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Compiled by "Smart Mouth" columnist Amelia Robinson, Seen and Overheard is fueled by juicy tidbits, oddball tales and strange sightings.
Home > Blogs > Seen and Overheard > Archives > 2010 > January > 21 > Entry
Local woman to step into ABC’s “Shark Tank,” community showcased
After setback after setback, Jan Augenstein of Yellow Springs couldn’t be happier to be stepping in the “Shark Tank.”
Filmed in July, the Shark Tank episode featuring the 44-year-old Dayton native and her firm, FridgeFronts, is set to air next month on ABC.
Yellow Springs will get a spin in the spotlight. Augenstein’s segment includes shots of the Greene County community.
The reality show has entrepreneurs pitch their businesses to five tycoons.
If the idea is accepted, the tycoons will enter a business partnership with the entrepreneur, helping with marketing, production, distribution and other elements.
If the entrepreneur’s plan is rejected, “you get to cry and go home,” Augenstein said, noting that being on the show is a victory in itself.
“The exposure is going to help,” she said. “These are true Titans of the industry, millionaires and billionaires.”
The panel of ‘Sharks’ are real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, “infomercial” industry pioneer Kevin Harrington, technology innovator Robert Herjavec, fashion icon Daymond John, and financial expert Kevin O’Leary.
Currently a contractor, feng shui practitioner and stager, Augenstein developed the idea for FridgeFronts, decorative magnet covers for kitchen and laundry appliances, in 1999.
At the time, she was a military wife at Scott Air Force Base in Illinois in need of a way to jazz up the kitchen in her base housing.
The graduate of Wright State University with a master’s degree from Boston University began selling Fridgefronts in 2005.
The product can cover appliances ranging from refrigerators to dryers.
“You can changed the look of your appliance for less than $100,” Augenstein said. “It will stick to anything metal.”
The company initially financed with the help of Augenstein’s brother Jason, received its first major setback after being included in “Sky Mall Magazine” with incorrect pricing.
“We lost about $10 on each sale,” Augenstein said.
The company rebounded and was featured on the “Rachael Ray Show,” but couldn’t fill orders. Click here to see Rachael Ray Show clip. A printing company Augenstein worked with went belly up, taking a large portion of FridgeFronts’ inventory with it.
“After that we were pretty much ready to give up until Shark Tank came along,” said Augenstein who attended Springfield area high schools.
She applied to appear on the show after receiving an out-of-the-blue email about the show’s contestant search in late June.
“They got about 30,000 applications,” Augenstein said. About 100 contestants were selected.
Augenstein’s appearance will be a part of the second half of Shark Tank’s season.
An ABC representative said an exact day for its broadcast has not been established.
Programming changes were made to accommodate the two-hour, all-star special “Hope for Haiti.”
What do you think?
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