Ashley Drummonds the founder of ABS Protein Pancakes shares about her entrepreneurial journey including her Shark Tank experience. Ashley learned first-hand that you don’t let setbacks ruin your dreams, you work hard and keep your goals in focus. Ultimately success is determined by those who don’t stop trying.
I started in the fitness industry back in 2009 during a life transition season. It seemed like nothing was working for me so I started going to the gym regularly. After 6 months I began to see the transformation this was having on both my mind and body. So I decided to get into personal training to share what I had learned with other people and help them overcome their struggles.
I have always had a passion to find ways to make the foods we eat regularly healthier. Then I started noticing with my personal training clients that food was one of the main areas they would get off track. So I started making up little bags of my pancake mix and giving them to clients. Then I started getting messages from friends and family members of my clients that had tried the pancake mix and wanted to buy more.
After a lot of research and effort, I launch the ABS Protein Pancakes mix in the Summer of 2014. A few months later I decided to apply to be on Shark Tank, not expecting to hear anything back, but I did receive an invitation to be on the show. The episode was filmed in the Summer of 2015 and aired in January of 2016. It was a crazy 18-months of getting my business up and running and being involved in the Shark Tank TV show.
Going into the Shark Tank my original ask was for $120,000 for 40 percent and my first offer was from Robert Herjavec for the $120,000 at 50 percent. I countered Robert's offer and right when I was about to close the deal, Daymond John came in and offered me the $120,000 for 42 percent, so I took Daymond’s offer.
Everyone has a different experience when they participate in Shark Tank, even when you have the same investor. After the show, there is another long due diligence process before there is an exchange of actual funds. Even after you have a deal you are hustling harder than you were before to make it successful. Just because you get a deal doesn’t mean the shark shows up with their team and fixes all your problems.
I also love wine, like I love food and fitness, so I took the WSET Level 3 Certification to learn more about how I might work it into my business. I started ABS Fit Life for people who have the same passions but don’t fit the traditional box of gym people. We talk about wine, workouts, and recipes with a community of people who want to live a healthy lifestyle.
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