‘Making it … with Lowe’s’ reveals top entrepreneurs
Lowe's has unveiled the top entrepreneurs and their products from the home improvement retailer's first virtual pitch program.
Making It…with Lowe's, hosted by Daymond John, star of ABC's Shark Tank and a New York Times best-selling author, invited diverse entrepreneurs to pitch their products.
The home improvement retailer evaluated more than 400 new products for sale on Lowes.com or on Lowe's store shelves.
"I trusted this program would unearth great products, but our whole team was thrilled by the level of innovation the Making It…with Lowe's participants brought us," said Marvin Ellison, Lowe's president and CEO. "Lowe's began nearly a century ago as a small-town hardware store, and we know small business is the backbone of our economy.”
The top three Making It…with Lowe's: Season One entrepreneurs include:
Joe Porche, Multus: Handle and Haul (Metairie, La.): When a drunk driver struck Porche's vehicle, his life changed instantly. Before the crash, Porche loved his job as a physician assistant helping others. He also loved a good DIY project. When the crash injured his back, neck and wrists, he used that challenge to create solutions for others. Porche developed Multus Handle and Haul to help people more easily and safely grab and move bulk items. His effective, easy-to-use, tie-down strap comes with an adjustable handle to help move awkward or heavy items. Porche's unwavering commitment to focusing on opportunities instead of challenges earned Handle and Haul the unique position of top product during Lowe's virtual pitch program, the retailer said.
In addition to earning space on Lowes.com and in Lowe's stores, Proche received a mentoring support package, a marketing support package, a business development package and a $50,000 Lowe's Small Business Grant.
Christina Woerner, SoilKit (Foley, Ala.): Woerner is a fifth-generation farmer who understands the importance and challenges of soil testing and wanted to bring its benefits to the everyday homeowner. SoilKit provides consumers with the tools to take a soil sample and receive expert lab reports to better understand how to keep their lawn and garden healthy.
Along with space on Lowes.com and store shelves, Werner received a marketing support package, a mentoring package and a $5,000 Lowe's Small Business Grant.
Taufeek Shah, Lola's Fine Hot Sauce (Des Moines, Iowa): Lola's is a minority-owned hot sauce company made in America that uses each of the world's hottest peppers for great flavor. Born from a generational family recipe from Shah's mother, Lola's is an Asian-American inspired hot sauce that brings consumers a universal, gluten free, vegan, 100% all-natural and non-GMO project-verified accoutrement to their grill stations.
In addition to space on Lowes.com and in Lowe's stores, Taufeek received a marketing support package and a $5,000 Lowe's Small Business Grant.
"These entrepreneurs exceeded our highest expectations," said Bill Boltz, Lowe's executive vice president, merchandising. "With their creative solutions, business prowess and powerful stories, we identified some of the most innovative and valued home improvement products in the marketplace, which we're excited to offer our customers."
Based on the success of its first season, Lowe's today announced Making It… with Lowe's will return for a second season this fall, encouraging diverse entrepreneurs nationwide to get their pitches ready. Additional details will be shared at a later date.
More information is available at Lowes.com/MakingItWithLowes.
A video about Making it ... with Lowe's is available here.