HummViewer Shark Tank Update – Shark Tank Season 14
Did a unique wearable hummingbird feeder secure a deal with the Sharks? When hummingbirds and entrepreneurs meet, bird-lovers rejoice.
John and Joan Creed introduce the Sharks to HummViewer, their hummingbird feeder mask, in Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 8.
Check out more Shark Tank Season 14 Episodes.
About HummViewer
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Business Name | HummViewer |
| Founders | John Creed, Joan Creed |
| Industry | Bird Accessories |
| Product | Bird Feeder Mask |
| Deal Status | Deal secured with Daniel Lubetzky |
| Investment Asked | $75,000 for 10% equity |
| Deal Outcome | $75,000 for 35% equity |
| Valuation | $214,285 (At the time of the Shark Tank pitch) |
John has been fascinated by hummingbirds since he was a child and loves observing them. He wanted to get a closer look, so he fashioned a face shield with fake flowers and rubber tubes to hold hummingbird food (sugar water).
He was hanging out with friends at his summer cabin in the Colorado mountains back in 2017 when his wife made him tweet a video of the feeder in action to Denver TV station Channel 9.
They liked it and came out and did a story on John and what was to become HummViewer. Channel 9 called the story one of the “9 Most Inspiring Stories of 2017.”
Shortly after the story aired, the couple began offering the product for sale.
The product itself looks like an upscale face shield – the kind you may remember from the COVID-19 pandemic. On each side of the shield – about the width of your mouth – is a red fake flower with a receptacle for holding hummingbird nectar.
The red flower mimics flowers that hummingbirds are naturally attracted to. A HummViewer will set you back $74.95, but looking hummingbirds directly in the eye is priceless!
HummViewer Shark Tank Recap
John and Joan entered the Shark Tank seeking $75,000 for 10% of their company.
John explained that one of nature’s most amazing creatures was the hummingbird, and he asked the Sharks if they had ever seen one up close. He pointed out how hard it was to get a close-up view — but now people could, thanks to his invention.
He showed his product, the HummViewer, put it on, and the Sharks chuckled. There were fake hummingbirds on a wire, which John waved in front of the face shield.
They then rolled a video clip of John wearing it, surrounded by live hummingbirds. The Sharks then thought it was cool.
Lori asked if they put sugar water in the flowers; they did. John said people should remove their current hummingbird feeder and stand where the feeder used to be.
They sold the HummViewer for $59.95, and it cost $10 to make and had sold about 500 units.
John shared how a TV station came to see him and how he later received an email from a gentleman who wrote, “Put me down for a dozen.”
They got a patent and decided to build a business around it. They also sent a mask to a hummingbird influencer on TikTok, whose video received 5.4 million views.
What Makes HummViewer Unique?
HummViewer provides an innovative design, which in turn offers a very new way of looking at hummingbirds. The product is a must-have for bird watchers and nature enthusiasts.
Did HummViewer Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Kevin said he studied Greek mythology, where the hummingbird brings messages to humans. The message he got was that he was out.
Daymond called it a good hobby business and said he’d use his HummViewer, but was out too; Mark thought it was awesome they came up with the idea, but was out as well; Lori agreed it was a fun hobby business and went out.
Daniel shared that hummingbirds reminded him of his late father and believed the product could sell in novelty stores and on Amazon.
Then John revealed they had taken out a $40,000 home equity loan for the patent and had 1,500 units in inventory but needed help setting up and marketing. Daniel offered $75,000 for 35%, and John immediately accepted the deal.
HummViewer Shark Tank Update
Sales predictably got a nice uptick after the show initially aired, and they completely sold out. A press release indicated the deal did close.
In the release, Daniel Lubetzsky said, “I never cease to be amazed by the ingenuity of Americans. Don’t be fooled by how goofy this helmet looks — Joan and John have come up with a genius solution for experiencing the magic of hummingbirds up close.” John and Joan planned on using Daniel’s cash to scale up production and for marketing.
Lubetzky’s team completely redesigned the company website, and they’re advising the Creeds about dealing with retailers and distributors. They also moved into a new warehouse.
Update Segment
In the update segment, they said they had sold 500 units in the 4 years before appearing on Shark Tank. They sold out of 1500 units in one day after their initial appearance and did over $100,000 in sales.
People kept buying, and they had over 2000 back orders. They also encountered a big problem with knock-off third-party sellers who stole their videos and website images. They either ship a cheap imitation or nothing at all.
The Creeds eventually had to hire an attorney to remove these sellers from these different platforms. Since appearing on Shark Tank, they’ve made over $350,000.
Both Creeds quit their jobs to go all in on the business. They have said that Shark Tank has offered them a whole new lease of life. By July 2024, they were on track to do over $500,000 in sales for the year. The estimated net worth of HummViewer is between $350,000 and $500,000.
Posts about HummViewer on Shark Tank Blog
Shark Tank Blog’s product breakdown of HummViewer gives a better picture of this out-of-the-box pitch.
Where Can You Buy It?
The product is available on their official website and also on Amazon. Their social media page on Facebook and Instagram handle is also quite active.
Quick Summary
- John and Joan Creed pitched HummViewer (a wearable hummingbird feeder mask) in Shark Tank Season 14 Episode 6, asking for $75,000 for 10% equity.
- Most Sharks passed, but Daniel Lubetzky offered $75,000 for 35%, which they accepted to help grow production and marketing.
- After the show, HummViewer sold out, brought in over $350,000 in sales, and gave the Creeds a new full-time business and a fresh start.
Sharks were gracious to the birds, but what about others that appeared alongside them? Here are more business updates from the same episode.
