 | |
| Company type | Private |
|---|---|
| Industry | Cleaning products |
| Founded | 2012; 13 years ago (2012) |
| Founder | Aaron Krause |
| Headquarters | 1700 Suckle HighwayPennsauken Township, New Jersey ,US |
| Products | Sponges |
| Website | scrubdaddy |
Scrub Daddy Inc. is an American cleaning product company best known foreponymous sponges it manufactures in the shape of asmiley face. Most products are made of apolymer which changes texture – firm in cold water and soft in warm water.[1]
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 by3M 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 theShark 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 onQVC.[6] Greiner then helped Scrub Daddy to be sold in retail stores such asBed, Bath & Beyond. In January 2017, Scrub Daddy's total revenues surpassed $100 million – the highest of anyShark 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 inShark 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 theABC reality showShark Tank.[8]
Scrub Daddy is made from a strong "high-tech polymer", which is likely to bepolycaprolactone 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]
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 which is similar to Scrub Daddy.[14]
In a Fortune video interview, CEO Aaron Krause revealed that the brand has generated over $220 million in lifetime sales, a figure that significantly boosted their online presence. Krause credits their online success to staying relevant and embracing the personality-first approach.[15]