Our Barbara Corcoran Seal of Approval contest winners achieved a lot since meeting with Barbara and receiving $10,000 each from OnDeck to grow their businesses.
The December 2015 consultation with Barbara sparked a steady amount of opportunities for our three winners. Read on to see what they accomplished since our last check in.
The Gents Place – Dallas, TX
Owners Ben and Lauren Davis are officially franchising The Gents Place. This was the main goal that Ben and Lauren discussed with Barbara during their private consultation. Ben shot a franchise pitch video to entice potential franchisees. Ben is targeting hungry entrepreneurs in the Houston, Atlanta, and Florida markets, and interested franchisees are encouraged to apply.
Ben is also excited to announce an agreement with NFL Hall of Fame member Emmitt Smith, along with a NYC media tour later in June.
The Sugar Path – Geneva, IL
Sisters Michelle Adams and Nina Cater of The Sugar Path kicked off spring with a very busy wedding season and report that they have more wedding orders than last year due to their solid wedding-industry relationships. They are marketing their cake jars – the marquee product featured during their consultation with Barbara – as wedding favors and anniversary gifts. Their Celebrate a Wedding Box and Bridesmaid Box (pictured above) have gained popularity across the country, and are equipped with their newly designed labels, per Barbara’s advice.
Michelle and Nina are doubling down on what they are good at – weddings, events, and large corporate orders – while also promoting their online store. Their meeting with Barbara helped them to evaluate their business and come up with a very clear vision for growth in 2016, including a new line of mason jar desserts.
BodyworksBall™ – Brick, NJ
BJ Dowlen, networker extraordinaire and owner of BodyworksBall™, had a very busy and exciting past few months.
On May 2nd, BJ made her Home Shopping Network debut on the network’s “American Dreams” show. Show host Adam Freeman talked briefly about BJ’s story, and later in the segment BJ had the opportunity to “sell” her product and story to the viewers. You can now purchase a Bodyworks Ball from HSN’s website.
BJ also graced the cover of Smart Hustle Magazine where her entrepreneurial journey and networking tactics were well documented.
BJ made a deal with Brookstone to launch her #Take2AndRenew recovery systems in all 300 stores and airport locations, and a national wholesaler is testing the BodyworksBall™ in more than a dozen locations before a potential expansion. The #Take2AndRenew recovery systems feature the BodyworksBall™ and encourages its use.
The BodyworksBall™ is in the running for the leading new product HEALTH design by Fast Company magazine, and BJ made waves in her hometown of Brick in a local feature on Shorebeat.com.
BJ herself will take part in the NJBIA 2016’s Women’s Business Leaders Forum in September. BodyworksBall™ was also nominated a leading NJ Owned Business by the head of Leading Women Entrepreneurs, Linda Wellbrook.
The savvy entrepreneur also spoke at the Business Continuity Conference where she shared her experience of writing and implementing disaster recovery plans and what it was like to need to execute them after Superstorm Sandy.
BJ is offering a 10% discount code through June 16th, 2016. Use code “OnDeck” when ordering off www.bodyworksball.com.