Whatever Happened To Yono Clip Suction Cup Hanger After Shark Tank Season 12?

Many entrepreneurs think that "Shark Tank" will be the major turning point for the success of their business. In reality, the results are mixed, highly dependent on the product and the business strategy. So what happened with the Yono Clip suction cup hanger after its segment on "Shark Tank"? The business appears to still be around, but some of the criticism from its time on the show seems to have proven true.

The Yono Clip was featured on Season 12, Episode 12 of "Shark Tank" and featured entrepreneurs Michael Green and Bob Mackey seeking an investment of $150,000 for a 15% stake in the company. Their product is a simple clip that suctions to surfaces so you don't have to set your purse, towel, or bag down on a dirty floor. The founders were charismatic, giving an energetic presentation on how the clip keeps your belongings from resting on "germs and dirt."

The founders met 10 years prior at STEMfest, a youth technology summit. Green also owns a company called Science for Everyone, which presents interactive science shows at schools. Mackey is the president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of North Central Georgia. First launching on Kickstarter, the pair made $14,500 total from the Yono Clip in the first two months.

Founders Micheal Green and Bob Mackey had an engaging presentation filled with dance moves and laughter from the Sharks. They said they 3D printed the product in their garages, and one clip cost $10 to make and retailed for $20. The goal was to go from 3D printed to a molded design, which they estimated would bring the cost of manufacturing down to about $5.

Though the sharks seemed initially entertained by the presentation, Barbara Corcoran was the first one out. "You know, I think you have a lot of heavy lifting ahead of you, I really do," she told the entrepreneurs on "Shark Tank." "I think it's clever; I think it's a cluttered market, very competitive, and I don't think it's going to sell well enough for you to make an occupation out of selling it ... I would see this as a side hustle and keep it that way. For those reasons, I'm out."

Mark Cuban followed by saying the product isn't obvious, meaning it's not something that people would think they need and then run out and buy. For that reason, he also dropped out. Kevin O'Leary followed suit because he already invested in a product on "Shark Tank" that was similar, and Lori Greiner offered injection molders but was ultimately out. That left Damon John, who was on the fence but, in the end, offered $150,000 for a 30% stake, which the founders accepted.

Getting an offer on "Shark Tank" is exciting for an entrepreneur, and Yono Clip undoubtedly gained some new customers from the appearance. But it seems like Barbara Corcoran was right about this being more of a side hustle than a full-time business. Both founders — Micheal Green and Bob Mackey — appear to still be working in the jobs they had before starting Yono Clip, and there isn't much news about how the company is doing post-show.

The episode premiered on February 5, 2021. Following the appearance on the show, Yono Clip didn't do much press, and there haven't been clear updates about the brand. Currently, the website only offers three products: a Yono Clip in pink or red and a suction cover. While the website does offer a shop, much of the website has generic template text.

The Yono Clip Instagram has over 1,500 followers but hasn't posted since October 4, 2022. Commenting is currently turned off on all posts. A post from February of 2021, however, has a comment asking about an update on the shipping information and another replying that they emailed and received no response. When the product did arrive, the commenter on the Instagram post claimed, "It doesn't stick. The logo stickers were half off already." As of now, it doesn't seem that the business has taken off.

While it still has a website and an Instagram page, Yono Clip does not seem to be a flourishing business. The product only appears to be sold on its website, missing out on the opportunity to sell them at other online retailers such as Amazon. However, searching for Yono Clip on Amazon returns results for similar products.

Customer service and shipping time seem to have been two of the company's weak spots. On Shark Tank Shopper, many customers who ordered in early 2021 seemed to not have received their products even months later — and had not heard from the company even after reaching out. One reviewer who did receive a response said they were told the delay was due to a manufacturing issue. Still, other customers who received the product seemed less than thrilled with the quality.

TVovermind also noted that the company moved from a .com domain to a .net domain. While both are used for business, .com tends to be seen as more professional and is often the first choice for anyone running a commercial business.

The world of business can be quite cutthroat, and there are plenty of great ideas that aren't as successful as they may initially seem to be. As for what's in the future for Yono Clip, it's undetermined. The company's annual revenue is undisclosed, and there hasn't been activity from the company in months. Though the website is still live, it's not possible to say whether it's making sales or not.

As for the founders, they both seem to hold the same positions they had when appearing on the show. On Michael Green's LinkedIn, he mentions Yono Clip and appearing on "Shark Tank" in the about section, but not in his job experience. He is still the president of Science for Everyone Inc. Meanwhile, Bob Mackey is still the president and CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of North Central Georgia. However, he also seems to have entered the film industry as a director, writer, and executive producer. He has director, producer, and writer credits on the mini-series "Oscarville: Below the Surface" and the television show "DI MATTINA" and a writer's credit on "Unto You Arla." It seems with the pursuit of other passions, Yono Clip may be on the back burner.