When Swimming with Sharks, Bring Your Ammo
Alumnus takes on reality show entrepreneurs with bang-up product
In April, Jeff Stafford, 鈥04, and his business partner Dusty Holloway took on the sharks on the business reality show 鈥淪hark Tank鈥 and persuaded billionaire investor Mark Cuban to purchase a 33 percent stake in their Oviedo-based company, Fishing Ammo, for $80,000. Stafford and Holloway pitched their signature product, the Shell Bobber, a fishing bobber made from a shotgun shell. The product combines two of the world鈥檚 most popular outdoor sports 鈥 hunting and fishing.
Stafford, a software salesman, and Holloway, a licensed surveyor, were duck hunting when Stafford saw an empty shotgun shell floating in the water and came up with the idea for the Shell Bobber. Holloway, an engineering major from the University of Florida, crafted a prototype, and Stafford, who studied marketing and international business, began selling the product locally in 2012. 鈥淗e made about 100 of them, and the first place I sold them, the lady loved it,鈥 Stafford says. 鈥淚 was sending Dusty photos of the sales receipts saying, 鈥業 think we are on to something here.鈥欌
When 鈥淪hark Tank鈥 held a casting call in Orlando, Stafford joined the throngs of entrepreneurs eager for a spot on the show. 鈥淚 got there late,鈥 he says. 鈥淭he line was wrapped around the hotel, and I thought we should leave because I was supposed to work that day.鈥
Stafford and Holloway asked the investors on 鈥淪hark Tank鈥 for money, in part, to help move the business out of Stafford鈥檚 garage. They were busy moving into their new 3,000-square-foot facility when Pegasus caught up with the longtime friends to talk about what it鈥檚 like to be reality show stars and to find out what鈥檚 next for the two entrepreneurs.