YouTube
YouTube

This week, Tilman Fertitta meets with husband-and-wife duo Octavio and Shannon Arzola of Pop Brothers.

Pop Brothers creates tasty artisan ice pops using local ingredients. Their website states that “the pops are made by hand in small batches. We use natural and creative flavors from fruits, herbs, and spices. We focus on the community by using the freshest ingredients, made daily on the Mississippi Gulf Coast.” Some of the popsicle flavors listed on Yelp include Coconut Mojito, Strawberry Lemonade, and Oreo Cheesecake. In an interview with Sun Herald, Shannon Arzola mentioned, “We take customers on a journey around the world. Our pops are anything but ordinary.”

In their first year of operation, they have made over $230,000 in sales, but Fertitta feels their price of about $5 each is too high. Still, he is impressed with the flavor and their unique recipes. He challenges them to bring the ice pops to the Golden Nugget and try them by the pool.

Inside the casino, sales are tough to come by, however, things go much more smoothly by the pool. Total sales were 112 pops and 80 percent of the customers gave it a five-star rating. All of the reviews agree that the price needs to be lower, though.

Next, they try to sell the ice pops at $4 on the boardwalk, where they perform much better. Fertitta is also impressed by their willingness to take risks, proven by them driving 10 hours during Hurricane Katrina to make a delivery. However, the price still needs to be lowered in order for a deal to be made.

In the boardroom, they propose that the fruit pops be sold at $4 retail, $1.40 for wholesale. He says it needed to get to $1 and he is not willing to accept the $1.40 price point. With a revised offer, they change it to $1.30 wholesale, the lowest they can go. Ultimately, Fertitta agrees to buy 50,000 pops at $1.30 each, a $65,000 deal.

According to CNBC, the reality television show “introduces promising companies across the country to one of America’s most successful businessmen: billionaire hospitality mogul Tilman Fertitta, Chairman, CEO, and sole shareholder of Landry’s, Inc.” Featured entrepreneurs present their small business to Fertitta in the hopes that he will place a large purchase order. But before they make their pitch, they must prove to the hospitality mogul that their product is worth it through challenges and customer feedback.

Social Media Reacts to Pop Brothers’ Appearance on “Billion Dollar Buyer”

What are your thoughts on Pop Brothers? Did you like Fertitta’s offer? Sound off in the comments section below!