Unearthing Success: The Story of Tree T Pee and Its Impact on Agriculture

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In the ever-evolving landscape of entrepreneurship, some tales captivate and inspire, transcending mere business success to embody something greater—a vision, a mission, a revolution.

One such narrative is that of Tree T Pee, a product born out of necessity, propelled by innovation, and immortalized through its appearance on the hit TV show, Shark Tank.

In season 7 of The Shark Tank, Johnny Georges, an irrigation farmer from Florida with a dream of his father came up with a product called Tree T Pee which is said to decrease the use of water by 9000 gallons for citrus crops.

Johnny Georges appeared on the show intending to get an investment of $150,000 for 20% of the company’s equity. Kevin O’Leary referred to this pitch as the most emotional pitch on the show.

How much is Tree T Pee worth today?

Before the shark tank, Johnny would sell the products to the farmers he knew. He states he knew only 42 nurseries and was doing business through them. Farmers are the target market for the product. After appearing on the Shark Tank with the help of John Paul the product now sells at Home Depot stores in Florida for $8 and as well as through their website.

With the help of John DeJora, the company has managed to ship the product internationally bringing the company to a global level. At the time of the shark tank appearance, Tree T Pee was valued at around $750,000.

Tree T Pee is sold through Home Depot stores in Florida and their websites. During the pitch, Johnny revealed the cost of each unit was $3.95 and sold at $4.50.

The product is now sold at $8 through the website which gives the company more margin than before.

Genesis of an Idea

The genesis of Tree T Pee can be traced back to the humble beginnings of its creator, Johnny Georges. Hailing from Arcadia, Florida, Georges grew up amidst the verdant fields of his family's farm. It was here, amidst the rustling leaves and fertile soil, that the seeds of his entrepreneurial spirit were sown.

For decades, farmers like Georges had grappled with a common dilemma: how to conserve water effectively while cultivating their crops. Irrigation was crucial, but water wastage was a constant problem, worsened by traditional techniques of watering trees. It was against this backdrop that the idea for Tree T Pee started to take root.

The Invention

The concept behind Tree T Pee was elegantly simple yet ingeniously useful. Essentially, it was a cone-shaped device made from recycled plastic that enveloped the base of young trees, creating a protective barrier against water wastage.

By directing water directly to the roots and minimizing evaporation, Tree T Pee promised to revolutionize agricultural irrigation practices, conserving water and maximizing crop yields in the process. The features of the product are as follows:

Containment

Containing water and fertilizer within its diameter while directing it towards the roots is what makes Tree T Pee an important tool.

The tree usually only receives 10% of the water with conventional practices. However, with Tree T Pee, it gets 100%. This containment guarantees that the water and fertilizer reach their intended destination.

Increased growth

In addition to serving as a containment system, the Tree TeePee doubles up as a mini-greenhouse. The Tree T Pee maintains soil moisture and keeps the roots hydrated to promote growth as temperatures rise.

Wind diffusion

With its unique design that blocks wind effects on trees, the Tree T Pee helps conserve resources by preventing unnecessary watering.

Frost protection

One noteworthy function of the Tree T Pee is its effectiveness in protecting trees against frost.

Who is the Owner Of Tree T Pee?

On the website of Tree T Pee, they mentioned the idea of Tree T Pee came from Johnny’s father Rick Georges who was an irrigation farmer. Rick Georges was the inventor of Micro Sprinklers which revolutionized the irrigation industry; he called these micro-sprinklers “Geor-jet”

Tree T Pee was invented by Johnny and Rick to protect the crops from frosts. The father and son were packing the dirt around the young trees which would protect the trees from getting frozen and dying.

The dirt would have to be removed from the trees the next day to make the trees warm with the sun but doing this would take so much time.

One day Johnny asked his father if there had to be an easier way to do it after thinking Rick made a cone to be placed around trees and it worked. The only problem that remained was that removing the cones would take too much time and manpower.

Johnny thought of making Tree T Pee as if it would help save water. He states that it worked like a domino effect as it saved electricity as well as fuel.

Johnny states on his website many farmers denied his ideas and stuck to the traditional ways but he was persistent in changing that one farmer at a time.

Johnny got the opportunity to be in the shark tank in 2013. During an interview, Johnny said that it was to go up there and be yourself and hope they like you. If not, they get to show the world what they are doing for water conservation.

Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape

Armed with his creative creation, Johnny Georges embarked on a journey familiar to many aspiring entrepreneurs, the quest to bring his vision to fruition. However, the road to success was fraught with challenges. Financing, manufacturing, marketing—each step presented its own set of hurdles.

Undeterred, Georges pressed on, traversing the corridors of industry trade shows and agricultural exhibitions, showcasing his invention to farmers and industry experts alike. Slowly but steadily, Tree T Pee began to garner attention, earning accolades and endorsements from those who recognized its transformative possibility.

Shark Tank Moment:

The turning point in the Tree T Pee saga came with its appearance on the hit television show, Shark Tank. For entrepreneurs, securing a coveted spot on the show is akin to winning the lottery, an opportunity to pitch their ideas to a panel of seasoned investors with the hopes of securing financial backing and mentorship.

Georges' pitch struck a chord with the Sharks, resonating not only with its innovative design but also with its noble mission to conserve water and support farmers. In a memorable episode, he secured a deal with investor John Paul DeJoria, propelling Tree T Pee into the national spotlight and catapulting Georges into the ranks of successful entrepreneurs.

Impact and Legacy:

In the years following the Shark Tank farmer Tree Teepee episode, it experienced exponential growth, expanding its reach beyond the confines of Florida to farms and orchards across the country. Its impact was profound, not only in terms of water conservation but also in fostering a sense of environmental stewardship within the agricultural community.

