She’s the most recent success story on Shark Tank, and she’s on a mission to helping Australian dogs feel and smell better than ever.
Melanie Newman and her husband Cory won $150,000 for a 50 per cent investment in their natural canine grooming products while appearing on the Network 10 show.
They are the proud owners of Melanie Newman Salon Essentials, a $750,000 business that sells everything from shampoos to cologne for dogs.
Melanie Newman and her husband Cory won $150,000 for a 50 per cent investment in their natural canine grooming products while appearing on Shark Tank’s episode this week
They are the proud owners of Melanie Newman Salon Essentials, a $750,000 business that sells everything from shampoos to cologne for dogs
Melanie, who owns a professional grooming salon in Melbourne, was inspired to create the natural products after the standard products continued to irritate her skin.
‘I get really bad eczema on my hands and arms, so I wanted to create a product that was safe for me to use,’ the 38-year-old told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I just needed something that was quite safe and sensitive for myself and didn’t want any synthetic fragrances.’
What started as a desire to create just one shampoo and conditioner for her salon turned into a full-fledged business with 32 products.
‘I just didn’t stop,’ she said with a laugh.
Melanie, who owns a professional grooming salon in Melbourne, was inspired to create the natural products after the standard products continued to irritate her skin
Melanie worked with an aromatherapist to figure out which essential oils would work well with which breeds’ coats to create her products
But when Melanie first started ringing pet product manufacturers, she said they would laugh at her and said it was impossible to remove certain chemicals and cleaning agents.
‘I woke up in the middle of the night and thought, I’m asking the wrong manufacturers,’ she recalled.
‘I went to an aromatherapist and started from scratch with her. ‘Pets are part of the family now and they deserve better products,’ she said.’
They went through what chemicals Melanie wanted to take out of the products and began figuring out which essential oils would work well with which breeds’ coats.
Melanie said the essential oils not only leave dogs’ coats softer and shinier, but also helps keep them much more comfortable.
‘Synthetic fragrance will stay on the hair shaft and open it back up, which irritates the dog,’ she said.
Melanie became a Certified Master Groomer in 2008 and has competed in grooming competitions all over the world
‘That’s why they try to rub it off on the carpet, they’re trying to get the smell off them.’
The essential oils, which is what the colognes in the line are made up of as well, do not stay on hair shafts and thus don’t leave a lingering fragrance that disturbs dogs.
Since her products are made with human-grade ingredients, Melanie even uses the shampoo and body wash on herself.
‘Pets are part of the family now and they deserve better products,’ she said.
Melanie’s products are stocked in salons, stores, and even hospitals across Australia, as well as parts of New Zealand, Singapore, and the UK and US.
Since her products are made with human-grade ingredients, Melanie even uses the shampoo and body wash on herself
But she was still ‘so nervous’ before appearing on Shark Tank with her husband.
‘We just kept practice what we were going to go over and knowing our numbers and what our business makes and what our margins were,’ she said.
‘We tried to be super prepared, but nothing prepares you when there’s 20 cameras and people firing questions at you.’
Dr Glen Richards, the founder of Australia’s largest pet care company, invested in Melanie’s company in part because he was impressed with her grooming history.
Melanie became a Certified Master Groomer in 2008 and has competed in grooming competitions all over the world.
She was crowned the Australian Royal Supreme Grooming Champion in 2013 and has represented the country in the world team championships.
Melanie took 12th last year in 2015 and will represent the Australian Team again this year when the competitions take place in Belgium.
And now she can add Shark Tank success story to her long list of accolades.