Side Hustlers (2024) s01e04 Episode Script
Marketing Mania
1
■ Let-let them do what they do ■
■ Just worry about you, got to
keep your cool ■
■ Ladies try to take it from you
■
■ Go ahead, let them run they
mouth ■
- This week, we're putting our
hustlers to the test.
They need to host a marketing
event to sell their business and
themselves.
- With the final pitch just a
week away,
we want to understand the
potential for growth
and how the ladies handle being
the face of their businesses.
■ Nobody's gonna hand it to you
■
■ Got to get up and show out
■
- We are picking up inventory
from our warehouse facility.
We're getting it.
Rif is growing so rapidly.
get everything done and make
sure it's, like, perfect.
■ Spotlight, oh, yeah ■
■ Spotlight, yeah ■
MONTR■: Hey-a. - Hey.
- Beat me here.
- How was the drive over here?
- Crazy. - Traffic?
- Hour and a half.
My day-to-day is very chaotic.
It's hard to balance when you
have
and a super demanding job.
But yeah, I really, really
appreciate you guys helping me
out today.
Angel is on vacay with her
hubby,
so, like, it's just SARAH:
Where is she?
She's in Puerto Rico. [trills] -
Puerto Rico.
-
I feel a little anxious not
having Angel there
because she leads all of our
marketing efforts.
Let's move, Girl+Hair. - Okay.
- And then just fill this with
In Good Conscience.
our moment, and our future is on
the line.
and one of us needs to hold it
down.
Pressure makes diamonds. Is that
what they say?
- Yeah. Diamonds are made under
pressure. - They say pressure
makes diamonds.
Yeah, there you go.
[upbeat music plays]
VAL: Hello.
- Good. We miss you.
-
- We miss you. -
VAL: Super busy. And her dad is
out of town.
And I was like, "Oh, my gosh, I
wish you were here,"
because when you came to be with
us, it was so helpful.
-
Milene is like a second pair of
hands.
Just, like, walking Valentina to
school, making her lunch.
I have so many more
responsibilities.
And her dad does help out.
So having a friend who is
willing to be there and be our
tribe,
and hands and feet on the ground
to help, as a single mom is
amazing.
If I got you a ticket, would you
be able to come back
and help with Valentina?
-
- Ally gave me this emergency
fund,
and childcare is an emergency.
-
- Okay,
let's start looking at flights.
[upbeat music playing]
KRISTYN: Sit.
CHRIS: So what's tell me
what's going on.
How you making out? - I'm
exhausted.
But all good things. All good
things.
Emma is just so amazing.
- Is she? - She's so observant.
She's already thinking of all of
these different ideas for the
company.
But then, she wants me to do a
full rebrand.
- Ooh, interesting.
- Like, this is the thing. Like,
do I call it a new name?
Do I call it Crate Away? I guess
I should just stick to Crate
Away.
- I would, for now, until you
know that that's what you're
gonna do.
- Yeah, I don't know.
I'm really struggling with this
name change,
There's a lot to think about
there.
I need to host an event.
It'll be people's first time
seeing it.
And I have to have two brand-new
prototypes by then.
It's been really stressful.
- How are you keeping up?
- I can't I-I do I wear all
these hats,
I do my full-time job.
It's a big job, and something
that I've, you know,
I've worked towards for years
and years and years.
You know, I am focusing most of
my time on it,
like the, you know, eight hours
a day that it takes.
But then it's like, okay, after
that eight hours,
then I have to completely switch
brains.
It's just so exhausting.
- Well, control what you can
control.
- No, I know. - Just do your
best
and make it happen.
- Having my dad's support means
everything.
He's a Philly sales rep. Like
he's
[laughs] That's who he is.
I know that this is gonna be
successful.
I know it in my heart.
Like, my heart of hearts, I just
know it.
- You have the drive and the
ability to do it.
- Yeah. - Are you confident
that Emma will be able to help
you through your journey?
- If Emma gives me an
investment, I'm done.
I'm done with my full-time job.
This is Crate Away, is it.
- Is it? - Is it.
[upbeat music plays]
LESHEKA: You got to carry
the-the blender.
she wanted us to get into a test
kitchen.
Feels good to be out of the
truck for once, in a
- Yeah, in a real kitchen. -
Yeah.
- Dang. - We ain't doing little
batches no more.
- Okay. - We got to cut for the
big stuff.
- We have to make the sauce in
mass quantities
Over a hundred bottles.
let alone made it for over a
hundred people.
and I'm hoping they all taste
the same.
- [muttering] 12, 13, 14
- We got to figure it out.
- [mutters]
So how you feel about producing
a hundred bottles for Emma?
- Nervous, because we've never
did such a big batch.
and we need Emma on our team.
- There we go. - Mm.
[whirring]
[pensive music plays]
- Somebody call the fire-fire
department.
- It's hot. - Don't dip it back
in there.
- It's hot? - Yes.
- Let me taste it.
[coughs]
- [laughs] - [exhales sharply]
Okay.
Yeah.
That's it. That's hot sauce.
- I like the extra little spice
that we throwing in there.
- I like it. I mean - Ooh.
Right there.
Oh. Dominic.
- Top it off. - Top it off. Look
at that.
- [chuckles] We made it.
- We got our first - High
five.
- I want a hug. - You always
want a hug.
You probably want more than a
hug. - Hug is love. What you
mean?
- I bet you want to hug.
So it's exciting, but it's sad
at the same time.
- What are you thinking about
the name for the sauce?
Just a little sweet, then it got
a little heat.
Ma Duke's Sweet Heat.
- It's kind of been a family
recipe.
Uh, there was too many - Ma
Duke's Sweet Fire?
Ma Duke's Sweet Heat?
- I would say "Sweet Heat." - Ma
Duke's Sweet Heat.
- Ma Duke's Sweet Heat. - Look
at that.
- Mmm. - I like it.
[laughs] - I need you to hold it
together, please.
- I'm already crying, so it
don't even matter.
- [sighs] This is a big step for
us right here.
Got our first bottle.
I can see it on a, on the
shelves right now.
Mom's on the front. It's
perfect.
- Seeing it in a bottle, there's
a different
I don't know.
I'm tired of crying. [chuckles]
- It's tears of joy. That's all
it is.
-
we know where we're going, we
know what our next step is,
we know what we're gonna do.
Proud to create something -
Yeah.
- that we've-we've came up
with, for our kids.
- Sweat and tears.
- I believe in myself a lot more
than I did before.
- All we got to do is produce
these hundred bottles.
We can't forget about that. We
got one down.
99 more to go. - [laughs]
■
[atmospheric music plays]
and found out that my prototypes
are being shipped to
Pennsylvania
instead of Los Angeles.
I hope that they can reroute
everything and get them to L.A.
Like, our event is happening
in
three days.
[sighs] Whatever. We'll figure
it out.
[upbeat music plays]
- Hi. It's so nice to meet you.
- I'm Sharla with Ally. - Hi,
Sharla.
with Ally.
I, unfortunately,
so I really appreciate them
- The best use of our time is
probably showing you
some of the stuff that we
learned.
Um, we did a survey on
everyone's website.
For this, we did focus on women.
And so, eight percent said they
were "extremely likely to buy"
after looking at the website,
and this is why they said
they are "likely to buy." -
Okay.
- And then, on the sort of
critical side,
those that indicated "unlikely
to buy"
and then why they indicated. -
Mm-hmm.
- So, I think you're gonna see
some things that were similar
around sizing, and then you've
got some reactions generally
about "This just isn't speaking
to me"
or "I don't under I don't
understand what it is."
So there's a reflection of that
in here a little bit as well.
- So, this means that
the vast majority of people were
not into it.
- Correct. - Yeah.
That's good, because it's a
little scary.
- [stammers] It's hard to hear
critical feedback.
- Yeah. Yeah. - It really is.
- The data that they discussed
with me was not very positive.
I'm feeling, you know, a little
bit crushed, to be honest.
because I am not in the position
to be wasting any money.
[atmospheric music plays]
The priority for this week, I
think, is this marketing
campaign.
- Yeah. - And we want to create
that moment
of "Oh, my gosh.
Everyone's googling to see what
this is and what it's about."
And your Free the Pussycats
campaign
- No, it's not "Free the
Pussycats."
- What is it? Protect the
Pussycats?
- Protect Pussycats.
Okay, so, we need to, like
something to kind of just open
up the conversation
of, like, why we need to, like,
be safer with our products,
why we need to, like, protect,
you know, our most sensitive
region,
and I was like, "What emoji
comes to mind?"
and I was like, "The pussycat."
- Yeah. - And I was like, "No,
we have to protect pussycats."
- I think it'd be fabulous.
I think people are gonna be so
confused, like,
"Are they talking about vaginas
or animals?"
- I want kittens, too. Kittens
are so cute.
- We could go so deep with this.
- Do you think, like, it's too
much?
- I have a lot of anxiety,
actually, about this being the
right move,
but at the same time, I think
that we need people to either
love or hate us.
- I'd love to hear what Ashley
has to say about these.
- I'm super nervous about
telling Ashley about the
campaign,
because at the end of the day,
it is the $15,000 that she's
given us,
So I definitely trust her
opinion on this.
REBECCA: If she doesn't get it,
then it's like, okay.
- Yeah. Yeah. - Back to the
drawing board.
