Squeeky Knees are soft, comfortable trousers for babies who like to move around. They pitched their idea to the sharks in Shark Tank in Season 5.
Squeeky Knees are designed to absorb the sounds of movement, like running or jumping, by using silicone to soak up these noises. These are lightweight, breathable knee pads that keep knees comfortable while protecting them from impact.
Squeeky Knees are specially designed pants that make a squeaking sound to alert you to your baby’s whereabouts. Even the most active of the small crawlers won’t last as long as the knee pads, which are constructed of durable material. They work well on almost all surface, including concrete, ceramic, and even wood.
Evans designed Squeeky Knees in 2010 to provide his son the freedom to playfully explore the house while simultaneously protecting his son’s knees and buttocks. Onesies, stockings, leggings, jeans, knee highs, and pants are all part of the Squeeky Knees range. The apparel is all produced in the USA and machine washable.
After having the idea, Lisa and Ivan spent a year of their startup attempting to patent their product since they didn’t want anyone to steal the concept. Lisa and Ivan simply had a website that they barely promoted; Therefore, they did not make an attempt to increase sales or distribution. Ivan and Lisa applied to be on Shark Tank and were selected for Season Five because they believed they had a strong idea and wanted to expand a business.
Our Review of Squeeky Knees
Ivan and Lisa entered the tank looking for $80,000 for 20% of their business. Every parent’s main concern is their child’s safety, and Lisa emphasized how their product, Squeeky Knees, helps to assure this by allowing parents to always hear where their child is. This is due to the knee pads on their trousers having a squeaker mechanism built in.
The Sharks were then shown a video of the product in use as kids were wearing it and scooting around the home by Lisa and Ivan. Robert expressed the apparent worry that the sound might eventually become irritating. Ivan justified the item, saying that hearing his kids crawling about was “endearing.”
Ivan said that they sold 500 items for total revenue of $10,000 since Lori was curious about the figures. Afterward, Lisa and Ivan revealed that their company has been operating for three years, upsetting all the Sharks because $10,000 over three years is almost nothing. Lisa, however, noted that rather than sales, their first objective was to acquire copyrights.
Kevin thought it wasn’t a strong enough idea, and thus there were no good sales. Lori wasn’t much interested in the idea either, as it wasn’t a promising one. With such low sales, she didn’t find it good enough to support the idea.
Mark explained to the couple that there is a difference between a product and a business. He explained that the idea that they are pitching is for a product and not a business.
All in all, no deal was finalized, and the couple walked out of Shark Tank empty handed.
Pros of Squeeky Knees
- No buttons or zippers. These trousers lack buttons and zippers, making them easier for little babies and toddlers to put on and take off on their own. These don’t have any buttons or zippers that could come loose and be swallowed by a toddler.
- Made from 100% cotton material that is soft and comfortable against your baby’s skin.
- They are durable as they can last for years.
- The squeaky sounds help parents to be aware of where their child is.
- The main advantage of these trousers is that they are easy to clean and maintain. The fabric dries quickly after washing, which eliminates the risk of mildew or mold forming on them while they dry. This means that you can wash them without worrying about having to air dry them first before putting them back on your child’s body again.
Cons of Squeeky Knees
- They don’t offer any other styles of clothing apart from their trousers range, so if you’re looking for something different,then these may not be suitable for you.
- Squeeky Knees trousers are made of 100% cotton, which means they can be worn in hot weather, but they won’t keep you warm in the winter.
Who is Squeeky Knees for?
Squeeky Knees is for kids of all ages and sizes. It’s a fun way to keep track of your child when they’re out playing. For example, if you have a toddler who’s still learning to walk and they’re moving around the house or any outdoor place like a park or at the beach, you can let go of their hand and know where they are. If you have an infant who is learning to crawl, you can easily know their whereabouts when they crawl away from you.
Are There Any Alternatives?
While the idea was new when they first targetted their market, the business did not gain much attention from the Sharks, and the company soon shut down in 2017. Currently, there are other clothing brands for children that have built-in knee pads, but we are not aware of any brand that has the squeaky effect too.
Our Final Thoughts
Squeeky Knees had a boost shortly following the broadcast thanks to the well-known Shark Tank effect, but sales never really took off. Even though the website is still accessible, the social media accounts have not been updated since 2014, and many of the things that are for sale are out of stock.
As Kevin noted, there isn’t a huge enough market; thus, it’s probable that they haven’t taken the time to make additional items. Lisa and Ivan did not believe that dedicating their whole time to Squeeky Knees would be the best option for them and their family. As Mark previously stated, building a business demands one’s full-time concentration to succeed.
Lisa and Ivan, like many others, believed that copyrighting their idea was the most important thing to work on, but nearly all of the Sharks feel that sales should come first since sales demonstrate that there is a demand for the product. This would have been extremely beneficial to Lisa and Ivan.
Squeeky Knees could have been a fantastic concept, but the Sharks believed it had some kinks that could lead to its downfall. They were correct; the business shut operations in 2017.
