Smith Baggett, founder of Georgia-based supplier Flamingo Pre-charged Phone Chargers (PPAI 815575, Standard-Base), entered the Shark Tank on Friday night and emerged with a deal.
Barbara Corcoran agreed to invest $100,000 for a 22% stake in Baggett’s company, which produces phone chargers that come pre-charged out of the wrapper and contain a three-in-one tip.
- Compatible ports include a USB Type-C, Micro-USB and Lightning cable.
- The product also has a port on the side for charging.
“How does a cowboy invent a phone charger? Hell, I’ll invent anything as long as it helps me pay for tractor diesel and fertilizer for my hay pasture,” Baggett told PPAI Media.
Smith Baggett
Founder, Flamingo Pre-Charged Phone Chargers
Grit & Gumption
A fourth-generation cattle rancher and auctioneer, Baggett isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty.
After all, he spent a decade with the rodeo, riding bulls and saddle broncs. He became an entrepreneur simply as a side hustle to help fund his farming. The idea was conceived while hanging out with his friends from BeatBox Beverages – another Shark Tank success story – at a bar on River Street in Savannah, Georgia. At about 2 o’clock in the afternoon, both of his friends’ phones were almost dead, and the bartender refused to help.
So, they went back to the Airbnb to charge – a total buzzkill. That’s when Baggett figured: “There has to be a better way.”
While building hay in the summer, spending eight-hour days on the tractor, he mulled over the idea and sketched designs on napkins. “My granddaddy always said, ‘A fool that knows he’s a fool is a wise man.’ Well, I know my strengths and weaknesses and when I need to reach out for help,” Baggett says.
Relying upon Alibaba for sourcing materials and freelance services marketplace Fiverr for affordable designers, he brought his concept to life, producing four versions before what’s now known as the flaminGO Charger.
How about that name? “I’m so close to creating an elaborate story about lassoing a flamingo and my friends wanting to video it, but their phone was dead,” Baggett says.
The true origin is less outrageous. While Baggett considered “Powerpod,” “Juicebox” and “Charge-and-Go,” one of the BeatBox Beverages guys mentioned that there are products on the market whose names don’t reflect what they are. So, in keeping with the coastal vibes of his pink and teal color scheme (reminiscent of Miami Vice), Baggett came up with “flaminGO” for charging on the go.
‘An Entrepreneur’s Dream’
Baggett credits fellow supplier Kanga Coolers – yet another Shark Tank success story – with recommending flaminGO enter the promotional products industry and exhibit at The PPAI Expo.
Considering that the phone charger serves as a mini billboard with a QR code on the back to attain maximum engagement from end users, it’s no surprise that the product was a smash hit. Distributors could sell it to theme parks, music festivals and colleges, just to name a few opportunities.
- Following his first time at promo’s No. 1 trade show, Baggett says he received seven orders, which equaled more than $330,000 in sales.
With that kind of success in promo, and his product finding a second life as a way for young people to charge their vape pens, Baggett decided to follow in his friends’ footsteps and apply for ABC’s long-running reality series. Currently in its 16th season, Shark Tank receives an estimated 40,000 applicants each year, with less than 100 appearing on TV, USA Today reported.
“Shark Tank is an entrepreneur’s dream,” Baggett says. “Just having 5 million people know your product in one night. Who knows, the CEO of Bass Pro Shops may watch with his children every Friday night. Maybe he sees flaminGO and goes, ‘man, this should be in every hiker’s backpack. We should carry these.’”
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Although most Shark Tank appearances are usually edited from an hour to a 10-minute segment, Baggett says he was in and out within 20 minutes. The investors instantly understood the product and found the promo industry to be an untapped market. Kevin O’Leary, who called Baggett one of the most entertaining entrepreneurs he’s ever seen, ultimately was out due to the packaging.
“He said it was too busy, that had to really search and read what the product is,” Baggett says. “When I went back to my dressing room, I called my graphic designer and jumpstarted a complete redesign with Kevin’s advice. “Now, if you glance at it at a cash register, you know that it’s a charging product.”
- Ultimately, Corcoran offered $100,000 for a quarter of the company, nearly meeting Baggett’s initial ask of $100,000 for 20%.
- Baggett responded by asking to meet in the middle at 22.5%, and Corcoran agreed to a deal for an even 22%.
“To be from rural South Georgia, to build this on a tractor and to get to this level, it feels good,” Baggett says. “It gives you hope and lets you know that if you chase it, you can do it.”
Here’s To The Farmer
Several branded merchandise firms have appeared on Shark Tank over the years, including Rupt co-founders Mike Szymczak and Jason Lucash, winner of The Pitch – promo’s Shark Tank spin-off – at The PPAI Expo 2025.
Baggett urges the next crop of entrepreneurs who make it in front of the sharks to know their numbers, especially their margins. “If your story is great, but your numbers are scattered, they quickly lose interest,” he says. “It can be nerve-racking with all the cameras, but you should have a level of confidence and excitement because you’re there. You made it. Even if you don’t get a deal, more than likely you’ll get the exposure, which is invaluable.”
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As Baggett has witnessed with his friends’ success, being able to promote yourself as “As seen on Shark Tank” is a magnet to your booth at trade shows. Now, he’ll be able to capitalize, too.
“To be able to pay farmland taxes with a new stream of revenue for an idea that was executed on a tractor, it was a successful business even at that point,” Baggett says. “Shark Tank is the cherry on top. I don’t need a Lamborghini. I have a 40-year-old farm truck that goes from zero to 60 in 3.2 miles. I don’t need a swimming pool. I need a new cabin barn for my mama cows in the winter.”
Paying homage to his roots, Baggett intends to use his 15 minutes of fame to bring attention to American agriculture. “There’s people out there breaking their backs every day to feed America,” he says, getting choked up. “They don’t get a lot of financial help or bailouts. We had the hurricane [Helene] come through and destroy a 90-year-old barn. We asked for help and got denied $750. There’s a lot of hard work that goes unrecognized.”
