 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cleaning products |
| Founded | 2012 |
| Founder | Aaron Krause |
| Headquarters | 1700 Suckle Highway Pennsauken Township, New Jersey , US |
| Products | Sponges |
Number of employees | 273 |
| Website | scrubdaddy |
Scrub Daddy Inc. is an American cleaning product company best known for eponymous sponges it manufactures in the shape of a smiley face. Most products are made of a polymer which changes texture – firm in cold water and soft in warm water.[1]
History
After damaging the exterior of a vehicle when cleaning the outside, detailer Aaron Krause invented a line of buffing and polishing pads. The company was acquired by 3M in August 2008. 3M did not purchase a line of sponges Krause had invented, leaving them to sit in his factory. Five years later, Krause used the remaining sponges to clean his dishes and lawn furniture. According to Krause, this is when he "realized his multi-million dollar idea."[1][2][3]
According to the company's website, Scrub Daddy, Inc. was officially founded in 2012 with grassroots marketing.[4] On the Shark Tank episode originally airing in October 2012, Lori Greiner made a 20% equity stake deal with Krause for $200,000.[5] The following day, Greiner and Krause sold 42,000 sponges in under seven minutes on QVC.[6] Greiner then helped Scrub Daddy to be sold in retail stores such as Bed, Bath & Beyond. In January 2017, Scrub Daddy's total revenues surpassed $100 million – the highest of any Shark Tank product.[7] In Season 14 Episode 13, it was reported that Scrub Daddy in 10 years has 273 employees, 160 products, sold in 257,000 retail locations, and is a top 3 grossing company in Shark Tank history, having sold more than $926 million in retail sales as of May 2023.[8]
As of 2024, Scrub Daddy had the third highest revenue of any product successfully pitched on the ABC reality show Shark Tank.[8]
Products
Scrub Daddy
Scrub Daddy is made from a strong "high-tech polymer", which is likely to be polycaprolactone based on prior patent filings.[9] The texture changes in water: soft in hot water, firm in cold water. The original Scrub Daddy is a yellow circular scrubber with a smiling face punched into it. Krause has two patents on its design.[2]
Other products
The brand consists of more than 20 products,[10] including scouring pads, dual-sided sponges, sink organizers, soap dispensers and household erasers.[6][11][12][13] It also has a brand called Scrub Mommy, featuring a traditional sponge attached to the typical scrub daddy surface.[14]
References
- ^ a b "How I Made My Millions: Scrub Daddy". CNBC. NBR. May 13, 2016. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ a b Sawyer, Nicole (March 20, 2014). "Sponge Soaks Up 'Shark Tank' Success, Sales Balloon to $18M". ABC News. Good Morning America. Archived from the original on December 26, 2023. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ "3M Acquires Paint Finishing Business". 3M. September 23, 2008. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ "About Us". Scrub Daddy. Archived from the original on April 2, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ Adams, Susan (March 18, 2016). "Ten Of The Best Businesses To Come Out Of Shark Tank". Forbes. Archived from the original on December 23, 2016. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ a b Walker, Jodi (December 5, 2014). "Where To Buy 'Shark Tank's Scrub Daddy So You Can Help It Remain the Series' Most Successful Product". Bustle. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ Whitney, Alyse (January 12, 2017). "The One Shark Tank Product Actually Worth Buying". Bon Appétit. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ a b "8 Most Successful Products From "Shark Tank"". Investopedia. Retrieved November 2, 2024.
- ^ "Scrub Daddy Science | Chemical Education Xchange". January 3, 2018. Archived from the original on June 26, 2022. Retrieved May 6, 2022.
- ^ "One of Shark Tank's Best Selling Dishwashing Products of All-Time is Only $7". In The Know. March 9, 2020. Archived from the original on February 16, 2021. Retrieved May 29, 2020.
- ^ Mastrull, Diane (June 30, 2014). "Big Daddy". The Inquirer. Philly.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ Takiff, Jonathan (March 13, 2016). "Gizmo Guy: Home Grown". The Inquirer. Philly.com. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ Schwartzberg, Lauren (May 2, 2016). "An All-Purpose Sponge That's Better Than Your Average Scotch-Brite". New York Magazine. Archived from the original on February 3, 2017. Retrieved February 2, 2017.
- ^ "What to know about Scrub Daddy, the brand that makes cleaning fun". NBC News. February 27, 2023. Retrieved August 7, 2025.
