Alan Draper
Last into the tank are Niki and Matt Rasor of Firefighter Turnout Bags, seeking $250,000 for 33 percent equity.
Firefighter Turnout Bags uses expired firefighter gear and, in recycling them, creates stylish bags. According to their website, after Rasor’s husband asked her to remove a pocket from his turnout coat, she became inspired and “started getting crafty.” There are now more than 100 designs, ranging from pouches to an everyday bag to backpacks and more. Custom bags range in price from $65 for a wallet to $315 for a duffel bag.
After making many mistakes early on, Rasor is ready to do it right—starting by finally getting the chance to pitch on “Shark Tank.” They did $194,000 in sales last year.
Kevin O’Leary thinks they need a manager and the sharks worry about their intention to mass produce patterned bags. Despite the fact that it would help lower their costs, they find that avenue less authentic to their brand given that they wouldn’t actually be using firefighter gear as the material. Given the challenges, Daymond John goes out, followed by Mark Cuban and O’Leary.
Robert Herjavec worries about her ability to run and scale the business but offers to buy the entire thing for $500,000. Lori Greiner loves her passion and offers $250,000 for 50 percent, with the intent to donate a percentage of every sale to firefighter charities. Ultimately, they accept Greiner’s offer.
Social Media Reacts to Firefighter Turnout Bags’ Appearance on “Shark Tank”
I love these bags and will definitely buy one #SharkTank
— Cara (@svnshady) February 11, 2017
Those bags made of firemen's uniforms are cool. #SharkTank
— Josephine (@notmyname02) February 11, 2017
The bags are expensive however I would pay because the bag was actually a firefighters uniform. @ABCSharkTank #SharkTank
— SoulsticePhotog (@SoulsticePhotog) February 11, 2017
The bags are cool but I see them as more a fad kinda thing. Plus I don't think she can emotionally handle a large business #SharkTank
— Brooke (@RottenAccount) February 11, 2017
#sharktank She lucked out. I wouldn't be able to work with her. $500000 + design job? I'd be signing papers as soon as the cameras went off
— Lori Martin (@kirashek777) February 11, 2017
This entrepreneur would be smart NOT to rip-off the authenticity of her business. If it makes you unique, KEEP IT. #SharkTank #FFTOB
— Daymond John (@TheSharkDaymond) February 11, 2017
Each week on “Shark Tank,” budding entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their emerging business to six multi-millionaire and billionaire investors, known as sharks: Mark Cuban, owner of the Dallas Mavericks; Daymond John, fashion mogul and founder of FUBU; Kevin O’Leary, self-proclaimed Mr. Wonderful and founder of O’Leary Financial Group; Barbara Corcoran, real estate maven; Lori Greiner, queen of QVC; and Robert Herjavec, technology guru and founder/CEO of the Herjavec Group. Venture capitalist Chris Sacca is also slated to appear as a guest shark this season.
“Shark Tank,” which is based on “Dragons’ Den,” is produced by Mark Burnett and first debuted in 2009. To date, the sharks have invested more than $87 million in various companies after engaging in numerous bidding wars and shark fights. A new episode airs each Friday at 9 p.m. on ABC.
Would you buy a bag from Firefighter Turnout Bags? Sound off in the comments section below!
This article was written for Business 2 Community by Alan Draper.
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Lori, I give you credit for taking that woman on. While she is good with the design of the bags, she presents as unstable on every other level. She came in trying to sell the romance of the actual firefighter gear then switched to knocking off her own design! And to put Robert down at the end by saying he didn’t share her vision, what a jerk. Robert had her number right at the start and that’s why he wanted to take it off her hands before she destroyed it. She was belligerent, defensive and rude. Good luck Lori! You’re a nice person but you will have to be tough to keep that one in line!
Not too keen on the warning the bags may be cancerous. With all the emphasis on healthy eating and healthy products these days…,this does not sound like a risk I would want to take
I think the pricing is fair considering the time put into them and I’ve bought purses for $300.00 quite often. Durable, cute and sentimental. No price on sentiment. Stop complaining about high costs. Perhaps make a smaller wallet or purse for those who complain about cost. But beautifully done. Pure talent. Great idea. Love fftob no fad. Something I can see people loving for years to come. Not trendy at all. Refreshing.