[upbeat music plays]
■ 24 hours ■
- Hello.
and I'm nervous for what she's
going to say.
- Okay, so let's talk to me
about the event
and how you're using the
$15,000.
What does that look like?
-Well, a big chunk of that
15,000 is the prototypes.
So, those prototypes of the
crate
will be here, I'm hoping, on
Friday,
and I wanted you to see,
which - This looks so good,
doesn't it?
I feel like if I had to choose
between, I'd probably
do this 'cause there's a bit of
texture on it.
Do you know what I mean? That
makes it look more expensive.
- So you like these options?
- I would definitely go in for
the graphite.
- Yeah. - Okay, so let's talk
a little bit about the name
Crate Away. - Yes.
I did a ton of polling, a ton of
research.
I asked all of the experts in
the industry this past week,
and one of the biggest things
that people gave me feedback on
was the name.
They were like, we already know
what your company is
from your name, and we kind of
love that,
so I'm not going to change my
brand name.
- Go with the name that you feel
great about,
'cause you're the one who's got
to live with it
- Right, right. - for the
next four, five, six years.
- Well, I was struggling with
it.
- But that's part of the reason
that you have me, right?
You've got to be able to bounce
ideas,
and one of the things that I
really want to do
is make sure that we introduce
you to
a few V.C.s on this journey.
I have someone that I really
want you to meet.
She's called Jesse Draper, and
she's from Halogen Ventures.
- Okay, cool. - And I feel like
just getting you
in front of someone who's
interested
- I want to get that pitch down.
- Yeah.
- So, the more I learn about
Kristyn and Crate Away,
I realize it's going to take
millions and millions of dollars
to get this business off the
ground.
Pet is very specific,
and so I'm going to introduce
her to
some V.C.s that really know the
space
and can catapult this business
to the next level.
I have every faith in you
- Yeah. - but you need to
prove to me
- Right. - that you believe
that you can do it.
- It's been, like, so amazing.
I've never worked harder for
something that I believed in
more.
You know what I mean? - I know.
- Just, like, having
having someone to go through
that with has been really
- You're just going to keep
going through it.
- Keep going, keep going. - And
it's okay that you cry.
That just means that it means
something to you.
- Yeah. No, this is everything.
- You know? It's like Yeah,
it's everything. But it shows.
[upbeat music plays]
- I am going to get the bottles
today.
And the labels.
Then later on, get the shirts.
So everything's coming together.
And then, on Wednesday,
we have the pop-up event on
Venice Beach.
Just got here to General
Bottles.
the bottles.
They told me to give this to one
of you guys?
- Hi, how are you? - Hello.
- You finally start to feel
proud of yourself
when you see all the work
- This should complete your
order, okay? - Thank you.
About to get on the freeway, go
home
because I still have my second
job to go to.
Then I have to go to Nic's house
so that we can
put the stickers on the bottles
for Wednesday.
It is Monday.
Me and Nic are going to do that,
and then my brother's going to
come and help.
[upbeat music plays]
Just got finished doing the rest
of the bottles in the truck.
[sighs]
[upbeat music plays]
- I'm kind of nervous. She's not
gonna
- I think she's gonna like it.
- Okay. If you say so. - Yeah.
- You guys look so cute. Did you
do that on purpose?
- No. - No, we just,
we spend a lot of time together.
- Great minds.
- Hi, you look so beautiful. -
Good to see you. Thank you.
- Have a seat on the couch
again. - Thank you.
- Okay, there's a lot going on.
First of all, a little birdie
told me
that you guys did get a big
order placed.
REBECCA: Yes. - Yes?
- Yeah. So, that was the one
that we had to ship.
REBECCA: That was insane,
actually.
Like, last week, we were
chickens with our heads cut off.
- How close do you guys feel
like you are
to making your side hustle your
main hustle?
- Closer.
- I think with me, I have had
talks with my business partner
about what we want to do with
the talent agency,
and I feel like I've kind of
been ignoring those
conversations
with her lately because
it's really scary to think about
shutting something down that you
started.
- Mm-hmm. Can you guys just have
the conversation
about ending it now peacefully?
- It's scary.
- What else has been going on? -
We actually have a really fun
idea.
- Okay. - Yeah.
For the marketing event that's
coming up,
this campaign that's called
hashtag
Protect Pussycats.
[upbeat music plays]
a really fun idea. - Okay.
- Yeah, doing this campaign
that's called
hashtag Protect Pussycats.
Big splash campaign. - Yeah.
- Wait, what?
- Okay. So, let me just
- Like a cat?
- Yeah. - Yes.
- Meow?
- Yeah. - Yes.
- The whole campaign is going to
be centered around
ingredients education, where
we're basically like,
feeding cats all these different
things that you shouldn't be
feeding your cats.
REBECCA: Yeah, like, would you
feed
your pussycat, you know,
microplastics?
Would you feed it toxic
chemicals or like
- Or poison? - No. Yeah. Protect
the pussycats.
- Okay. Hold on. Okay.
So, this is going to be your
first campaign out.
We're going to be on a bus.
We're going to be on a
billboard. We're going to be
what?
- Hashtag Protect Pussycats.
- Um
Here's the thing. Anytime you
are
about to launch a product,
right?
Now, you're going into the world
and you're saying, "Look at me."
That is what you are forever.
And I don't think that you
forever
want to be connected to cats.
I think that there are so many
other ways
to have a very bold campaign,
feel, look,
but there's another way to do
it.
What is going to catch the woman
that you're targeting
for her to say, "Oh, they get
me. They know exactly what I
want?"
I mean, I don't know, how do you
guys feel about not doing the
cats?
- We walked in with a
possibility that you could not
like it,
but the focus is definitely also
on the ingredients.
- [sighs]
I don't hate this idea, but I
don't think it's around the
cats.
I think it's like, one bit. -
Yeah.
- This is what people are going
to remember.
They're going to see a girl that
looks like them.
They're going to say, that's for
me. - Yeah.
- But what people are really
interested in now
is the people behind the
businesses.
And I think that there is
something very strong and
important
about the two of you being
forward-facing
and seeing a woman who is like,
"I made this for us,"
and I think it's going to be
really strong.
- Yeah, we could write a script
for that, for sure.
- Mm-hmm. This is good that
we're talking about this,
because you're going to be
pitching again to me and Emma
very soon - Okay.
- and I really want to see
what has happened
from when we first started to
when we're going to be pitching
again.
- Yeah. - Okay.
- We're taking everything that
you said to mind, for sure.
- Great.
- Our biggest fear came to life
that she would hate it.
- We need to focus more on the
ingredients and the mission
behind it.
- I'm feeling nervous about the
final pitch
because I feel like we really
have to prove
There can't be anything else
that's standing in the way. -
Mm-hmm.
[upbeat music plays]
- Yeah, I'm just feeling really
behind on my work,
um, on my day job work.
Really hard to get stuff done in
a timely manner
and, um, I feel like I'm just,
like, all over the place.
the brand signs and the shirts.
Angel being on vacation
It's a big opportunity.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Hi, Micah.
- Hi, friend. - Oh, hey.
Awesome. How are you? - Feel
good, good.
A little stressed, a little
overwhelmed, but
- That trip wasn't long enough.
Sand every day on the beach.
- This situation doesn't feel
fair.
- Okay, what's been going on?
What did I miss?
- We have the event on Saturday.
- We have what on Saturday?
- The event. The influencer
event.
- Okay, I just got into town and
then I have to leave again.
- I know. - For work.
to execute on our event,
I just want to present AMP in
the best way that will really
resonate,
and if we don't bring home a
win,
I'm not sure what the future
holds for AMP.
but I'm going to try to put that
in the back of my head,
um, and compartmentalize,
but all I want to do is cry.
[dramatic music plays]
Everything that could have gone
wrong has gone wrong this week.
The prototypes didn't make it in
time,
Here's to hoping that.
This is the one that we're going
to actually demo.
to create some awareness about
Crate Away.
to fully commit to Crate Away,
is her seeing how pet parents
react to the product.
But she's expecting me to have
these large prototypes in,
[upbeat music plays]
checking in on all of my side
hustlers' marketing events,
because I am always watching.
- You just push it up, and then
it goes into place.
- Kristyn is a master pitch
woman.
She's impressed me at every
turn.
clearly and concisely before we
move into any V.C. meetings,
so I'm really considering this
her test.
Oh, there she is.
- Hello. How are you?
- I'm so happy to see you. - Me,
too.
- I cannot tell you how excited
I am
So, the new crates arrived?
- No. - Or not?
- They did not arrive.
- Okay, you did a good do-me-up
job, though, there.
- [laughs] Thank you.
It was really a relief that she
was like,
MAN: I was watching your
product.
Oh, my God, it is so easy to pop
together
because, you know, with the
metal crates,
you have to fold them, hold
them, they get stuck.
Yours is boom, boom, boom, on
together.
- Just don't say anything. He's
doing it for us. Go on.
Keep going, keep going. - I love
your product.
- If you have any other
feedback, give me all your
thoughts,
because I really love to take
into consideration other
pet parents' thoughts and what
you need. - Sure.
Thank you. - Crate Away was
built with safety
in mind as well as convenience.
Right? So you want the best for
your pet,
but you also want something that
you can just take with you on
the go.
- I want you to get that pitch
down to 40 seconds.
- Okay. - In case she doesn't
have all day.
- Yeah. - Get those four key
attributes out.
