Whatever Happened To Vacuum And Broom Combo After Shark Tank Season 13?

On season 13, episode 11 of "Shark Tank," two product developers and inventors from Wisconsin took to the tank to debut their new product: the VaBroom. This product was designed to eliminate the need for a dustpan while sweeping, helping you to clear away smaller messes without having to chase down a line of dirt and dust. It features all the qualities of a basic broom but also includes a small, pressure-activated vacuum nozzle to suck up the debris once it's in a pile on the floor.

Even if you don't remember the exact qualities of this product on the show, you might remember its simple slogan: "It's a vacuum. It's a broom. It's VaBroom!" Despite its catchiness, some of the Sharks immediately took issue with the brand's lack of patent and involvement with one of the founder's existing creative firms, but one of the stars of "Shark Tank," Kevin O'Leary, decided to strike a deal with the duo.

During their pitch, founder Trevor Lambert and early investor John Vadnais performed a demonstration of the VaBroom's cleaning abilities before getting into their origins as well as the current state of their product. Lambert began developing and licensing products in college and eventually founded his own design firm, Enhance Innovations, which focuses on full-service product development. That's where he crossed paths with Vadnais, who used the firm's services to take one of his own developments to market. After coming up with the idea for the VaBroom, the duo decided to take it from prototype all the way to the shelves.

At the time of their pitch, VaBroom had already done $3.1 million in sales over the last year and was projecting even more growth in the coming months. The duo was asking for a $350,000 investment for a 2.5% stake in the company. Due to the lack of a patent and loose connection to the existing product design firm, however, three of the Sharks immediately declined to invest. Kevin O'Leary, however, decided to strike a deal: a $350,000 investment, $3 royalty on the VaBroom until recouping $700,000, and 2.5% of Lambert's design firm.

After striking a deal with Kevin O'Leary, the duo continued selling the VaBroom both direct-to-consumer and through retail stores. Appearing on the show gave the product plenty of exposure, and the pair stated that the Shark's investment would go to bulking up existing inventory and expanding into more stores. The VaBroom expanded sales to Walmart, Lowe's, and Amazon after their previous work with Bed, Bath, and Beyond, and it appears that O'Leary's investment and their time on the show helped them achieve this feat.

The product has gained some hype on social media since its appearance on Shark Tank, with one TikTok of a customer using the broom-vacuum-combo garnering over 4 million likes and 18,000 comments. It also got a second chance on TV with a Today Show appearance in 2022, so it's safe to say that the product has caught people's attention since its initial debut.

Despite recent inactivity on social media, it appears VaBroom is still in business and selling to consumers. The product is currently available for purchase on the company's website for $79.99, a $20 increase from their pitch on Shark Tank. Now that it's in the hands of consumers, however, reviews are mixed. On Amazon, the product has only earned 3.5 stars, with many saying the handle frequently breaks and the suction nozzle is a bit more difficult to use than portrayed on the show. Others, however, say it still makes cleaning more convenient, especially in smaller spaces where debris is frequently tracked across the floor, like the bathroom or entryway.

VaBroom is still in business currently, but its continued success depends on its ability to keep up with competitors that promise similar results. Thanks to the exposure on Shark Tank, the VaBroom's status as a TikTok gadget, and the founders' work getting their design on the shelves in popular retail stores, however, it appears the company is still raking in the profits.

One of the founders of VaBroom, Trevor Lambert, still sits as the CEO of his product development and design firm, Enhance Innovations. This company has been involved with the development of a wide variety of products, from As Seen On TV cooking gadgets to a strategy board game, and shows no sign of slowing down. John Vadnais still maintains his status as a partner in Lambert's firm, but he's also the owner of a plumbing company, the president of Vadco Innovations, and involved in the development of Sauce Toss, a hockey-style backyard game.

It appears that the VaBroom will continue to be sold as a standalone product, as with many of the duo's other projects. The pair are still frequently developing new products to put on shelves, however, both from a product development and marketing perspective through their firms or through collaborations that will take them from idea to final product.