If you want true authentic bags from a Fire owned family business Google Get Hosed Apparel. Not only are they a down to earth incredible family. They don’t steal others ideas but ask them to be a part of the family and business!
Nichole, that’s a very odd thing of you to post. Where is your evidence that Niki Rasor “stole” someone else’s idea(s) for her business and/or products? And what is your connection to Get Hosed Apparel? Are you a friend or relative? Because it sure seems like you know the people behind Get Hosed Apparel well.
I don’t know if Niki Rasor was the first person out there to come up with the idea of repurposing firefighter turnouts (we call them bunker gear) into bags, purses, etc. But she is original in her designs, and she has been doing it for several years. I wanted to buy a bunker-gear diaper bag for my wife when our son was born in Oct. 2013, and I looked all over the Web for companies like Niki’s that made them. Hers is the only one I found. I never bought one because funds were tight for us and I could not afford the cost. But I would have in a heartbeat because I love that Niki will customize your order to reflect a firefighter’s actual employment with a specific fire department.
I don’t know Niki and have never met her. But I admire her work ethic, the dedication she has to her company and her support for firefighters everywhere. There is a lot of negativity in this thread; instead of ripping Niki to shreds (Ruth and Nichole), why not celebrate her for what she has accomplished this far — including making onto Shark Tank?
Dear Shark Tank I am writing to in form you of the Carsenogin in the fabrik in used Ternouts. Thare is know way to clean that junk out of used gear. I am 12yr vetern Fire Fighter and a canser serviver. Howr nomber one reol is never put your gluves into your helmut for not to put the junk on you. So please think about the carsegens to the publik. Thank You. John T. Clement Ret.
Dear Shark Tank I am writing to in form you of the Carsenogin in the fabrik in used Ternouts. Thare is know way to clean that junk out of used gear. I am 12yr vetern Fire Fighter and a canser serviver. Howr nomber one reol is never put your gluves into your helmut for not to put the junk on you. So please think about the carsegens to the publik. Thank You. John T. Clement Ret.
If these are made out of used firefighter turnout gear, please, please do NOT purchase them! Used turnout gear contains years of toxins from all of the fires fought while wearing it, no matter how well it is cleaned! My husband 30 year firefighting veteran recently died of cancer most probably due to exposure to toxins on the job. I don’t want another family to have to go through that pain and suffering.
My husband, a 30 year veteran of the firefighting service recently lost a 3 year battle to cancer due to toxins encountered in the firefighting service. There is a reason they dispose of the gear after a certain number of years- it’s due to the carcinogens built up in the gear that can’t be washed out.
It’s awesome they are making stuff from old fire gear however what about the contaminants from the fires they were in its cancer causing and you will never get that out
What about the carcinogens that must be in the fabric from toxins, etc.. in the fire?
Iam looking forward to buying a bag/authentic one/I was glad to see the deal w Lori/ win win all the way around(the charity was a excellent idea). The only main reason I’ll buy. One is for the fireman that wore the equipment. Best to you
where can I but a duffle bag today?
These are awesome!!!
Where can I get one ???
I want one!
When can get one??
My husband was a firefighter for 35 years, now retired. I would buy one of the bags but ONLY if was authentic. Not a mass produced knockoff, and I’m sure a lot of people agree.
She seemed like a total nutter. I would have bought her out and tossed her in the garbage where the uniforms used to go. Why would she entertain ripping off her own product and cashing out of that hero worship 9/11 virtue signaling opportunity? Nothing makes you feel better about dumping 300 bucks on a purse more than pretending you are helping someone in the process.
Yes I will only if real firefighter material
I just watched Shark Tank and I love love love your product and absolutely intend to buy one (or more)…not sure which ones (tbd)…what an awesome idea you had and you are obviously an extremely passionate and compassionate human being. Having worked with firefighters and police officers for many years and your husband being a firefighter himself, I am positive, across the country, you are being hailed as a heroine to all of them for many reasons. Anytime anyone can keep something out of the local landfill, it is amazing and donating to firefighter charities is the icing on the cake! I can’t say enough and wish you much success…a woman can NEVER have too many bags!!!