- What's the main benefit that
you guys are pushing?
- We have a great locking
mechanism. It's lightweight,
it's convenient.
- The thing about the metal
ones, obviously,
is they don't Oh, that's fun.
Oh, that's amazing. - She came
up with the whole idea.
She created it.
She's like a real genius
American inventor.
I am so happy after seeing
Kristyn today.
It's so clear to me that Kristyn
is ready to pitch Crate Away
Good to see you in action.
I am capable, because I know
that investors
look to the founder as much as
they look to the product.
Can I give you guys some
underwear?
- Thank you. So cute.
- Thanks.
Hey, how's it going?
I'm Ali. I'm the founder of
Bonks, packaged undies on the
go.
People are not going to know
that they need Bonks
until they know about Bonks.
Those pants look hot. - Thank■
Oh, my gosh!
- Yeah, this is cute.
- Thank you. - I'm excited.
And it's hot out. - So hot.
- Which means there's a lot of
sweaty vaginas.
- Yes, you're right, mine being
number one.
- And that's what you need to
lead with.
This is Ali. She is the founder
of Bonks.
- Yes, this is my brand,
pre-washed premium
packaged undies that you can
carry with you.
- Okay.
- They retail for $12, and today
I am offering them
for ten bucks; buy four, get one
free.
Or if you answer some quick
questions for me, then I'll give
you a free pair.
- And give your email.
- And I'd love to get your
email. - Yes.
- I know that I have asked Ali
to do a lot,
and it's a little bit of a
revamp,
- Do you feel like you are young
millennial
in who you kind of resonate
with? - Yeah, I guess so.
It's kind of frustrating to be
on this end of it and not see
a faster progression in the way
that I feel like should be
happening.
I also wonder if there's a way
you can
- Speed it up? - Get to it, get
the info,
get a pair of Bonks in their
bag, and get them out of here
and on to the next.
- Yeah. Thank you. - Good luck.
- Thank you so much. What
generation do you align yourself
with?
- Millennials.
- She keeps gathering
information.
I got some really good
information.
- Stop doing all of that and
just get the product
where it needs to be and sell
it.
Sell your product.
- I think■ Aah!
Give me a moment.
- Let's move on.
- Oh, my goodness.
■ Nobody in this game works as
hard as me ■
■ I'm the baddest chick this
world has ever seen because I'm
a queen, queen ■
- This box is heavy.
- Here it is.
had the truck to fall back on.
How do you feel about the sign?
I like it.
- I like that sign. Takes
getting used to, though.
- Yeah, because your mom's not
here. But she's here in spirit.
- It's her name, though, so we
good.
of not only his mom, but me and
my children.
- How you doing, ladies? We got
a sweet heat sauce
we're trying to market right
now. - You guys could just come
sample it.
- We got free samples. If you
guys like it, let us know. Come
on, free samples.
- Would you like to come try it?
Come on over.
- How you guys are doing? Would
you guys like to try our sauce?
Got free samples.
- No, we're good, thank you.
- Got a hard crowd out here,
boy. [laughs]
EMMA: Oh, there they are.
NIC: There she go. Look. Making
a grand entrance.
- Look at you.
I'm so happy to see you guys.
- Yeah. - Wow.
I really prefer this name. I
cannot tell you.
Doesn't it look good when it's
like, all together like this?
- Yes. Yeah. - Okay. Like, this
is pretty good.
NIC: Mm-hmm.
- We should be, like, whooping
this up a little bit.
There's so many ways you can
make this look better.
So, if this was me,
I'm always, like, cloth to the
table. - Okay.
- So it's just going to look,
like, polished and professional.
I would have so much sauce out.
- We got a whole lot out.
- Yes. Then I'm going to rematch
this whole table.
Let's do it, right?
Because it's what you want. You
want, like, a big product
presentation.
Trust me, you eat with your
eyes. - Right. That's true.
- And then I would have a bowl
full of the chilies so that
you've got, like,
some type of fresh ingredient.
Have we settled on red?
Like, the logo being red? - It
stands out a lot.
- There was something about that
yellow label which was so nice.
- Yeah.
It's stressful, but we got to
get it done.
- Would you like to try? Do you
want a little taste?
Come on in. We'd love you to
taste. - What is it?
- Oh, it's amazing. You're going
to be so happy.
She can tell you. - So it's our
sweet fire sauce.
It's one of our homemade sauces
that he happened to make.
- Let me tell you what it is.
This sauce, Ma Duke's, it is the
flavor of family.
It is the most delicious sweet
pepper sauce you will taste,
homemade by these two, family
recipe.
Something that's been in their
family for generations.
Isn't it good? - Pretty good.
- It's delicious, right?
There you go. Okay. More of
this. - That's A-1.
Okay. - See you. Bye.
This is a lesson. Tell them your
story. Tell them why you're
doing this.
Even if she doesn't want to buy,
tell her about the brand, why
you started.
Because something might connect
with someone.
So never, ever waste an
interaction.
- We're gonna get it. - I'll
have my T-shirt on today.
I'll be praying for you. - Don't
forget
- Don't come home with any
sauce.
First I was a little overwhelmed
because she wanted it completely
different from what we had to
set up when we had nothing that
she was asking for.
But something so simple like
this made it look completely
different.
It looks ten times better.
- Hello. Would you like to try
our new sweet heat sauce?
- She even still wants different
colors on the labeling.
We printed all of these, so now
we got to go back and purchase a
whole nother one.
- What's up, man? How you doing?
Would you like to try our new
sauce? - Yeah. Sure.
- Hello. Come on over. Here you
go.
If you like it, we have a $7.99.
If you buy two, you get a dollar
off.
And you guys also get a shirt
that goes with it as well.
You put it on pizza. - Like it?
- Want to buy one? Perfect.
- Mmm, really good.
- What do you like about it?
- I like that it's a little bit
hot.
Then all of a sudden, there's
some sweet. - Yes. That's the
plan.
- Like a great harmony for me.
- Thank you for that. - You guys
made the sauce yourselves?
- Yep. Him right there.
- You like it? Ma Duke's.
- Who's Ma Duke?
- His mom. - My mom.
She passed last year, so we just
trying to keep her legacy going.
We have a food truck. She was a
cook on our food truck.
She passed it on to me, so now
I'm in there.
Got to keep it going. Yeah, for
sure.
ALL: Thank you.
- Thank you. I appreciate it. -
Love you guys. Aloha.
- Aloha. - Enjoy your time in
L.A.
■ So, welcome to the one-girl
show ■
- The product has arrived.
And I wanted to have this big
moment.
It's just like, you know what?
We're not there yet.
We definitely need the product.
So hold up the pad and show it.
Because Ashley was like, "You
guys don't have enough where
you're actually showing your
product.
Your boxes are pretty, but it's
not your product."
Like, this is true.
- So I decided to surprise Val
and Rebecca today at their
campaign photo shoot.
as female founders in this
space.
That could make this really
interesting.
Hi. - Hello.
- How are you? - Good.
Didn't know you were going to be
here today.
- You didn't? - Nope.
Thank you for joining us. - I'm
here.
- Thank you. We're just getting
started.
- Oh, great. - Yeah.
- So I know that, like, one of
our biggest problems was not
getting everything
that we needed, not getting
product shots.
So we have extra hands on board
today to get
- Oh, great. Yes. Okay,
fantastic.
Where's all the pussycats?
- You know, we had a change in
plans. - What's going on?
What do you mean a change in
plans? You didn't tell me.
- You know how I said we're
missing a lot of education on
our social media?
That's really what we're going
to be doing today.
- What? Wait, you totally
flipped the script?
- Yeah, we pivoted.
- Wait, you totally flipped the
script? - We pivoted.
- So we're just doing social
media? - Yeah.
there's no pussycats anywhere,
I was incredibly surprised to
understand that they weren't
shooting their campaign shoot
today.
They were just doing all of
their social media posts.
- And then if we love one of the
ideas
and it starts to do well, then
we can do a full campaign with
it.
- Great. Just call me next time.
- Okay. - Let me know.
Let me know what you guys are
doing. -Okay.
- I need a partner I can work
with.
- Okay, we will. - Okay, good.
It's always okay to pivot,
and why you're deciding to do
something.
Who's shooting this? The same
person?
Good. We're going to have two
shoots at once.
Maybe I can lend a hand here.
- I was kind of nervous you
wouldn't like the new plan.
- Well, and if I didn't like it,
then we'll talk about it.
We're not going to agree on
everything.
- True. - Are we?
- I hope not, because that
wouldn't be a real partnership.
- Exactly. All right. - Yeah.
- All right. So where are we
headed?
Onto set? - Yeah.
- The only thing is, I'm not in
love with this lighting.
- Does that lamp turn on?
Oh, perfect.
- In this scene, there's going
to be two different things.
- How did everything match your
box?
- Exactly.
- I love it. Okay, what are we
doing?
I don't want to stop you.
I'm going to see you next week
at the pitch?
- Yeah.
- So, I'm excited for you guys.
Just make sure you just bring
the numbers.
- Yeah. - You got this, though.
- Yeah. - I can't wait to see
it.
- Okay. Bye, Ashley.
- Bye, guys.
I know that Val and Rebecca were
nervous about telling me
about their pivot with their
campaign,
but this just goes to show me
that I need to help them build
their confidence
in how they communicate with me
and how we can work together.
