many pet parents have. Although there are several lint rollers in the market unfortunately all of them are not only time-consuming but also extremely labor-intensive.
Michael Sweigart, the founder of FurZapper came up with this simple yet super effective product by accident after he was beyond frustrated doing his family's laundry and removing the pet hair manually from each of the clothing garments. Read on to know more about this nifty device that promises to keep your clothes fur-free.
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What is FurZapper?
FurZapper is a patent-pending product that has been created to provide pet-owners respite from pet hair and fur that has a tendency to embed and weave itself into clothing items like sweaters, jackets, etc. Even the best washer and dryer machine in the market requires the user to pick out the fur or to lint-roll it off their clothes despite the lengthy cycle of tumbling, spinning, fabric softeners, detergents, etc. So, the founders wanted to create a product that would not only be a self-cleaning product but also an extremely easy and simple to use device,
The website describes FurZapper as, "The FurZapper material provides a flexible, tacky surface that temporarily grabs onto pet fur. It adheres to the pet fur, and then quickly releases it into the washer or dryer to be flushed or blown away. This specialized material does not allow any material to permanently stick to it. The FurZapper shape has been tested and fine-tuned for optimal performance. It’s small enough to fit between clothing as it tumbles and oscillates, and shaped to ensure it has an effective surface area without sticking to the sides of your clothing machines." It has been designed in such a way that it is safe to use in any washer and dryer machine.
Who are the founders?
Michael Sweigar and Harry Levin are the founders of FurZapper. Michael created the patent-pending product in 2016 completely by chance. Michael, a stay-at-home dad and parent of two dogs and a cat was beyond frustrated with doing laundry as removing his fur babies' hair and dander from clothes was beginning to become an annoying task. As a self-confessed life-long inventor he was looking for solutions to his laundry problem when the solution landed in his lap.
Michael was working as a special effects make-up artist when a foamZombie mask fell on the floor of his house. When he picked up the mask he noticed that it was covered with dog hair and fur all over it. He rinsed it off and the hair came right off. When he tried throwing it in the washer and dryer, no hair got on his clothes. He then decided to create the product himself using the silicon-based foam and experimented with various shapes and sizes before finally zeroing on hockey puck size with paw print openings.
He then shared the product samples with his family and friends. When they got back to him with rave reviews, he immediately met up with a patent attorney and started the process of patenting his invention. While the patent was pending, he set up a website and began selling the product in 2017. "Since forming the company in 2017, FurZapper has sold over 1.5 million units online and in all Walmart stores in the U.S., as well as in Canada, the UK and, most recently, Japan. Three manufacturing suppliers create FurZappers around the clock," shared Swigart with The Sand Paper.
What is the cost and where to buy FurZapper from?
The original FurZapper retails for $10.99 each and $4.99 for a double pack. You can get your very own FurZapper from either their website, Amazon, Walmart, or a few select offline stores.
Where is FurZapper now?
In 2020, FurZapper added caps and t-shirts with the brand's logo to their inventory. They also recently launched FurZapper Pet Grooming Glove. The website describes the glove as "Gently and effectively remove excess pet hair with The FurZapper Pet Grooming glove. Designed to be gentle, durable, and efficient, the FurZapper Pet grooming glove makes hair removal a simple and enjoyable process for your pets. Simply put the glove on either hand, and pet, rub, and massage the hair off. Once you are finished, just peel off the excess layer of hair or rinse off in your sink. The Pet Grooming glove is made out of safe, allergy-free, hypo-allergenic silicone and can be used thousands of times."
Who will steal the deal?
Barbara Corcoran or Lori Greiner may close the deal with FurZapper. Although the brand's sales numbers and profit margins will ultimately be the major deciding factor for the sharks on whether to invest in the business or not. So, we will just have to wait and watch to see if the Sharks even make a deal.
'Shark tank' Season 12 airs every Friday at 8/7c only on ABC.
