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Mother and daughter duo Kelley Higney and Ellen McAlister joined the Sharks in the tank to find help building inventory and marketing their product the Bug Bite Thing. Kelley and Ellen came to the Shark Tank asking for a Shark investment of $150,000 in exchange for 10% equity. Their product, which they private label from a manufacturer in Denmark draws out the insect saliva left after a bite so that your body stops producing the reaction to the saliva which causes swelling and itching. The Bug Bite Thing is simply applied over the insect bite or sting. When pressure is applied to the Bug Bite Thing, it draws the saliva out of the skin. After the suction is released from the skin, the cap, which holds the insect saliva, can easily be rinsed out and sanitized for the next use.

Kelly learned of this product after moving to Florida from California and being tormented with insect bites. After learning about this product she tracked down the manufacturer and began purchasing the product from them and private labeling it. There is not currently a patent on this product. The Bug Bite Thing has brought in $800,000 in sales YTD and is predicted to sell $2,000,000 this year. With an 80% profit margin, the Sharks are very interested to learn more about her sales, marketing, and her retail strategy.

In an unusual move in the Shark Tank, all of the Sharks pitch offers to Kelley and Ellen. Lori Greiner offers them their asking investment and equity share, $150,000 for 10%. Although Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran partner and extend them an offer, as well as a partnership between Rohan Oza and Kevin O’Leary, Kelley and Ellen agree to Lori’s offer.

What do you think about this product? Would you purchase this? Are you surprised by the support the Shark Tank showed the Bug Bite Thing? Comment below to discuss!

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