Oh, just Ashley Graham, just
popping in on our shoot?
- Yeah!
I got starstruck for a second.
Yeah. - [chuckles]
■ Ah, it's a good, good life ■
■ Got that attitude ■
- After the longest day ever
■ Oh-oh-oh, yeah ■
- I finally made it to Vegas,
My attention and my
responsibility today has been
diverted to the day job.
But our event at the store is
taking place,
It's just hard being pulled away
from AMP and what I love
and what I wish I could be 100%
at.
Emma is gonna notice.
But I have responsibilities for
my job that I have to show up
for.
And today, I am on check-in
duty, so
And there's this constant
tug-of-war.
Hi, how are you? What time slot
are you?
MAN: 5:00. - 5:00? Okay, give me
one second.
MONTR■: So I wanted to take that
first row off
and put the logo ones on the
first row.
And I don't know where my phone
is.
Can you call me, Sarah?
I feel really overwhelmed.
We're waiting for the people to
roll in,
and I'm not used to having so
many moving pieces by myself.
Okay, I want to put the signs
outside.
Checkout is going to be in the
back.
So I'm kind of taking on 1,900
jobs right now.
But I'm always, like, high
anxiety because I don't have her
here to help.
I'm gonna try to find the fan.
We have to do it, and then we're
going to do a credit card.
I just want everything to go
smoothly today.
There's a fan somewhere.
- Oh, hi.
How are you? - Good. How are
you?
- I'm good, thank you.
Is Montré working? - Yes, she's
right in the back.
- Yes. Okay.
- Oh, there she is. - Hey, Emma.
[chuckling]
- How are you, darling? - Good.
- I'm so happy to see you. How
are you doing?
- Good. Overwhelmed.
- Are you? - But excited at
the same time.
- You're on your own? - Yes, but
it's amazing.
- What are we doing? - Mix and
mingle right now.
- Okay. - Then we're gonna demo
the products.
We'll ask customer questions,
then we'll kind of close out the
event
around 6:00. EMMA: Amazing.
Because this is, like, an
important moment for you, you
know, just to kind of like,
galvanize support, but also
it's, like, what you get out of
this event,
like, it going back on the
website, it's the content angle
of it.
It makes a lot of sense. - Yeah.
- Should we go and talk
business? - Yeah. Let's do it.
- Let's do it. Let's do it.
The minute I saw Montré, you can
just smell it on her.
She's completely overwhelmed,
and of course, she should be.
Her business partner's off.
She's all on her own.
She's having to rope in friends
and family members,
and she's completely overwhelmed
with it.
I'm happy for you that you get
to do this today.
It will be fabulous. - I'm gonna
cry.
- It's like the fact that you
lost your business partner
is really tough to deal with.
It's fine for you to have these
moments.
But at the end of the day, then
you've got to get back up,
and you have to make her proud.
- I know.
- And I feel like that's what
you're doing here.
This is the culmination of so
much hard work.
Doesn't make it easy.
- Okay. Okay. - It doesn't make
it easy.
Plus, you are here on your own
today. - It really adds the
extra pressure, too.
- Yes, of course. - I'm used to
having two other,
and now I'm by myself, so it
feel it just really feels a
little weird.
- It is.
- Thanks a lot because I'm not
- You got one business partner
away working.
You got the other one who's no
longer with you.
It's really difficult.
Sometimes just, like, knowing.
- Thank you, Emma. Thank you. -
It's not okay.
- I appreciate that. - It's
hard. It's really hard.
- I know we're supposed to be
talking about business.
- Oh, this is part of the
business, right?
It's not always the numbers and
the product,
the event.
One of the things that I've been
thinking about constantly
- Oh, no! [chuckling] Okay, what
is it?
- No, 'cause it's about the
relationship between you and
your cofounder.
- Okay. - At some point,
one of you has got to kind of,
like, pull the plug on the day
job, right?
Have you even broached that
conversation?
'Cause I think it's an important
one to have.
It's like, if you get a ton of
money
and I invest in you, like, one
of you has got to be 100%.
And I just feel like heading
towards this final pitch is
really something you need to
think about.
- Those conversations are
difficult for me.
They really are
- Because you're scared of them?
- because I'm always just,
like,
- this is my girl.
Like, whatever you want. -
Everything's gonna be fine.
- Yeah. - No.
- [laughs] - No.
Because at this point, the
business isn't there to sustain
both of you,
and then you've got to go,
"Which one of us is driving?"
And it's a conversation.
- Okay. Got to have a
conversation. - And a tough one,
right?
You've got to have a
conversation. You got to do it.
- No, it's very important, and
it needs to be talked about.
These are some of the
conversations we've had during,
like, our mediation.
And honestly, it was such a
touchy subject that things just
blew up,
and it was just never
- When you say mediation, you
mean?
- The time where we were just,
like, not aligned as a team
- Okay. Okay. - and we had to
hire
kind of help to figure out what
that looks like for us.
- I didn't know it got as far as
mediation.
- Yes, it did. - Oh, wow.
Wow!
Wow. [laughs]
Every time I meet them, I'm more
surprised.
But the idea of two best friends
going into mediation.
I mean, I was in business with
my best friend for ten years,
but never, ever, ever would we
allow an argument about the
company
to come to that kind of thing
that you need to bring someone
else in.
That worries me beyond, beyond
anything.
[lively music playing]
■ We walk a hard road ■
■ So we can climb up a mountain
■
■ To catch a shine ■
■ We don't want to go it
alone ■
- I'm definitely feeling
pressure more than ever.
- Hello. - Miss Ali Bonks.
- How are you?
Now I'm feeling so much more
confident.
- Now, all of the feedback that
you got from the Ally team,
it was a lot to swallow.
- I was really disappointed.
- So, first of all, one of the
most shocking things
was that only eight percent
of these women were actually
thinking about or willing to buy
Bonks.
Which is incredibly low, like,
that is,
that's shockingly low because
when I-Yes, and that's the
number
that I first saw and I was like
"Oh."
- I think what's not appealing
to women
is the size range,
because that came up a lot in
this paperwork
- Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah.
- because this is free
information for you
that you would have had to pay
for somewhere else
- Totally. - and now it's
being gifted to you.
- Totally. - I can only help you
so much.
- Yeah. - You really have to
take
the bull by the horns and just
go. - Yeah.
- You're sitting on a ton of
inventory. - Mm-hmm. Yes.
- How are we getting rid of it?
- I've had discussions with two
different distributors,
and that will help me get rid of
some bulk, for sure.
- Until Ali offloads all of the
inventory that she's sitting on,
essentially, she's stuck with
the initial design
that I really don't think is
gonna sell very well.
And you have 4,000 still? - No,
I have more than that.
I have probably around three,
six, nine. I probably have 12.
- 12,000 units. - Yeah.
I mean, I can also just offload
it to a place that would just
likely buy it at cost and resell
it in another country.
That's what a lot of people do.
- How do you feel about that?
- I don't want to do that yet
because I want to try and
maximize profits.
-You are sitting on a ton of
inventory. - Mm-hmm.
- And you kind of need a rebrand
because,
to be completely honest with
you,
you have a very large
competitor.
I didn't know this.
I saw them, um, actually, at the
airport, and they are
doing everything correctly.
- Yeah. - They've got the brand
messaging,
they've got the sizes, they've
got the quality.
Here's the great thing,
is that there's a market for
you. - Yeah. I know.
- There is a space here where
women
want to buy this. - Yeah.
- The problem is you're really
falling behind.
- Mm-hmm.
- I need you to show up to that
pitch
with fire under you. - Yes.
- Because I see it in the
deepest part of you,
but I don't see it through your
actions.
And that's what I need from you.
Because I've got other people
I'm talking to,
and every time I see them,
they've done ten times more than
you have.
- Oh, my gosh. Okay.
Okay. Yeah. I need like, five of
me right now.
- Mm-hmm. - Mm-hmm.
- I'm rooting for you, Ali. I
really am. - Thank you.
- I-I really want you to be
successful.
So everything has to be right
with this pitch. - Yes. Yes,
yes.
Mm-hmm. - [sighs]
- I'm a bit worried about where
Ashley's head is at.
I'm not slacking.
I'm just extremely overwhelmed
and overworked.
- You got a lot of work to do. -
I sure do.
- She needs some fire under her
butt.
She needs to know that there's
somebody that's out here doing
exactly
Bonks could be better. I just
need Ali to listen.
Good luck, Bonks. - Thank you.
I don't need it. I can do this.
- Okay.
She needs the luck.
■ Start my hustle at the crack
of dawn ■
■ 'Cause I've been putting in
the miles like a marathon ■
■ You know that I'm the type of
girl that goes above and beyond
■
■ Every night I'm going overtime
■
■ I work all damn day ■
■ Uh-huh ■
■ So pay me my money ■
■ Uh-huh ■
■ I got boogie friends, I need
to spend ■
■ And, damn, I'm hungry ■
■ Ooh, girl ■
■ I got bills to pay ■
■ Uh-huh ■
■ And the rent's due, honey ■
■ I like to turn heads ■
■ I need some new threads like a
retail junkie ■
■ So pay me my money ■
■ Make it rain, yo, every time I
say so ■
■ So pay me my money ■
■ Make it rain, yo, every time I
say so ■
■ Pay me my money ■
■ Make it rain, yo, every time I
say so ■
■ So pay me my money. ■
■ Let-let them do what they do ■
■ Just worry about you, got to
keep your cool ■
■ Ladies try to take it from you
■
■ Go ahead, let them run they
mouth ■
- This week, we're putting our
hustlers to the test.
