Pete and Pedro is a brand that produces grooming and hair-care products for men who want to appear original and bold. The brand offers a range of products for the hair and body, and even has many different types of cologne aromas – making it stand out within the self-care and grooming space.
Pete and Pedro was founded by Aaron Marino, who hailed from Acworth in Georgia, and graduated in business from the University of West Virginia.
He started his entrepreneurial career by launching a fitness center, before quickly moving on to an image consultancy business where he provided fashion and style guidance to his clients.
A few years later, Aaron launched Bueno Hair, and, in 2019, he established the inexpensive eyewear brand named Enemy. True to its name, the business became a real enemy for designer eyewear labels.
Interestingly, a video camera that he received as a gift from his wife, would play a pivotal role in advancing his career.
He initially used the camera to create and sell DVDs in which he would talk about fitness, grooming, and styling for males.. Actually, Aaron had already made an appearance on Shark Tank during the fourth season of the show, looking to promote and attract an investor for his Alpha M DVD series. Unfortunately, the DVD idea did not take off, and he sold just a single copy of his first Alpha M episode.
Aaron, however, was undeterred, and decided to launch an Alpha M YouTube channel, and was rewarded for his perseverance – at the time of writing, the channel has more than 6.5 million subscribers, and each video attracts between 100,000 to 200,000 views on average.
Not long after hitting it big on YouTube, Aaron decided to start his own grooming and styling company, and, under the guidance of male stylist, Stephen Posta, he started Pete and Pedro.
Is Pete and Pedro Still an Active Business?
Yes, Pete and Pedro is still in business and, as of 2021, had annual revenue of around $3 million.
How Did the Shark Tank Pitch Go?
Aaron’s entrepreneurial journey has been about resilience and determination and, despite the disappointments of season four, he is ready for his Shark Tank comeback.
He made his second appearance on season seven of the show, seeking an investment of $100,000 in exchange for 10% equity in Pete and Pedro.
He distributes his hair care products, and Barbara is particularly impressed by the citrus scent.
Kevin brings up Aaron’s debut Shark Tank appearance, and wanted to know what was new this time. Aaron replies that Pete and Pedro is already generating revenue: until that point, the business had made lifetime sales of $800,000, out of which $50,000 was earned during the most recent financial year.
Aaron also talks about his growing YouTube presence, and that his channel had more than 600,000 subscribers, over 5 million monthly views, and a conversion rate of 9%. He had already done paid endorsements for giants like Chevrolet and JC Penny, and made more than $600,000 in endorsements just in the last one year.
A key thing to note was that Aaron was offering a stake in his products business, which, he said, was separate from Alpha M (YouTube, social media, and endorsements business).
This split did not impress Kevin, who was quick to point out that he would not want his entrepreneurs to do anything that did not make him richer. Aaron said that Alpha M and content creation actually plays a major role in promoting and selling the Pete and Pedro products, which means that, essentially, his Alpha M efforts would still help increase Kevin’s wealth, even if the Shark did not have a direct stake in the business.
This argument did not help alleviate Kevin’s reservations. He was ready to make an offer of $100,000 for 20%, but only if the two businesses were consolidated. Aaron passed on this offer, still holding out on having to share the Alpha M equity with the Sharks.
Lori, meanwhile, does not feel that Pete and Pedro is the right business for her, and steps out of the deal.
Robert Herjavec shares Kevin’s reservations about the business division, saying that, under such a structure, Aaron would ultimately pledge his loyalty to the business segment that was generating the most money. Along with the reservations, he also matches Kevin’s offer: $100,000 for 20%, if the two businesses are combined.
Barbara wanted to offer $100,000 in exchange for a 10% stake – not in Pete and Pedro, but in Alpha M. Aaron counters with $300,000 for 10% equity in Alpha M. Barbara is ready to take this offer, but only if another Shark wants to join her in this deal. Robert wants in, but his conditions are not straightforward: he wants 10% of Aaron’s current products and companies, as well as a 10% stake in any products that Aaron creates in the future.
Aaron is skeptical, and feels that he would be giving up his credibility by allowing Robert to have such a major influence. He turns to Barbara, asking if her original offer of $100,000 for 10% of Alpha M was still on the table, to which Barbara replies in the affirmative. Aaron agrees to this proposal, and a deal is struck – albeit not for the business that Aaron intended.
Our Review of Pete and Product Hairstyling Cream:
The hair styling cream is quite effective – it allows for easy styling and decent hold, without making the hair feel too hard or rough. The smell is also just right: pleasant without being excessively strong or overpowering. A small amount of cream is enough for you to achieve your desired style, and the product works well on all types of hair. Also, the cream is easy to wash off.
Pros of Pete and Pedro Hairstyling Cream:
- Easy styling
- Decent hold without making the hair too hard
- A mild, pleasant fragrance
- Easy to wash off
Cons of Pete and Pedro Hairstyling Cream:
- Might not be suitable for people looking for stronger hold
Are There Any Alternatives?
Below are a few brands that we feel might qualify as alternatives to Pete and Pedro:
- SkinCeuticals
- Baxter of California
- Evo Hair
- Grown Alchemist
Our Final Thoughts:
Pete and Pedro is the result of many years of perseverance by Aaron Marino, and has become one of the most popular brands for males looking for high-quality and versatile grooming and hair-care products. Aaron was able to turn his Shark Tank fortunes around, and, under the guidance of Barbara, is now reaping the benefits of his commitment, hard work, and dedication.