Busy Box, one of the inventions featured on Shark Tank season 13, is a digital do-not-disturb sign you can change in several ways. Steve Skin and Connor Smith were the two entrepreneurs behind the sign, and they invented the product during the pandemic. There are multiple versions of the illuminated Box. The major two ones are the S box and the D box. There is a distinction between the variants, which we will discuss in detail later.
The do-not-disturb sign serves as a way to keep people away. Busy Box is basically what it says. It’s a box that displays you’re busy when you are. The only difference is that this sign is digital. The aspect that sets the product apart is that you have different versions and can digitize them. The app and the button can help you define the kind of message you have on the screen so you can mention them too.
They are still an active company. However, the pandemic made matters much more difficult for them as COVID severely disrupted the global supply chain.
Now that we have a general idea of what Busy Box is about, we can discuss how the Shark Tank pitch went.
Steve entered the shark tank arena asking for $200,000 for 15% of the company. He started talking about the pitch, and that was when Connor cut him short. The little skit was what the entrepreneurs used to inform the Sharks about the importance of not being interrupted. Steve then started to talk about the fact that we lived in a world full of constant interruptions. He explained that the COVID-19 pandemic had led to people working near each other and how that led to issues with productivity.
Connor interrupted again, and the comedic aspect of the skit brought a smile to the faces of the Sharks. Connor would intercept the whole thing again, and this time he knocked on the locked door.
The two entrepreneurs then got into how Busy Box worked. They talked about the two different versions of the Box and the pricing they offered. They distributed samples so that the people could see them. Steve also encouraged them to play along with the Box. One of the entrepreneurs then mentioned that these boxes were $299 apiece. The Sharks were amazed by this realization. After this reveal, it didn’t seem like things were looking up for the company. However, they continued.
They then disclosed their sales for the years. They stated how the sales for 2020 were $299,999, and they were at $129,999 as they progressed halfway through 2021. Mark was the first to speak up and said he felt he had seen something similar. However, those devices would not mount on doors like Busy Box.
Steve then continued talking about the product’s inspiration as he tried hard to sell it to the Sharks. The entrepreneurs spoke about the inspiration behind the product. Steve said he wanted to bring vintage products back into the market while giving them a new feeling. Steve’s vision also intends to increase the productivity present for all of those people who are working from home. He wants to contribute to the wellness industry as best he can.
Mark Cuban was the first to chime in and say that he thought the pitch was all over the place. He couldn’t see why the product was worthwhile. Lori thought the price was much too high for her to consider investing; she didn’t see it becoming successful. Robert acknowledges the fact that they hit a trend, but he doesn’t want to invest. Daymond also had issues with the price, and he was out too.
Our Review of Busy Box
As is true of all products, Busy Box has pros and cons. We will list some of these below.
Pros of Busy Box
- It has variety. Busy Box comes in two different versions for you to choose from. You can decide which version is the best for you.
- It is easy to use. You don’t need a lot of fancy equipment to know how to work the equipment. You have to understand how to perform an app, and that’s all you need to do. You don’t have to work any buttons. You can control the signage using your smartphone, making it easier to access.
Cons of Busy Box
- It is expensive. Busy Box is not affordable. The two versions are $299 or $199, which are pretty costly.
- They don’t have a proper plan. The product seems all over the place, so the customers would be pretty unsure about what they’re buying, restricting the market growth.
Who Is Busy Box For?
Busy Box is for those who want to maintain a semblance of privacy at home. It is for all those tired of having their work hours extended while working remotely. Busy Box adds boundaries for everyone working in the same room and allows them to differentiate amongst themselves. Busy Box is also for people who want to digitize the products that they have in their home to have a little more ease around themselves.
What Are the Alternatives of Busy Box?
There aren’t many direct alternatives to a busy Box. However, the premise is quite a simple one. You could use regular manual options, and they would work fine too. However, digital placards can also be used in terms of alternatives.
Our Final Thoughts
Many things make the product stand out. First of all, the pitch that the entrepreneurs could convert was great. The fact that they were able to construct and fund a project like this is also a testament to how great these entrepreneurs are. However, there are the factors that the product itself is costly, and the company has a long way to go before they can get to a point where they can efficiently distribute the product in the open market.
