Entertainment

The Sharks Get Some Balm Chicky Balm Balm

by Jodi Walker

You've got to appreciate a brand that just goes for it, theme-wise. Balm Chicky Balm Balm, appearing on Shark Tank on Feb. 3, is definitely one of those brands. The funky name, sexy '70s theme, and general concept that you need a special kind of lip balm in order to be able to share some nourishing lip love with your pals all fit perfectly together to form their unique image. Balm Chicky Balm Balm is just that '70s-vibing, love-loving, Partridge-Family-font kind of brand that knows exactly what it wants to be… and hopefully the investors on Shark Tank will go all in on it, too.

Because while this balm is surely much sexier than your average balm, and that name serves about six levels of hilarity, it is, at its core, lip balm. But something tells me that Balm Chicky Balm Balm creators, best friends Abby Schwalb and Elizabeth Moskow, know how to put the hard sell on their brand. The women on a mission told the Denver Post in 2012 that they’ve been told “no” every step of the way in getting Balm Chicky Balm Balm off the ground, and consultant to the business, chief executive of Location Insight Ari Kaufman, confirmed that Schwalb and Moskow are known for their incredible persistence in the face of naysayers. That persistence and dedication to “the right combination between a kinky idea and a good product” just might be what puts a little Balm Chicky Balm Balm on the Sharks’ investment radar.

The Friend End

As I mentioned above, lengthy names aside, the contents of Balm Chicky Balm Balm are lip balm. It's all natural, sure, but it's the special tube, thought of by Schwalb and Moskow, that really sets the brand apart — the patented "Friend End" packaging. "'The Friend End' is designed to let lip balm users share balm without sharing germs," says Schwalb. Balm Chicky Balm Balm has a traditional-style twist-bottom and cap-top for personal usage and an extra stash of balm on the bottom for friends to use via a more sanitary from of sharing, the simple finger dip. With all that balm inside the trunk, Balm Chicky Balm Balm has three times as much balm as an average tube.

If that's got you interested, Balm Chicky Balm Balm is available for purchase online, currently on sale for $7 per tube (marked down from $9), with a three-pack also available for $18 and a five-pack for $25.

The Vibe

Schwalb and Moskow are pretty big on the "feel" of their brand. In addition to the unique balm tube, the "sexy 70s inspired brand," as Schwalb put it to Bustle — or, if you prefer, the "70s porn lip balm," as Moskow once put it on Twitter — is what they feel makes their lip care line stand out. And with flavors like "Juicy Melons," "Huge Cucumber & Mint," and "Hot Chocolate Love," they're certainly serving up something unique. A brand that "celebrates the glory days of feathered hair, roller disco, and onesie jumpsuits" might even have a little more up its disco sleeve than lip balm.

The Chances

And that would probably be a good thing, because it might be hard to sell the Sharks on lip balm. The fact that lip balm has appeared on the show before, rather successfully with Kisstixx, could work both for and against Balm Chicky Balm Balm's own unique idea. The most persuasive pitch they'll likely have going for them is the potential to license their patent on "The Friend End." A whole new style of packaging in the hands of ChapStick, Nivea, and even lipstick, is what lets a small but deserving brand become a big ol' business.

Images: Balm Chicky Balm Balm (2)