Mom Invented

When Leslie Haywood went on Shark Tank to present her product Grill Charms, she said "It was a downright feeding frenzy!" In this week's episode, Leslie got an overwhelming response to her product -- small stainless steel studs that help identify different pieces of meat on a grill -- and sparked a heated bidding war among the Sharks.

Leslie went on the show looking for $50,000 in exchange for 25% equity in her business. After starting Grill Charms about three years ago, funded by a home equity loan, the product is now in more than 100 stores in the U.S., Canada and Sweden, and it brought in more than $60,000 in sales last year -- and the company is still a one-woman operation.

When the bidding started in the Shark Tank, the men fawned over Leslie. They interrupted each other to make competing offers, and some even teamed up to offer double the expertise to help grow her company. Barbara Corcoran was the only Shark to sit out the bidding round, though she said she liked the product.

Leslie's first offer was from Kevin O'Leary, an educational software entrepreneur who Leslie didn't quite connect with. He wanted to collect royalties on Grill Charms, which wasn't what Leslie wanted. And though he was willing to negotiate, Leslie didn't feel comfortable working with him.

Next, infomercial guru Kevin Harrington made an offer, leveraging his years of expertise in the TV direct sales market. He wanted a 50% stake in the business for a $50,000 investment. Leslie originally went to Shark Tank hoping Harrington would buy into her company and got very excited about this prospect.

Tech entrepreneur Robert Herjavec wanted in on the deal, too, offering to pair up with Harrington and even front a larger share of the money. But FUBU founder Daymond John also wanted to pair up with Harrington and made a convincing case about creating a well-rounded team experienced in TV and retail sales.

With all this competition, Herjavec decided to make an offer all his own and brought it down to exactly what Leslie had asked for -- $50,000 for a 25% stake.

Check out the clip below to see some of the bidding war, or view the whole episode on ABC.com

With the Sharks fighting among themselves and three offers on the table, Leslie looked overwhelmed. She asked for a moment to step out and make a phone call. On the phone with her husband, she talked about not wanting to give up 50% of her business, but wanting to go with Harrington and John's offer. She made a counter-offer to split the business 49%-51%, but Harrington and John weren't willing to negotiate, so she decided to go with Herjavec.

It was an intense TV moment, and we had no idea which way Leslie would go. We wanted to find out more about her experience on the show, so we caught up with this very busy mom of two to talk to her about her time in the Shark Tank and how business has changed since she was on the show. Here's her story...

How did you get the idea for your product?

In April of 2006, my husband was grilling some fantastic boneless chicken breasts for my friends and me. The flavor of the evening was Jerk, which we all love, but some people happen to like their chicken "jerkier" than others. IE, more rub equals more spice and heat, and some of us like ours on the milder side.

Once all the chicken was taken off the grill, arranged on a serving plate, brought upstairs and served to our guests, my husband couldn't tell which chicken was spicy. Wouldn't you know it, me being a "mild" person, I bit right into the hottest one of all. He said, "Someone just needs to come up with a way for me to tell what's what," and immediately I knew we had something.

That dinner party was in April 2006 and Grill Charms were on store shelves in November 2007

What are your goals for your business?

I want to have Grill Charms become a household name. When going to a neighborhood barbecue, I want for folks to be able to walk in and ask, "Where are your Grill Charms?" and everyone will immediately know exactly what they are talking about.

How did you get to be on Shark Tank?

Leslie Haywood with her two daughters

I was very fortunate. They actually came to me. It was in May and I had no idea the show was in the works. I received an email asking if I wanted to apply. I had to jump through all the same hoops as the people who got on by applying online or going to open casting calls. I was just very fortunate enough to have been notified that this opportunity was out there. There was a lot of paperwork, video submission, more paperwork, background checks, etc…

How did you decide on asking for $50,000 for a 25% stake in your company?

I based it on a company valuation of $200,000, which I actually thought was low based on current inventory. And to those guys, I don't think $50,000 is a ton of money. I primarily wanted to use it for marketing.

How was your experience actually going on the show?

I had been on TV before, on local news programs and CNBC's The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch, but nothing really compares to the stress of this. I actually went out there to tape in July, but while in LA doing the show, my father very suddenly and unexpectedly passed away. Needless to say, I was on the next flight home. They gave me another chance to come out a month later, so the experience took on a completely new meaning.

Did you expect such a positive reaction to your product?

No. After my father passed away while out there the first time, this was more of a personal goal of mine then a professional one. I simply needed to prove to myself that I still had what it takes to do what I do. After such a devastating loss, I didn't know how I was going to get up in the morning, much less tame a bunch of man-eating Sharks. What started out in July as a business opportunity became so much more the second time around. I never expected to cause such a feeding frenzy!

What was going through your mind as you were making your decision about which offer to take?

"Stick to your guns, Leslie. Stick to your guns."

Did Kevin O'Leary actually call you up after the show to make another offer like he said he would after you left the room?

No, but it would have been funny if he did!

Have you already started working with Robert Herjavec? How involved has he been in your business?

Yes, we communicate a few times a week. He is as involved as I want or need him to be. He meant what he said about believing in me -- he gives advice when I ask, but otherwise he lets me do my thing.

Have you brought on any additional staff or moved to an office since getting the investment?

No, but with 600 emails in my inbox this morning, I need to!

Would you recommend going on Shark Tank or any other reality TV show to other mom inventors and entrepreneurs?

Yes -- if you know exactly what you are getting yourself into and go about it with the attitude of "There is no such thing as bad publicity."  In the world of reality TV, there are no guarantees that your segment will be everything you had dreamed of, but as long as you are prepared for that, and have a good attitude about the whole thing, you can't go wrong.

Thanks for sharing your story, Leslie! If you have a great story to share about your product or business, we'd love to hear it.

Tagged as: featured mom, grill charms, Leslie Haywood, product business, Reality TV, Shark Tank, success story