They need to host a marketing
event to sell their business and
themselves.
- With the final pitch just a
week away,
we want to understand the
potential for growth
and how the ladies handle being
the face of their businesses.
■ Nobody's gonna hand it to you
■
■ Got to get up and show out
■
- We are picking up inventory
from our warehouse facility.
We're getting it.
Rif is growing so rapidly.
get everything done and make
sure it's, like, perfect.
■ Spotlight, oh, yeah ■
■ Spotlight, yeah ■
MONTR■: Hey-a. - Hey.
- Beat me here.
- How was the drive over here?
- Crazy. - Traffic?
- Hour and a half.
My day-to-day is very chaotic.
It's hard to balance when you
have
and a super demanding job.
But yeah, I really, really
appreciate you guys helping me
out today.
Angel is on vacay with her
hubby,
so, like, it's just SARAH:
Where is she?
She's in Puerto Rico. [trills] -
Puerto Rico.
-
I feel a little anxious not
having Angel there
because she leads all of our
marketing efforts.
Let's move, Girl+Hair. - Okay.
- And then just fill this with
In Good Conscience.
our moment, and our future is on
the line.
and one of us needs to hold it
down.
Pressure makes diamonds. Is that
what they say?
- Yeah. Diamonds are made under
pressure. - They say pressure
makes diamonds.
Yeah, there you go.
[upbeat music plays]
VAL: Hello.
- Good. We miss you.
-
- We miss you. -
VAL: Super busy. And her dad is
out of town.
And I was like, "Oh, my gosh, I
wish you were here,"
because when you came to be with
us, it was so helpful.
-
Milene is like a second pair of
hands.
Just, like, walking Valentina to
school, making her lunch.
I have so many more
responsibilities.
And her dad does help out.
So having a friend who is
willing to be there and be our
tribe,
and hands and feet on the ground
to help, as a single mom is
amazing.
If I got you a ticket, would you
be able to come back
and help with Valentina?
-
- Ally gave me this emergency
fund,
and childcare is an emergency.
-
- Okay,
let's start looking at flights.
[upbeat music playing]
KRISTYN: Sit.
CHRIS: So what's tell me
what's going on.
How you making out? - I'm
exhausted.
But all good things. All good
things.
Emma is just so amazing.
- Is she? - She's so observant.
She's already thinking of all of
these different ideas for the
company.
But then, she wants me to do a
full rebrand.
- Ooh, interesting.
- Like, this is the thing. Like,
do I call it a new name?
Do I call it Crate Away? I guess
I should just stick to Crate
Away.
- I would, for now, until you
know that that's what you're
gonna do.
- Yeah, I don't know.
I'm really struggling with this
name change,
There's a lot to think about
there.
I need to host an event.
It'll be people's first time
seeing it.
And I have to have two brand-new
prototypes by then.
It's been really stressful.
- How are you keeping up?
- I can't I-I do I wear all
these hats,
I do my full-time job.
It's a big job, and something
that I've, you know,
I've worked towards for years
and years and years.
You know, I am focusing most of
my time on it,
like the, you know, eight hours
a day that it takes.
But then it's like, okay, after
that eight hours,
then I have to completely switch
brains.
It's just so exhausting.
- Well, control what you can
control.
- No, I know. - Just do your
best
and make it happen.
- Having my dad's support means
everything.
He's a Philly sales rep. Like
he's
[laughs] That's who he is.
I know that this is gonna be
successful.
I know it in my heart.
Like, my heart of hearts, I just
know it.
- You have the drive and the
ability to do it.
- Yeah. - Are you confident
that Emma will be able to help
you through your journey?
- If Emma gives me an
investment, I'm done.
I'm done with my full-time job.
This is Crate Away, is it.
- Is it? - Is it.
[upbeat music plays]
LESHEKA: You got to carry
the-the blender.
she wanted us to get into a test
kitchen.
Feels good to be out of the
truck for once, in a
- Yeah, in a real kitchen. -
Yeah.
- Dang. - We ain't doing little
batches no more.
- Okay. - We got to cut for the
big stuff.
- We have to make the sauce in
mass quantities
Over a hundred bottles.
let alone made it for over a
hundred people.
and I'm hoping they all taste
the same.
- [muttering] 12, 13, 14
- We got to figure it out.
- [mutters]
So how you feel about producing
a hundred bottles for Emma?
- Nervous, because we've never
did such a big batch.
and we need Emma on our team.
- There we go. - Mm.
[whirring]
[pensive music plays]
- Somebody call the fire-fire
department.
- It's hot. - Don't dip it back
in there.
- It's hot? - Yes.
- Let me taste it.
[coughs]
- [laughs] - [exhales sharply]
Okay.
Yeah.
That's it. That's hot sauce.
- I like the extra little spice
that we throwing in there.
- I like it. I mean - Ooh.
Right there.
Oh. Dominic.
- Top it off. - Top it off. Look
at that.
- [chuckles] We made it.
- We got our first - High
five.
- I want a hug. - You always
want a hug.
You probably want more than a
hug. - Hug is love. What you
mean?
- I bet you want to hug.
So it's exciting, but it's sad
at the same time.
- What are you thinking about
the name for the sauce?
Just a little sweet, then it got
a little heat.
Ma Duke's Sweet Heat.
- It's kind of been a family
recipe.
Uh, there was too many - Ma
Duke's Sweet Fire?
Ma Duke's Sweet Heat?
- I would say "Sweet Heat." - Ma
Duke's Sweet Heat.
- Ma Duke's Sweet Heat. - Look
at that.
- Mmm. - I like it.
[laughs] - I need you to hold it
together, please.
- I'm already crying, so it
don't even matter.
- [sighs] This is a big step for
us right here.
Got our first bottle.
I can see it on a, on the
shelves right now.
Mom's on the front. It's
perfect.
- Seeing it in a bottle, there's
a different
I don't know.
I'm tired of crying. [chuckles]
- It's tears of joy. That's all
it is.
-
we know where we're going, we
know what our next step is,
we know what we're gonna do.
Proud to create something -
Yeah.
- that we've-we've came up
with, for our kids.
- Sweat and tears.
- I believe in myself a lot more
than I did before.
- All we got to do is produce
these hundred bottles.
We can't forget about that. We
got one down.
99 more to go. - [laughs]
■
[atmospheric music plays]
and found out that my prototypes
are being shipped to
Pennsylvania
instead of Los Angeles.
I hope that they can reroute
everything and get them to L.A.
Like, our event is happening
in
three days.
[sighs] Whatever. We'll figure
it out.
[upbeat music plays]
- Hi. It's so nice to meet you.
- I'm Sharla with Ally. - Hi,
Sharla.
with Ally.
I, unfortunately,
so I really appreciate them
- The best use of our time is
probably showing you
some of the stuff that we
learned.
Um, we did a survey on
everyone's website.
For this, we did focus on women.
And so, eight percent said they
were "extremely likely to buy"
after looking at the website,
and this is why they said
they are "likely to buy." -
Okay.
- And then, on the sort of
critical side,
those that indicated "unlikely
to buy"
and then why they indicated. -
Mm-hmm.
- So, I think you're gonna see
some things that were similar
around sizing, and then you've
got some reactions generally
about "This just isn't speaking
to me"
or "I don't under I don't
understand what it is."
So there's a reflection of that
in here a little bit as well.
- So, this means that
the vast majority of people were
not into it.
- Correct. - Yeah.
That's good, because it's a
little scary.
- [stammers] It's hard to hear
critical feedback.
- Yeah. Yeah. - It really is.
- The data that they discussed
with me was not very positive.
I'm feeling, you know, a little
bit crushed, to be honest.
because I am not in the position
to be wasting any money.
[atmospheric music plays]
The priority for this week, I
think, is this marketing
campaign.
- Yeah. - And we want to create
that moment
of "Oh, my gosh.
Everyone's googling to see what
this is and what it's about."
And your Free the Pussycats
campaign
- No, it's not "Free the
Pussycats."
- What is it? Protect the
Pussycats?
- Protect Pussycats.
Okay, so, we need to, like
something to kind of just open
up the conversation
of, like, why we need to, like,
be safer with our products,
why we need to, like, protect,
you know, our most sensitive
region,
and I was like, "What emoji
comes to mind?"
and I was like, "The pussycat."
- Yeah. - And I was like, "No,
we have to protect pussycats."
- I think it'd be fabulous.
I think people are gonna be so
confused, like,
"Are they talking about vaginas
or animals?"
- I want kittens, too. Kittens
are so cute.
- We could go so deep with this.
- Do you think, like, it's too
much?
- I have a lot of anxiety,
actually, about this being the
right move,
but at the same time, I think
that we need people to either
love or hate us.
- I'd love to hear what Ashley
has to say about these.
- I'm super nervous about
telling Ashley about the
campaign,
because at the end of the day,
it is the $15,000 that she's
given us,
So I definitely trust her
opinion on this.
REBECCA: If she doesn't get it,
then it's like, okay.
- Yeah. Yeah. - Back to the
drawing board.
[upbeat music plays]
■ 24 hours ■
- Hello.
and I'm nervous for what she's
going to say.
