Whatever Happened To Wall Doctor Drywall Repair Kit After Shark Tank Season 5?
There comes a time when just about everyone has to repair a hole in their drywall. Whether it's from moving furniture, rowdy kids, or an accidental bump while renovating, it can be quite a hassle. You have to pull out several tools, work to smooth everything out, and then hope the final product will blend into your existing wall texture seamlessly. In response to this common DIY, Jim Lewis had an idea, developing a product that would take the thought out of wall repair. He named it Wall Doctor Rx, and he pitched it on Season 5, Episode 13 of "Shark Tank."
This product is essentially a drywall patch kit without all the tools. All the customer needs to do is follow a simple, three-step process. First, stick down the plastic disc to cover the hole. Next, add the frame with the repair compound and press to smooth everything out. After 24 to 48 hours, remove the frame, sand everything down, and paint to create a mess-free and seamless patch with minimal effort.
Wall Doctor Rx on Shark Tank
Before beginning his demonstration of the Wall Doctor Rx, Jim Lewis began with an initial offer: $150,000 for 10% equity in the business. The stars of "Shark Tank" appeared to be impressed by the ease of use and simplicity behind his product, and they jumped right into making offers after he finished his demonstration.
Robert Herjavec was the first to offer, and he came in strong with a unique proposition. The Shark promised Lewis $150,000 for zero equity, but exclusive rights to sell the product internationally. Soon after, Kevin O'Leary threw his hat in the ring, offering $150,000 for 15% and a more hands-off approach, and Daymond John followed, doubling the cash investment to $300,000 for 15%. Finally, Lori Greiner came in and offered $300,000 for 20% of the company, promising to get Lewis set up on QVC. After some back and forth, with Lewis attempting to get both Greiner and Herjavec in on the same deal, he accepted Herjavec's offer.
Wall Doctor Rx after Shark Tank
After appearing on Season 5, Episode 13 of "Shark Tank," it looks like Jim Lewis got the deal he wanted all along. During his time on the show, he ended up partnering with Robert Herjavec, but he attempted to make a deal with Lori Greiner to sell the product on QVC as well. This approach didn't pan out while filming, but the product did end up being sold on QVC by Griener after the episode aired, suggesting Lewis found a way to convince her to partner up with him.
After the show, the Wall Doctor Rx was also sold in Walmart and via Amazon, but these listings are no longer active. The product also appears to have made its way into the stock of a few smaller hardware stores, like DK Hardware, but it's listed as "item discontinued." Following the publicity of "Shark Tank," it's likely that Wall Doctor Rx experienced a boost in customers, but wasn't able to build up the momentum for long-term success.
Is Wall Doctor Rx still in business?
Currently, it appears that Wall Doctor Rx is no longer in business. At some point after the show aired, Wall Doctor Rx was bought by Spark Innovation LLC, a company that promises to develop and distribute products globally. They're also owners of FiberFix, TubeLox, Screen Mend, and CoverGrip, among others, but it appears he company hasn't done much to further distribution of Wall Doctor Rx. The product is still listed on Spark Innovation's website; however, the Wall Doctor Rx website and social media pages are currently inactive.
The same is true for most of the other products owned by Spark Innovation. FiberFix appeared to be the company's largest focus, but the website for the brand is inactive and it hasn't posted on social media since 2019. Unfortunately, it looks like Wall Doctor Rx was simply bought by the wrong company, leading to the product's eventual disappearance from shelves.
What's next for the founder of Wall Doctor Rx?
Wall Doctor Rx inventor Jim Lewis might've appeared to be a long-time businessperson and entrepreneur during his pitch on "Shark Tank," but his actual work history is much more complicated. According to WHYY, Lewis actually had a job as a medical examiner and forensic pathologist prior to branching out into product development. His idea for a wall patch repair kit came to him when he had to face the annoyance of spackling a hole in the drywall after his daughter took a tumble and knocked over the Christmas tree. Instead of using traditional tools, he had the idea to develop a kind of band-aid for the wall, a thought process that fits with his medical background.
Wall Doctor Rx might not have retained its success after its "Shark Tank" appearance, but it's likely Jim Lewis' lifelong career in health care is still serving him well. Currently, there are no indications if or when Lewis will develop another product.