Who is Shane Talbott?
Shane Talbott spent more than 20 years in the salon and spa business, including a decade as Oprah Winfrey's personal hair colorist. He and Steve Nakisher opened a hair salon on Chicago's Oak Street, where Talbott set up a tea bar serving blends he created himself, such as Japanese sencha green tea mixed with strawberry, raspberry and rhubarb. Clients wanted to take the teas home, so the pair began packaging them for the salon's shelves. Demand eventually led them to sell the salon and build Talbott Teas, founded in 2003, full time.
The brand created custom blends for clients including Warner Bros. and the Joffrey Ballet and was named to Oprah's Favorite Things. On Shark Tank, Talbott and Nakisher asked $250,000 for 20% and accepted Kevin O'Leary's counteroffer of $250,000 for 35%; Daymond John joined the deal after the episode aired. The sharks helped land the teas in Jamba Juice stores, and Jamba Juice acquired Talbott Teas in 2012.
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