- Okay, so let's talk to me
about the event
and how you're using the
$15,000.
What does that look like?
-Well, a big chunk of that
15,000 is the prototypes.
So, those prototypes of the
crate
will be here, I'm hoping, on
Friday,
and I wanted you to see,
which - This looks so good,
doesn't it?
I feel like if I had to choose
between, I'd probably
do this 'cause there's a bit of
texture on it.
Do you know what I mean? That
makes it look more expensive.
- So you like these options?
- I would definitely go in for
the graphite.
- Yeah. - Okay, so let's talk
a little bit about the name
Crate Away. - Yes.
I did a ton of polling, a ton of
research.
I asked all of the experts in
the industry this past week,
and one of the biggest things
that people gave me feedback on
was the name.
They were like, we already know
what your company is
from your name, and we kind of
love that,
so I'm not going to change my
brand name.
- Go with the name that you feel
great about,
'cause you're the one who's got
to live with it
- Right, right. - for the
next four, five, six years.
- Well, I was struggling with
it.
- But that's part of the reason
that you have me, right?
You've got to be able to bounce
ideas,
and one of the things that I
really want to do
is make sure that we introduce
you to
a few V.C.s on this journey.
I have someone that I really
want you to meet.
She's called Jesse Draper, and
she's from Halogen Ventures.
- Okay, cool. - And I feel like
just getting you
in front of someone who's
interested
- I want to get that pitch down.
- Yeah.
- So, the more I learn about
Kristyn and Crate Away,
I realize it's going to take
millions and millions of dollars
to get this business off the
ground.
Pet is very specific,
and so I'm going to introduce
her to
some V.C.s that really know the
space
and can catapult this business
to the next level.
I have every faith in you
- Yeah. - but you need to
prove to me
- Right. - that you believe
that you can do it.
- It's been, like, so amazing.
I've never worked harder for
something that I believed in
more.
You know what I mean? - I know.
- Just, like, having
having someone to go through
that with has been really
- You're just going to keep
going through it.
- Keep going, keep going. - And
it's okay that you cry.
That just means that it means
something to you.
- Yeah. No, this is everything.
- You know? It's like Yeah,
it's everything. But it shows.
[upbeat music plays]
- I am going to get the bottles
today.
And the labels.
Then later on, get the shirts.
So everything's coming together.
And then, on Wednesday,
we have the pop-up event on
Venice Beach.
Just got here to General
Bottles.
the bottles.
They told me to give this to one
of you guys?
- Hi, how are you? - Hello.
- You finally start to feel
proud of yourself
when you see all the work
- This should complete your
order, okay? - Thank you.
About to get on the freeway, go
home
because I still have my second
job to go to.
Then I have to go to Nic's house
so that we can
put the stickers on the bottles
for Wednesday.
It is Monday.
Me and Nic are going to do that,
and then my brother's going to
come and help.
[upbeat music plays]
Just got finished doing the rest
of the bottles in the truck.
[sighs]
[upbeat music plays]
- I'm kind of nervous. She's not
gonna
- I think she's gonna like it.
- Okay. If you say so. - Yeah.
- You guys look so cute. Did you
do that on purpose?
- No. - No, we just,
we spend a lot of time together.
- Great minds.
- Hi, you look so beautiful. -
Good to see you. Thank you.
- Have a seat on the couch
again. - Thank you.
- Okay, there's a lot going on.
First of all, a little birdie
told me
that you guys did get a big
order placed.
REBECCA: Yes. - Yes?
- Yeah. So, that was the one
that we had to ship.
REBECCA: That was insane,
actually.
Like, last week, we were
chickens with our heads cut off.
- How close do you guys feel
like you are
to making your side hustle your
main hustle?
- Closer.
- I think with me, I have had
talks with my business partner
about what we want to do with
the talent agency,
and I feel like I've kind of
been ignoring those
conversations
with her lately because
it's really scary to think about
shutting something down that you
started.
- Mm-hmm. Can you guys just have
the conversation
about ending it now peacefully?
- It's scary.
- What else has been going on? -
We actually have a really fun
idea.
- Okay. - Yeah.
For the marketing event that's
coming up,
this campaign that's called
hashtag
Protect Pussycats.
[upbeat music plays]
a really fun idea. - Okay.
- Yeah, doing this campaign
that's called
hashtag Protect Pussycats.
Big splash campaign. - Yeah.
- Wait, what?
- Okay. So, let me just
- Like a cat?
- Yeah. - Yes.
- Meow?
- Yeah. - Yes.
- The whole campaign is going to
be centered around
ingredients education, where
we're basically like,
feeding cats all these different
things that you shouldn't be
feeding your cats.
REBECCA: Yeah, like, would you
feed
your pussycat, you know,
microplastics?
Would you feed it toxic
chemicals or like
- Or poison? - No. Yeah. Protect
the pussycats.
- Okay. Hold on. Okay.
So, this is going to be your
first campaign out.
We're going to be on a bus.
We're going to be on a
billboard. We're going to be
what?
- Hashtag Protect Pussycats.
- Um
Here's the thing. Anytime you
are
about to launch a product,
right?
Now, you're going into the world
and you're saying, "Look at me."
That is what you are forever.
And I don't think that you
forever
want to be connected to cats.
I think that there are so many
other ways
to have a very bold campaign,
feel, look,
but there's another way to do
it.
What is going to catch the woman
that you're targeting
for her to say, "Oh, they get
me. They know exactly what I
want?"
I mean, I don't know, how do you
guys feel about not doing the
cats?
- We walked in with a
possibility that you could not
like it,
but the focus is definitely also
on the ingredients.
- [sighs]
I don't hate this idea, but I
don't think it's around the
cats.
I think it's like, one bit. -
Yeah.
- This is what people are going
to remember.
They're going to see a girl that
looks like them.
They're going to say, that's for
me. - Yeah.
- But what people are really
interested in now
is the people behind the
businesses.
And I think that there is
something very strong and
important
about the two of you being
forward-facing
and seeing a woman who is like,
"I made this for us,"
and I think it's going to be
really strong.
- Yeah, we could write a script
for that, for sure.
- Mm-hmm. This is good that
we're talking about this,
because you're going to be
pitching again to me and Emma
very soon - Okay.
- and I really want to see
what has happened
from when we first started to
when we're going to be pitching
again.
- Yeah. - Okay.
- We're taking everything that
you said to mind, for sure.
- Great.
- Our biggest fear came to life
that she would hate it.
- We need to focus more on the
ingredients and the mission
behind it.
- I'm feeling nervous about the
final pitch
because I feel like we really
have to prove
There can't be anything else
that's standing in the way. -
Mm-hmm.
[upbeat music plays]
- Yeah, I'm just feeling really
behind on my work,
um, on my day job work.
Really hard to get stuff done in
a timely manner
and, um, I feel like I'm just,
like, all over the place.
the brand signs and the shirts.
Angel being on vacation
It's a big opportunity.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Hi, Micah.
- Hi, friend. - Oh, hey.
Awesome. How are you? - Feel
good, good.
A little stressed, a little
overwhelmed, but
- That trip wasn't long enough.
Sand every day on the beach.
- This situation doesn't feel
fair.
- Okay, what's been going on?
What did I miss?
- We have the event on Saturday.
- We have what on Saturday?
- The event. The influencer
event.
- Okay, I just got into town and
then I have to leave again.
- I know. - For work.
to execute on our event,
I just want to present AMP in
the best way that will really
resonate,
and if we don't bring home a
win,
I'm not sure what the future
holds for AMP.
but I'm going to try to put that
in the back of my head,
um, and compartmentalize,
but all I want to do is cry.
[dramatic music plays]
Everything that could have gone
wrong has gone wrong this week.
The prototypes didn't make it in
time,
Here's to hoping that.
This is the one that we're going
to actually demo.
to create some awareness about
Crate Away.
to fully commit to Crate Away,
is her seeing how pet parents
react to the product.
But she's expecting me to have
these large prototypes in,
[upbeat music plays]
checking in on all of my side
hustlers' marketing events,
because I am always watching.
- You just push it up, and then
it goes into place.
- Kristyn is a master pitch
woman.
She's impressed me at every
turn.
clearly and concisely before we
move into any V.C. meetings,
so I'm really considering this
her test.
Oh, there she is.
- Hello. How are you?
- I'm so happy to see you. - Me,
too.
- I cannot tell you how excited
I am
So, the new crates arrived?
- No. - Or not?
- They did not arrive.
- Okay, you did a good do-me-up
job, though, there.
- [laughs] Thank you.
It was really a relief that she
was like,
MAN: I was watching your
product.
Oh, my God, it is so easy to pop
together
because, you know, with the
metal crates,
you have to fold them, hold
them, they get stuck.
Yours is boom, boom, boom, on
together.
- Just don't say anything. He's
doing it for us. Go on.
Keep going, keep going. - I love
your product.
- If you have any other
feedback, give me all your
thoughts,
because I really love to take
into consideration other
pet parents' thoughts and what
you need. - Sure.
Thank you. - Crate Away was
built with safety
in mind as well as convenience.
Right? So you want the best for
your pet,
but you also want something that
you can just take with you on
the go.
- I want you to get that pitch
down to 40 seconds.
- Okay. - In case she doesn't
have all day.
- Yeah. - Get those four key
attributes out.
- What's the main benefit that
you guys are pushing?
