What Happened to BagBowl After Shark Tank? (Full Journey Here!)

One of the items on Shark Tank Season 4 Episode 4 was Bagbowl, which was proposed by brothers Kevin Fleming and Brain Fleming as foldable and portable plastic zip bags that you can turn into bowls.

They managed to crack a deal with shark Lori Greiner. She took 33% of their company in exchange for $40,000.

Kevin first came up with the idea for BagBowl as a means to transport dog food without having to pack a bowl. The brothers want to make carrying and storing large bowls, which can be highly inconvenient, easier with BagBowl.

Their objective is greater comfort, functionality, and style.

Due to some production issues, the big bowl wasn’t available for over two months after the episode aired.

And they became accessible just before Christmas in 2012. The business gradually disappeared, their’ website went down, and there are hardly a handful of bag bowls left on Amazon.

The brothers closed the company in February 2018 and have since both started new businesses. Kevin at the time, returned to the cloud computing field while Brian returned to the real estate industry.

What is BagBowl

The most often utilized room in your home is the kitchen. It’s the place where you cook, eat, entertain, and gather as a family. So it’s no surprise that kitchen storage is always top of mind for homeowners. Kitchen storage is something that should always be kept organized.

We are sure you have hung pots and pans from a pot rack to free up space in your cabinets for other things and, you’ve Installed a spice rack inside a cabinet door to make the most of your space and, used magnetic strips to store knives on the wall to free up space in your drawers for other things.

Everything is great until you have to store several big and small bowls in the kitchen. This is where BagBowl comes in.

BagBowls are foldable plastic storage zip bags that can turn into portable, light, and stylish bowls.

There are many uses for BagBowls, from everyday tasks like storing leftovers and packing lunch, to more specialized applications like camping and backpacking. Here are just a few of the ways you can use these versatile items:

  • Food Storage: Foldable bowls are great for storing food in the fridge or pantry. They stack easily and take up less space than traditional bowls, making them ideal for small kitchens.
  • Dog Food: Fun fact – Kevin initially designed BagBowl because carrying bowls for better dog food portability. (This is another successful dog food product joining the league of many others, like Ryan’s Barkery.)
  • Packing Lunches: Pack a healthy lunch to go in a foldable bowl. They’re perfect for portion control and fit easily into lunch bags and boxes.
  • Camping and Hiking: When space is limited, foldable bowls are a great option for storing food and snacks while camping or hiking. They’re lightweight and can be easily carried in a backpack.
  • Picnics and BBQs: Bring a foldable bowl to your next picnic or BBQ and use it for everything from chips and dip to salads and fruit. They’re also great for serving food to large groups.
  • Kids’ Activities: Kids will love using foldable bowls for arts and crafts, snacks, and more. They’re easy to use.

BagBowl Shark Tank pitch (What happened at the show)

Brian and Kevin went to the Shark Tank and asked for a $40k investment in exchange for a 33 percent stake in BagBowl. If we were to describe their pitch in one word it would be – Goofy.

The brothers performed a funny and energetic pitch where they were seen barking, growling, and just acting silly. They gave all the sharks a good laugh, especially Mark Cuban. But it wasn’t very long before things started to get a little rocky for them.

The sharks were revealed to the fact that they were pre-revenue and even the patent was pending.

Even though the kitchenware industry seems promising, things weren’t looking good for them.

Despite having a good laugh initially, Mark wasn’t happy with them. He described Brian and Kevin as “Wantrepreneurs”. And eventually, Brian referring to Mark as “cubes” became the final nail in the coffin for them. Mark responded, “Just for calling me cubes, I’m out.”

Daymond and Kevin followed right after Mark and said they were out.

Robert ended up making an offer. He was willing to give them 40,000 dollars but for 45 percent of the company because he liked the product and thought there is potential to sell.

But the person who stole the deal was Lorie Greiner.

She offered the brothers exactly what they were asking for, which is 40,000 dollars for 33 percent of their company. Lori ended up making an investment cause she thought she can sell thousands of those in QVC in a matter of seconds.

When Lori offered them the deal, the brothers still wanted some time to themselves to discuss. In response to this Lori said she can’t believe they still wanna discuss, she’s giving them exactly what they asked for.

Other sharks joined her too and gave Brain and Kevin a hard time about having a discussion.

They ended up saying yes to the deal without any discussion, all the involved parties in the deal gave each other a hug and BagBowl walked out with 40,000 dollars in Episode 4 of season 4.

BagBowl Shark tank update (What happened after the show)

Kevin and Brain ran the business till around 2018. Until that point in time, they also came up with new products like the daddio spill stopper training cup and even updated versions of the BagBowl.

In 2013 they launched a product called the stopper training cup. All their products were selling on Amazon at that point.

In 2018, the brothers closed down the business and went on their individual paths.