Moreover, Tree T Pee served as a beacon of inspiration for aspiring entrepreneurs, proving that with determination, innovation, and a touch of serendipity, even the most audacious dreams can become reality. Johnny Georges emerged not only as a businessman but also as a symbol of hope, a testament to the transformative power of ingenuity and perseverance.

Did Tree T Pee get a deal on the shark tank?

Johnny Georges appeared on the show seeking an investment of $150,000 for 20% of the equity. The pitch began with Johnny trying to remember his words as he got flustered. He said that when good people come together for a noble cause, great things happen.

Johnny further explains that Tree T Pee is a water conservation product made from 100% recycled plastic, which through irrigation reduces the water use from 25000 gallons per year to 800 gallons.

John Paul DeJoria, who was the guest shark on the show, asked to know more about the product. Johnny demonstrates the product by saying the Tree T Pee once placed around the three will get 3 millimetres of rainwater in an hour.

Kevin O’Leary asks if is this the first invention and why hasn’t anyone thought of having a product that shoots water at roots. Johnny lets him know that people have invented such products but the wind will take the water away.

Kevin O’Leary seems amused with how the product could save so much of the water. Johnny adds the only cast that is to be added is electricity since farmers own water.

Johnny states that he is so far only selling to the people he knows in 5 country areas In California. Each unit costs $3.95 to make sales for $4.50 each. He has made 127,500 Tree T Pee. Sharks were not happy with the margin as he was only making a dollar through the sales.

Upon asking about the patent Johnny lets them know that he has a utility patent in his name. Johnny further lets them know some expensive models last 30 to 40 years.

Mark asks if he has had the idea of expanding to other countries. Johnny replies that he simply hasn’t taken it on himself. Lori asks if he knows the market to which Johnny says he knows 40 nurseries out of which 19 are commercial.

These are the only people Johnny sold to due to a lack of network. Johnny further reminisces the story of how one lady kicked him out but he gave her 5 samples and his business card and in the next week, she called him to order 4,995 more of the Tree T Pee cones.

Kevin O’Leary asks why he is selling the product for $5 and not going more than $10 or $12. Johnny states that the farmers purchase thousands of such cones. Kevin further asks why not $7.

Johnny lets him know that he just wants to be honest. Kevin explains that there were not enough margins for the company and it would make it difficult to make distributors step in to help him reach his product nationwide.

To reach the product all over the nation Johnny would need to have a network and only distributors can help with it due to the margin, Kevin steps out.

John Paul DeJora starts by saying there are farmers on every corner of America and there are farmers out there who are willing to pay $6 to $7 for the product. John says he will give Johnny everything he is asking for, that is $150,000 for 20% of the equity because he can see Johnny stands for the right cause.

There is a small emotional moment on the set as sharks congratulate him for the deal that could change the lives of farmers around the world.

The Future of Tree T Pee:

As of the latest updates, Tree T Pee continues to thrive, its distinctive cones adorning the bases of trees in orchards and vineyards across the nation. Its impact on agricultural practices persists, serving as a beacon of sustainability in an industry often besieged by environmental challenges.

Looking ahead, the future of Tree T Pee appears bright, guided by the same principles of conservation and innovation that propelled its inception. As climate change continues to reshape the agricultural landscape, solutions like Tree T Pee will only grow in importance, offering a lifeline to farmers and a blueprint for sustainable stewardship of the land.

What Happened to the Tree T Pee Shark Tank?

After the appearance on the show, Tree T Pee received wide recognition. The company appeared in various news media as well as on the Forbes website. Multiple news mediums cheered Johnny for his revolutionary product.

The company is now selling the product through Home Depot stores in Florida and their website. The product is sold at $8 on the website. Along with the Tree T Pee, there is various merchandise sold to help the business on the website which costs $25,

There are two designs for Tree T Pee white and black. Only the black model is sold on the website now as according to Johnny Georges it’s the best for plants. Currently, Tree T Pee expanded its merchandising along with its main products.

Conclusion

In the annals of entrepreneurial lore, few stories resonate as deeply as that of Tree T Pee, a tale of perseverance, innovation, and the enduring power of an idea whose time had come. From its humble origins on a family farm to its meteoric rise on the national stage, Tree T Pee embodies the spirit of ingenuity that defines the American entrepreneurial ethos. As we reflect on its journey, we are reminded that true success is not merely measured in profits and accolades but in the lives touched and the legacy left behind. In that sense, Tree T Pee stands as a testament to the boundless potential of human creativity, a shining example of what can be achieved when passion meets purpose. In the fields where it stands sentinel, amidst the rustling leaves and whispering winds, Tree T Pee is more than just a product, it is a symbol of hope, a promise of a greener, more sustainable future for generations to come. And for that, we owe Johnny Georges and his innovative creation a debt of gratitude that can never be repaid, only honoured and celebrated for years to come.

FAQs

What is Tree T Pee?

The tree T-PEE is a cone-shaped, water and nutrient containment system designed for trees 1-5 years old, and made in the U.S. from 100% recycled plastics.

Who founded Tree T Pee?

Tree T Pee was invented by Johnny and Rick to protect the crops from frosts. The father and son were packing the dirt around the young trees which would protect the trees from getting frozen and dying.

3. How much frost protection does the tree T-pee provide?

Most well water is 72 degrees. When using the tree T-PEE with a micro-sprinkler, the well water increases the temperature at the base of the tree by 10+ degrees. The micro-sprinkler spraying the 72-degree water against the inside walls causes a mist that encompasses the tree keeping the tree warmer.