- We have a great locking
mechanism. It's lightweight,
it's convenient.
- The thing about the metal
ones, obviously,
is they don't Oh, that's fun.
Oh, that's amazing. - She came
up with the whole idea.
She created it.
She's like a real genius
American inventor.
I am so happy after seeing
Kristyn today.
It's so clear to me that Kristyn
is ready to pitch Crate Away
Good to see you in action.
I am capable, because I know
that investors
look to the founder as much as
they look to the product.
Can I give you guys some
underwear?
- Thank you. So cute.
- Thanks.
Hey, how's it going?
I'm Ali. I'm the founder of
Bonks, packaged undies on the
go.
People are not going to know
that they need Bonks
until they know about Bonks.
Those pants look hot. - Thank■
Oh, my gosh!
- Yeah, this is cute.
- Thank you. - I'm excited.
And it's hot out. - So hot.
- Which means there's a lot of
sweaty vaginas.
- Yes, you're right, mine being
number one.
- And that's what you need to
lead with.
This is Ali. She is the founder
of Bonks.
- Yes, this is my brand,
pre-washed premium
packaged undies that you can
carry with you.
- Okay.
- They retail for $12, and today
I am offering them
for ten bucks; buy four, get one
free.
Or if you answer some quick
questions for me, then I'll give
you a free pair.
- And give your email.
- And I'd love to get your
email. - Yes.
- I know that I have asked Ali
to do a lot,
and it's a little bit of a
revamp,
- Do you feel like you are young
millennial
in who you kind of resonate
with? - Yeah, I guess so.
It's kind of frustrating to be
on this end of it and not see
a faster progression in the way
that I feel like should be
happening.
I also wonder if there's a way
you can
- Speed it up? - Get to it, get
the info,
get a pair of Bonks in their
bag, and get them out of here
and on to the next.
- Yeah. Thank you. - Good luck.
- Thank you so much. What
generation do you align yourself
with?
- Millennials.
- She keeps gathering
information.
I got some really good
information.
- Stop doing all of that and
just get the product
where it needs to be and sell
it.
Sell your product.
- I think■ Aah!
Give me a moment.
- Let's move on.
- Oh, my goodness.
■ Nobody in this game works as
hard as me ■
■ I'm the baddest chick this
world has ever seen because I'm
a queen, queen ■
- This box is heavy.
- Here it is.
had the truck to fall back on.
How do you feel about the sign?
I like it.
- I like that sign. Takes
getting used to, though.
- Yeah, because your mom's not
here. But she's here in spirit.
- It's her name, though, so we
good.
of not only his mom, but me and
my children.
- How you doing, ladies? We got
a sweet heat sauce
we're trying to market right
now. - You guys could just come
sample it.
- We got free samples. If you
guys like it, let us know. Come
on, free samples.
- Would you like to come try it?
Come on over.
- How you guys are doing? Would
you guys like to try our sauce?
Got free samples.
- No, we're good, thank you.
- Got a hard crowd out here,
boy. [laughs]
EMMA: Oh, there they are.
NIC: There she go. Look. Making
a grand entrance.
- Look at you.
I'm so happy to see you guys.
- Yeah. - Wow.
I really prefer this name. I
cannot tell you.
Doesn't it look good when it's
like, all together like this?
- Yes. Yeah. - Okay. Like, this
is pretty good.
NIC: Mm-hmm.
- We should be, like, whooping
this up a little bit.
There's so many ways you can
make this look better.
So, if this was me,
I'm always, like, cloth to the
table. - Okay.
- So it's just going to look,
like, polished and professional.
I would have so much sauce out.
- We got a whole lot out.
- Yes. Then I'm going to rematch
this whole table.
Let's do it, right?
Because it's what you want. You
want, like, a big product
presentation.
Trust me, you eat with your
eyes. - Right. That's true.
- And then I would have a bowl
full of the chilies so that
you've got, like,
some type of fresh ingredient.
Have we settled on red?
Like, the logo being red? - It
stands out a lot.
- There was something about that
yellow label which was so nice.
- Yeah.
It's stressful, but we got to
get it done.
- Would you like to try? Do you
want a little taste?
Come on in. We'd love you to
taste. - What is it?
- Oh, it's amazing. You're going
to be so happy.
She can tell you. - So it's our
sweet fire sauce.
It's one of our homemade sauces
that he happened to make.
- Let me tell you what it is.
This sauce, Ma Duke's, it is the
flavor of family.
It is the most delicious sweet
pepper sauce you will taste,
homemade by these two, family
recipe.
Something that's been in their
family for generations.
Isn't it good? - Pretty good.
- It's delicious, right?
There you go. Okay. More of
this. - That's A-1.
Okay. - See you. Bye.
This is a lesson. Tell them your
story. Tell them why you're
doing this.
Even if she doesn't want to buy,
tell her about the brand, why
you started.
Because something might connect
with someone.
So never, ever waste an
interaction.
- We're gonna get it. - I'll
have my T-shirt on today.
I'll be praying for you. - Don't
forget
- Don't come home with any
sauce.
First I was a little overwhelmed
because she wanted it completely
different from what we had to
set up when we had nothing that
she was asking for.
But something so simple like
this made it look completely
different.
It looks ten times better.
- Hello. Would you like to try
our new sweet heat sauce?
- She even still wants different
colors on the labeling.
We printed all of these, so now
we got to go back and purchase a
whole nother one.
- What's up, man? How you doing?
Would you like to try our new
sauce? - Yeah. Sure.
- Hello. Come on over. Here you
go.
If you like it, we have a $7.99.
If you buy two, you get a dollar
off.
And you guys also get a shirt
that goes with it as well.
You put it on pizza. - Like it?
- Want to buy one? Perfect.
- Mmm, really good.
- What do you like about it?
- I like that it's a little bit
hot.
Then all of a sudden, there's
some sweet. - Yes. That's the
plan.
- Like a great harmony for me.
- Thank you for that. - You guys
made the sauce yourselves?
- Yep. Him right there.
- You like it? Ma Duke's.
- Who's Ma Duke?
- His mom. - My mom.
She passed last year, so we just
trying to keep her legacy going.
We have a food truck. She was a
cook on our food truck.
She passed it on to me, so now
I'm in there.
Got to keep it going. Yeah, for
sure.
ALL: Thank you.
- Thank you. I appreciate it. -
Love you guys. Aloha.
- Aloha. - Enjoy your time in
L.A.
■ So, welcome to the one-girl
show ■
- The product has arrived.
And I wanted to have this big
moment.
It's just like, you know what?
We're not there yet.
We definitely need the product.
So hold up the pad and show it.
Because Ashley was like, "You
guys don't have enough where
you're actually showing your
product.
Your boxes are pretty, but it's
not your product."
Like, this is true.
- So I decided to surprise Val
and Rebecca today at their
campaign photo shoot.
as female founders in this
space.
That could make this really
interesting.
Hi. - Hello.
- How are you? - Good.
Didn't know you were going to be
here today.
- You didn't? - Nope.
Thank you for joining us. - I'm
here.
- Thank you. We're just getting
started.
- Oh, great. - Yeah.
- So I know that, like, one of
our biggest problems was not
getting everything
that we needed, not getting
product shots.
So we have extra hands on board
today to get
- Oh, great. Yes. Okay,
fantastic.
Where's all the pussycats?
- You know, we had a change in
plans. - What's going on?
What do you mean a change in
plans? You didn't tell me.
- You know how I said we're
missing a lot of education on
our social media?
That's really what we're going
to be doing today.
- What? Wait, you totally
flipped the script?
- Yeah, we pivoted.
- Wait, you totally flipped the
script? - We pivoted.
- So we're just doing social
media? - Yeah.
there's no pussycats anywhere,
I was incredibly surprised to
understand that they weren't
shooting their campaign shoot
today.
They were just doing all of
their social media posts.
- And then if we love one of the
ideas
and it starts to do well, then
we can do a full campaign with
it.
- Great. Just call me next time.
- Okay. - Let me know.
Let me know what you guys are
doing. -Okay.
- I need a partner I can work
with.
- Okay, we will. - Okay, good.
It's always okay to pivot,
and why you're deciding to do
something.
Who's shooting this? The same
person?
Good. We're going to have two
shoots at once.
Maybe I can lend a hand here.
- I was kind of nervous you
wouldn't like the new plan.
- Well, and if I didn't like it,
then we'll talk about it.
We're not going to agree on
everything.
- True. - Are we?
- I hope not, because that
wouldn't be a real partnership.
- Exactly. All right. - Yeah.
- All right. So where are we
headed?
Onto set? - Yeah.
- The only thing is, I'm not in
love with this lighting.
- Does that lamp turn on?
Oh, perfect.
- In this scene, there's going
to be two different things.
- How did everything match your
box?
- Exactly.
- I love it. Okay, what are we
doing?
I don't want to stop you.
I'm going to see you next week
at the pitch?
- Yeah.
- So, I'm excited for you guys.
Just make sure you just bring
the numbers.
- Yeah. - You got this, though.
- Yeah. - I can't wait to see
it.
- Okay. Bye, Ashley.
- Bye, guys.
I know that Val and Rebecca were
nervous about telling me
about their pivot with their
campaign,
but this just goes to show me
that I need to help them build
their confidence
in how they communicate with me
and how we can work together.
Oh, just Ashley Graham, just
popping in on our shoot?
