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Businessman bobbles 'Shark Tank' game

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BY WALT BELCHER

THE TAMPA TRIBUNE

Published: October 28, 2009

Updated: 10/29/2009 12:12 pm

A Pasco County entrepreneur who sells custom-made bobblehead dolls went into the "Shark Tank" and emerged without any new investors in his online business.

Trinity resident Jeff Wolsky says the experience was beneficial anyway because of the national exposure and the chance to wheel and deal against the "sharks."

Wolsky appeared on last week's finale of the ABC reality show, but the episode was taped months ago.

Wolsky and his wife Christine run HD Design Center LLC from their home. They have sold more than 1 million bobblehead dolls worldwide since 2004. Wolsky told the Tribune that he wanted to take his business to the next level by opening kiosks in shopping malls.

He went on "Shark Tank" seeking $75,000 from the panel of high-rolling investors but they shot down his plan to take the business into malls.

He got off to a good start by presenting each of the five investors with a personal bobblehead made in their likeness.

However, they turned on him when he only offered an investment in his mall shop concept, not his online company.

Investor "Shark" Kevin O'Leary, a Canadian entrepreneur, especially was down on the mall idea, offering Wolsky an investment if Wolsky would never set foot in a mall.

O'Leary and fellow "Shark" Robert Herjavec, also a Canadian venture capitalist, were the most interested. They wanted in on the online business, offering as much as $125,000 for 20 percent.

Investor Barbara Corcoran wanted to know how much it would cost to a rent a kiosk in a mall (about $1,500) and what the annual profit was for his online business.

He estimated his online business to be worth $500,000 to $600,000.

O'Leary said he couldn't understand why Wolsky would want to expand if he was doing that well: He offered $75,000 but only for the existing business with the proviso that he would never be allowed to expand into malls.

Herjavec tried to up the investment for the online business but Wolsky would not budge. The investors accused him of being greedy and all deals went sour.

"They call me greedy but they tried to steal a part of my business," Wolsky said.

He told the Tribune that the taping session lasted well over an hour, but only selected highlights aired.

The Wolskys say they have supplied bobbleheads to sports teams and corporations. They make a series of political figures for the U.S. News & World Report Web site. They also sell the political bobbleheads on their Web site.

Much of their business comes from people who want to give bobbleheads as gifts or for weddings, birthdays and special occasions. Custom bobbleheads run about $89 but can be more expensive depending on the design.

The orders are taken via the Internet at the HD Design Web site, where customers can help design the dolls, which are made in China.

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