As the region’s entrepreneurs prepare their pitches for Shark Tank, there’s no better inspiration than Wynnewood’s Aaron Krause, the show’s biggest success, writes Victor Fiorillo for Philadelphia Magazine.
Krause launched the Scrub Daddy smiley-face sponge empire on Shark Tank back in 2012, ultimately landing a deal with investor Lori Greiner. Since then, Scrub Daddy has gone from a quirky cleaning tool to a global brand, racking up over $1 billion in sales and expanding to facilities in South Jersey, the UK, and Hungary.
Despite his Shark Tank fame, Krause’s journey was anything but overnight. He lived at home until age 29, struggled with debt, and even had a few business flops — including a pricey dish wand called Scrub Daisy. But his passion, persistence, and a non-scratching, odor-resistant polymer helped turn a clever idea into an empire.
Now based in Pennsauken, Krause hasn’t forgotten his Main Line roots. With Shark Tank coming to town, he’s sharing advice for hopefuls: “Watch every single episode four times and know all your numbers. Otherwise, you’ll be fish food.”
And yes — he still thinks Mr. Wonderful is the worst.
Read more about Wynnewood’s Aaron Krause, the Shark Tank success story in Philadelphia Magazine.
