According to Shark guest judge Kevin Hart, “a story behind a product always makes a product better,” and Alexiou Gibson has quite the story. At the young age of 21, he weighed over 500 pounds, and doctors told him that if he didn’t make some radical changes to his lifestyle, he would not live to see 30. This revelation was the lightning bolt Gibson needed to jolt him off his butt and change his diet.
While on the fitness journey, he discovered a marine red algae called that contains over 90 trace minerals vital for proper health. When his 80-year-old grandma from the Bahamas visited him, he made her a sea moss latte every morning to help with her joint pains and posted the daily ritual on his Instagram profile. Soon people started messaging him asking for a sea moss, and with that, The Transformation Factory was born.
What is The Transformation Factory?
The Transformation Factory is Gibson’s solo endeavor to sell Sea Moss Gels, flavored jams made from sea moss. The gels are organic, vegan, soy-free, non-GMO, and gluten-free, with no artificial sweeteners or preservatives. It is pure unadulterated wild sea moss.
This company is thriving, and after its episode on Shark Tank, sales shot through the roof. The Transformation Factory website currently has a banner at the top that says processing time has increased due to the high volume of orders after appearing on Shark Tank.
How Did the Shark Tank Pitch Go?
Gibson entered the finale of Season 13‘s Shark Tank confident; he knew his product worked and had the numbers to back it up. He told the Sharks that in 11 months, his company had made $3.5 million in sales, netting over $1 million in profits. Just by running ads on social media, traffic to his online shop increased by 800%, confirming that people were interested in his product.
He needed the Sharks’ expertise to set up the infrastructure to manufacture a shelf-stabilized version of his product to be sold in stores because the one he was making at the time had a life of 3 – 4 weeks under refrigeration. And just in case the Sharks had any doubts left in their minds, he informed them that an 8 oz jar cost $4.15 to make and sold for $24.99, proving he had great margins.
Gibson was asking for $500,000 for 5% equity but was willing to negotiate. Kevin Hart and Barbara Corcoran were very interested, but they both felt the equity was too low, so they teamed up and offered the same amount of money for 20%, split 50/50 between them.
Kevin O’Leary wasn’t sold on the idea; he saw it more as $24 for a jar of baby food but still offered $500,000 for 30%. Gibson wasn’t willing to give up so much of his company for so little and raised his ask to $800,000 for 20% because of the high sales volume.
Kevin Hart was getting impatient, telling Gibson he was asking for too much when he didn’t need it. He needed the infrastructure, retail space knowledge, and Hart’s celebrity endorsement. Hart countered Gibson’s ask with $600,000 for 20%. This was too much money for Barbara but just enough for Mark Cuban, who jumped in and said he would team up with Hart.
Barabra was left behind like a deer in headlights as Hart and Cuban got up to shake hands, with Gibson sealing the deal.
Our Review of Sea Moss Gel
With eight tantalizing tropical flavors, like strawberry-banana, pineapple, mango, and dragonfruit, these gels are a tasty treat on their own or mixed in a smoothie, coffee, and any other drink. These gels do their magic in just a few days; you will feel more energetic, your digestion will improve, and your skin will get that lit-from-within glow. Not only does it have many health benefits for you, but it is also safe for the kids.
Pros of Sea Moss Gel
These sea moss gels come in a variety of flavors and offer several amazing health benefits, such as:
- boosting immunity
- balancing sugar levels
- Improving gut health
- Improving skin texture and brightness
- Improving thyroid function
Cons of Sea Moss Gel
Despite being packed with minerals needed for good health, these sea moss gels have a few drawbacks, such as:
- Short shelf life of just 2 – 3 weeks in the refrigerator
- High cost for such a small jar
- These gels are not FDA approved
Who is Sea Moss Gel For?
These gels are for anyone trying to improve their nutrition, lose weight or improve their overall health and well-being. Parents can give their kids these to ensure they meet their daily dietary requirements.
Are There Any Alternatives?
The superfood game is filled with many players, and numerous US companies sell sea moss supplements. A few at the top of the list include the following businesses.
ELM & RYE
This sustainable company provides high-quality dietary supplements with over 20 products on its roaster, including sea moss, which is sold in capsule and gummy form. This non-GMO sea moss supplement is free of soy, gluten, dairy, and preservatives. It is available for sale on their website.
Organics Nature
This health food company is based in Baltimore, Maryland, and sells sea moss in various forms. They have three gels similar to the Transformation Factory, all gluten-free and Non-GMO, with flavors like mango pineapple and Vanilla-Caramel. They also sell dried sea moss and capsules. These are all available on their website.
Double Wood Supplements Store
This USA-based supplement giant manufactures and sells over 70 dietary capsules, including Gluten Free and Non-GMO sea moss capsules and gummies, which they claim are more potent than their gel counterparts. These sea moss supplements are available on their Amazon store.
Our Final Thoughts
Alexiou Gibson’s charisma and ambition not only won over the Sharks but won over us too. Even though many businesses are selling some version of sea moss supplements, we are more inclined to buy it from The Transformation Factory just so we can see this young man continue to grow his company.