Company Name: BagBowl
Entrepreneurs: Kevin Fleming and Brain Fleming
Product: Bag Bowl
Investment asking for 40,000 dollars for 33% of BagBowl
Final Deal: 40,000 dollars for 33%
Shark: Lori Greiner
Episode: Season 4, Episode 4
Business Status: Out of Business
Website: buybagbowl.com

Meet BagBowl founders

Kevin Fleming and Brain Fleming are brothers from Kansas City, Missouri.

Both of them did their Bachelors from the University of Missouri, Columbia in Communications. Brain graduated from the University of Missouri in 1999 while Kevin completed his bachelor’s in 1997.

Both brothers have worked with a number of organizations apart from running BagBowl. Brian has worked with companies like Instabol, SET Promotions, and Secure Transport. Currently, he is working as a Real estate salesperson in BF Real Estate Group.

Brian has been working in this company for the last 16 years (From July 2006) where he is fulfilling clients’ residential and commercial real estate needs. He is a licensed realtor since 2006 operating in Kansas and Missouri.

While one brother is into Real Estate, the other is much more connected to the technical world. Kevin is into Cloud computing, Marketing, and, Business Development.

Just like his brother, Kevin has also worked with a number of organizations but, working for an organization is not how Kevin started his career. Kevin, unlike his brother, chose a less traditional path and became a Freelance copywriter and a Marketing Consultant.

He worked as a freelancer for almost 5 years (From April 2003 to Jan 2009).

After quitting his freelance career Kevin joined Cavern Technologies as Director of Marketing and Business Development. He worked there for 5 years before moving on to Rivet Industries. He was the founding and managing director of Rivet Industries for 13 years.

After Rivet Industries, he became the managing director of IDEAPULT. It was after IDEAPULT that he got into cloud computing.

He joined foghorn consulting as a Cloud Infrastructure Strategist. He worked there for almost seven years until very recently in October 2021 joined Evoque data center solutions as a Senior Director of communications.

Despite an unsuccessful attempt at starting a BagBowl, both Kevina and Brain are very successful in their respective fields.

BagBowl Pros

  1. Lightweight and easy to carry
  2. Great for camping, picnics, and other outdoor activities
  3. Can be used for a variety of purposes, such as serving food, storing leftovers, or holding fruit.
  4. Made from durable materials that can withstand a lot of wear and tear
  5. Foldable bowls take up minimal space when not in use, making them ideal for small kitchens or tight spaces
  6. Affordable – often much cheaper than traditional bowls
  7. Easy to store – simply fold up and tuck away when not in use
  8. Eco-friendly

BagBowl Cons

  1. They are not as durable as traditional bowls and can tear or break easily
  2. They can be slippery and hard to grip, especially when wet
  3. They can cause a choking risk to young children.
  4. They are not suitable for hot foods or liquids
  5. Some people find them to be too flimsy or flimsy-feeling

What people are saying about BagBowl

People’s feedback on BagBowl has been very diversified. It’s almost like an equal amount of people like and dislike the product.

One very common piece of feedback you’ll hear from people is the size of plastic bags should be much bigger because most of them fall shorter than needed in order to overlap the sides.

One more problem people seem to be facing is that they’re having a hard time keeping the plastic bag open as they’re pouring something into it. “I’m having a hard time getting the plastic sleeves to stay open and not collapse so I can fill the bags with food,” said one user.

While some people are finding the product useful, a lot of them are saying that it is harder to use than it looks and while the idea behind the product is great, the design of the product can definitely be made much better.

But not all people are unhappy with the product. With such high functionality, people are using BagBowls for all kinds of things like taking them on vacation cause they are lightweight and easy to carry.

People are also finding it easy to pour liquids without any spills. “These did just what I needed them for. I am now able to fill Ziploc bags with sauces and soups without spills” said one user.

Some people loved the product, some fell in love with its potential and functionality. One user made a suggestion on how to best use the product and how it should be marketed – “This is a terrific product.

What shocks me is that they aren’t marketing it to the “Make Ahead Meals” audience. It works beautifully when you make a giant batch of chili and want to freeze some for future meals.

The trick is to turn the zipper part inside out first (like a turtle neck). Then just put the bottom of the bag in the plastic circle and the zipper over the plastic. As the bag fills just lift it up slowly as the contents make a nice flat bottom for which it to stand.”

What are some advantages of using BagBowls?

There are a lot of reasons to love Bagbowls.

For one, they’re extremely convenient and easy to use. Whether you’re at home or on the go, foldable bowls are a great way to enjoy your favorite foods and snacks. They’re also lightweight and easy to store, making them perfect for traveling or taking on the go.

Another great advantage of Bagbowls is that they’re made from reusable or eco-friendly materials. This means that you can feel good about using them, knowing that you’re not contributing to the waste problem.

Plus, they’re usually very affordable, so you can stock up without breaking the bank.

These are just some advantages of using BagBowls. So, if you’re looking for a convenient, easy-to-use, and eco-friendly way to enjoy your favorite foods, then Bagbowls is a great option.

How do BagBowls make money?

The company is currently out of business and doesn’t sell anymore. But until the point where the company was alive, it used to make money via online sales. They primarily use to sell on global giant Amazon.