- Yeah!
I got starstruck for a second.
Yeah. - [chuckles]
■ Ah, it's a good, good life ■
■ Got that attitude ■
- After the longest day ever
■ Oh-oh-oh, yeah ■
- I finally made it to Vegas,
My attention and my
responsibility today has been
diverted to the day job.
But our event at the store is
taking place,
It's just hard being pulled away
from AMP and what I love
and what I wish I could be 100%
at.
Emma is gonna notice.
But I have responsibilities for
my job that I have to show up
for.
And today, I am on check-in
duty, so
And there's this constant
tug-of-war.
Hi, how are you? What time slot
are you?
MAN: 5:00. - 5:00? Okay, give me
one second.
MONTR■: So I wanted to take that
first row off
and put the logo ones on the
first row.
And I don't know where my phone
is.
Can you call me, Sarah?
I feel really overwhelmed.
We're waiting for the people to
roll in,
and I'm not used to having so
many moving pieces by myself.
Okay, I want to put the signs
outside.
Checkout is going to be in the
back.
So I'm kind of taking on 1,900
jobs right now.
But I'm always, like, high
anxiety because I don't have her
here to help.
I'm gonna try to find the fan.
We have to do it, and then we're
going to do a credit card.
I just want everything to go
smoothly today.
There's a fan somewhere.
- Oh, hi.
How are you? - Good. How are
you?
- I'm good, thank you.
Is Montré working? - Yes, she's
right in the back.
- Yes. Okay.
- Oh, there she is. - Hey, Emma.
[chuckling]
- How are you, darling? - Good.
- I'm so happy to see you. How
are you doing?
- Good. Overwhelmed.
- Are you? - But excited at
the same time.
- You're on your own? - Yes, but
it's amazing.
- What are we doing? - Mix and
mingle right now.
- Okay. - Then we're gonna demo
the products.
We'll ask customer questions,
then we'll kind of close out the
event
around 6:00. EMMA: Amazing.
Because this is, like, an
important moment for you, you
know, just to kind of like,
galvanize support, but also
it's, like, what you get out of
this event,
like, it going back on the
website, it's the content angle
of it.
It makes a lot of sense. - Yeah.
- Should we go and talk
business? - Yeah. Let's do it.
- Let's do it. Let's do it.
The minute I saw Montré, you can
just smell it on her.
She's completely overwhelmed,
and of course, she should be.
Her business partner's off.
She's all on her own.
She's having to rope in friends
and family members,
and she's completely overwhelmed
with it.
I'm happy for you that you get
to do this today.
It will be fabulous. - I'm gonna
cry.
- It's like the fact that you
lost your business partner
is really tough to deal with.
It's fine for you to have these
moments.
But at the end of the day, then
you've got to get back up,
and you have to make her proud.
- I know.
- And I feel like that's what
you're doing here.
This is the culmination of so
much hard work.
Doesn't make it easy.
- Okay. Okay. - It doesn't make
it easy.
Plus, you are here on your own
today. - It really adds the
extra pressure, too.
- Yes, of course. - I'm used to
having two other,
and now I'm by myself, so it
feel it just really feels a
little weird.
- It is.
- Thanks a lot because I'm not
- You got one business partner
away working.
You got the other one who's no
longer with you.
It's really difficult.
Sometimes just, like, knowing.
- Thank you, Emma. Thank you. -
It's not okay.
- I appreciate that. - It's
hard. It's really hard.
- I know we're supposed to be
talking about business.
- Oh, this is part of the
business, right?
It's not always the numbers and
the product,
the event.
One of the things that I've been
thinking about constantly
- Oh, no! [chuckling] Okay, what
is it?
- No, 'cause it's about the
relationship between you and
your cofounder.
- Okay. - At some point,
one of you has got to kind of,
like, pull the plug on the day
job, right?
Have you even broached that
conversation?
'Cause I think it's an important
one to have.
It's like, if you get a ton of
money
and I invest in you, like, one
of you has got to be 100%.
And I just feel like heading
towards this final pitch is
really something you need to
think about.
- Those conversations are
difficult for me.
They really are
- Because you're scared of them?
- because I'm always just,
like,
- this is my girl.
Like, whatever you want. -
Everything's gonna be fine.
- Yeah. - No.
- [laughs] - No.
Because at this point, the
business isn't there to sustain
both of you,
and then you've got to go,
"Which one of us is driving?"
And it's a conversation.
- Okay. Got to have a
conversation. - And a tough one,
right?
You've got to have a
conversation. You got to do it.
- No, it's very important, and
it needs to be talked about.
These are some of the
conversations we've had during,
like, our mediation.
And honestly, it was such a
touchy subject that things just
blew up,
and it was just never
- When you say mediation, you
mean?
- The time where we were just,
like, not aligned as a team
- Okay. Okay. - and we had to
hire
kind of help to figure out what
that looks like for us.
- I didn't know it got as far as
mediation.
- Yes, it did. - Oh, wow.
Wow!
Wow. [laughs]
Every time I meet them, I'm more
surprised.
But the idea of two best friends
going into mediation.
I mean, I was in business with
my best friend for ten years,
but never, ever, ever would we
allow an argument about the
company
to come to that kind of thing
that you need to bring someone
else in.
That worries me beyond, beyond
anything.
[lively music playing]
■ We walk a hard road ■
■ So we can climb up a mountain
■
■ To catch a shine ■
■ We don't want to go it
alone ■
- I'm definitely feeling
pressure more than ever.
- Hello. - Miss Ali Bonks.
- How are you?
Now I'm feeling so much more
confident.
- Now, all of the feedback that
you got from the Ally team,
it was a lot to swallow.
- I was really disappointed.
- So, first of all, one of the
most shocking things
was that only eight percent
of these women were actually
thinking about or willing to buy
Bonks.
Which is incredibly low, like,
that is,
that's shockingly low because
when I-Yes, and that's the
number
that I first saw and I was like
"Oh."
- I think what's not appealing
to women
is the size range,
because that came up a lot in
this paperwork
- Mm-hmm. Yeah, yeah.
- because this is free
information for you
that you would have had to pay
for somewhere else
- Totally. - and now it's
being gifted to you.
- Totally. - I can only help you
so much.
- Yeah. - You really have to
take
the bull by the horns and just
go. - Yeah.
- You're sitting on a ton of
inventory. - Mm-hmm. Yes.
- How are we getting rid of it?
- I've had discussions with two
different distributors,
and that will help me get rid of
some bulk, for sure.
- Until Ali offloads all of the
inventory that she's sitting on,
essentially, she's stuck with
the initial design
that I really don't think is
gonna sell very well.
And you have 4,000 still? - No,
I have more than that.
I have probably around three,
six, nine. I probably have 12.
- 12,000 units. - Yeah.
I mean, I can also just offload
it to a place that would just
likely buy it at cost and resell
it in another country.
That's what a lot of people do.
- How do you feel about that?
- I don't want to do that yet
because I want to try and
maximize profits.
-You are sitting on a ton of
inventory. - Mm-hmm.
- And you kind of need a rebrand
because,
to be completely honest with
you,
you have a very large
competitor.
I didn't know this.
I saw them, um, actually, at the
airport, and they are
doing everything correctly.
- Yeah. - They've got the brand
messaging,
they've got the sizes, they've
got the quality.
Here's the great thing,
is that there's a market for
you. - Yeah. I know.
- There is a space here where
women
want to buy this. - Yeah.
- The problem is you're really
falling behind.
- Mm-hmm.
- I need you to show up to that
pitch
with fire under you. - Yes.
- Because I see it in the
deepest part of you,
but I don't see it through your
actions.
And that's what I need from you.
Because I've got other people
I'm talking to,
and every time I see them,
they've done ten times more than
you have.
- Oh, my gosh. Okay.
Okay. Yeah. I need like, five of
me right now.
- Mm-hmm. - Mm-hmm.
- I'm rooting for you, Ali. I
really am. - Thank you.
- I-I really want you to be
successful.
So everything has to be right
with this pitch. - Yes. Yes,
yes.
Mm-hmm. - [sighs]
- I'm a bit worried about where
Ashley's head is at.
I'm not slacking.
I'm just extremely overwhelmed
and overworked.
- You got a lot of work to do. -
I sure do.
- She needs some fire under her
butt.
She needs to know that there's
somebody that's out here doing
exactly
Bonks could be better. I just
need Ali to listen.
Good luck, Bonks. - Thank you.
I don't need it. I can do this.
- Okay.
She needs the luck.
■ Start my hustle at the crack
of dawn ■
■ 'Cause I've been putting in
the miles like a marathon ■
■ You know that I'm the type of
girl that goes above and beyond
■
■ Every night I'm going overtime
■
■ I work all damn day ■
■ Uh-huh ■
■ So pay me my money ■
■ Uh-huh ■
■ I got boogie friends, I need
to spend ■
■ And, damn, I'm hungry ■
■ Ooh, girl ■
■ I got bills to pay ■
■ Uh-huh ■
■ And the rent's due, honey ■
■ I like to turn heads ■
■ I need some new threads like a
retail junkie ■
■ So pay me my money ■
■ Make it rain, yo, every time I
say so ■
■ So pay me my money ■
■ Make it rain, yo, every time I
say so ■
■ Pay me my money ■
■ Make it rain, yo, every time I
say so ■
■ So pay me my money. ■