(From left): Supervisor Tom, Marrowz founder Brooke Jones, and supported employee Goktug with some of the dog chews. Photo: Supplied.
Investors on Network Ten’s Shark Tank were chomping at the bit to invest in entrepreneur Brooke Jones’ Helensburgh-based dog treats business, Marrowz, which partners with Greenacres Disabilities Services for manufacturing.
During the 2021 lockdown, Brooke invented the healthy, handmade and long-lasting marrow-based dog chews with innovative softening technology, earning $305,000 in sales in her first year.
About 18 months ago she approached Greenacres with the vision to expand and now has workers with disabilities making 1000 chews a day by hand, with her business projected to do $1m by the end of 2024.
During the episode on 30 October, Brooke was one of the entrepreneurs pitching her product to potential investors, or “sharks,” who evaluate the product’s potential and decide if they wish to invest.
Supported by Sam the Schnauzer, backstage she admitted “I’m feeling nervous. When I was younger and I was watching Shark Tank, I used to dream about being here”.
While her nerves followed her through as she began pitching to the sharks, it only endeared her to them and the viewing audience.
“I’m normally behind the scenes in the factory making everything, so most people wouldn’t even know who my company is,” she told the sharks.
She admitted she had spent zero on advertising and had to shut down her social media pages in 2021 because she couldn’t keep up with demand.
However, what endeared her most to the sharks was her personal story.
“I have ADHD, so I spent my whole life trying to fit in,” she said.
“I’ve also been battling cancer since I was 25. As this all started, I ended up in hospital emergency surgery and genuinely nearly lost my life.
“The first year of this business, I went to chemotherapy almost every Friday.
“I was starting to get momentum and I was like, no illness is going to take this away from me.”
She said she was now cancer free.
Brooke impressed the sharks, securing a $200,000 investment for a 20 per cent share in her business from the show’s shark Dave Fogarty, renowned for The Oodie, who shared his own story of having ADHD.
“As someone with ADHD myself, I often look at entrepreneurs with ADHD and I’m like, are they using it as a superpower, or are they letting it make them lose focus?” Dave said.
“You are so focused.”
While her partnership with Greenacres has seen production more than triple in the past few months, the new partnership with Dave is expected to now see the business expand globally.
In the coming months, Greenacres will further expand its role by taking over the third-party logistics operations for Marrowz, meaning Greenacres will not only manufacture but also manage the dispatch and distribution of the sought-after products.
Brooke said she was appreciative of what the partnership with Greenacres had helped her achieve.
“I’m incredibly proud of Greenacres and honoured to share that pride,” she said.
“I couldn’t have reached this point without your support.”
Steven, one of the supported employees who has been manufacturing the Marrowz products, expressed how proud he was to see the products he made on television.
“I was excited to see the dog treats on Shark Tank. It tells me that we are doing a good job,” he said.
Having worked with Greenacres for more than 10 years, Steven explained the value that the work gave him.
“I’ve made so many friends here. I enjoy making my own money and spending time with the friends I’ve made here outside of work,” he said.
As Brooke’s segment came to a close on the show, backstage she got emotional as she shared how she wanted to make her parents proud.
“They have backed me to the hilt through this process and every time I’ve fallen down they’ve been behind me and picked me up,” she said, through tears.
“Without them, I wouldn’t be here.”
Learn more about Marrowz.
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