Typically, putting sharks and babies together would not be considered the brightest idea. However, for Fort Worth's Stephanie and Brett Parker, ABC's Shark Tank and their company, Sleeping Baby, were a match made in entrepreneurial heaven.
When their young daughter began expressing discomfort in her bedtime swaddle and wriggling out of it to roll around each night, the Parkers knew they had to come up with a safe alternative. Stephanie took to her sewing machine and came up with the Zipadee-Zip, a product that would calm their daughter's "startle reflex and provide her the cozy womb-like environment she loved so much but still give her the freedom to roll over and wiggle around her crib safely."
The Parkers soon found that they were not alone in this tough transition away from the swaddle. Online blogs and friends with young children soon convinced the pair the issue was prevalent enough to justify starting a business.
Starting out with just $700 to create a website, the Parkers made the Zipadee-Zips as orders rolled in, gradually building a devoted following. This enabled the duo to land a spot on ABC's Shark Tank, appearing in the September season premiere.
In the end, it was Daymond John who offered the Parkers $200,000 for a 20 percent stake in the company. Accepting this offer, the Parkers will soon be growing their little business to continue "Inspiring Dreams One Night At A Time."
Zipadee-Zips can be purchased online at zipadeezip.com. -Allana Wooley
