VERONA, Wis. (WMTV) – A mom-and-daughter duo who run a small business in Verona won the top prize on a “Shark Tank” style TV show.
Jerina Vincent and her teenage daughter Natania Julius run “JNJ Gifts & More,” a unique gift shop focused on curating specialized boxes by selecting products created by other small businesses and local makers.
The pair has a small retail space inside of the Postal Connections building in Verona, while also taking custom orders for gift boxes through their online shop.
As their business started to grow online, the two saw a big opportunity: The chance to audition for “Project Pitch It,” a Milwaukee-based TV show where Wisconsin entrepreneurs compete to win money for their businesses.
“I was like, ‘mom that is like the coolest thing ever,’” Natania said. “This is a really great way to practice our pitch and get more comfortable.”
After some convincing on Natania’s part, the pair auditioned for the show.
“She was really hesitant,” Natania said. “So I kind of just went like, ‘mom just do it, just do it, I’m right here the entire time’.”
After giving their business pitch in front of a panel of Wisconsin business leaders, the mom-and-daughter-duo won the show’s top prize: $10,000 for their business.
“We didn’t expect that it was going to happen,” Jerina said. “But it was real. It was so awesome.”
The moment was surreal, the pair agreed.
“They told us we got the first place prize and we were just like screaming,” Natania said. “Like no way this is real, our first pitch competition and we win first place!”
The money will help the two hire some full time employees, as they often work long hours and run the shop alone. Mainly, they are looking for digital and search engine optimization assistance.
“I want to hire full time employees,” Jerina said. “That would be my major achievement.”
Though they say the prize will be a game-changer for the business, Jerina said one of the best gifts is being able to continue giving them.
“It makes everybody happy,” Jerina said. “When you give most thoughtful gifts, when you see the smile on their face, it makes you happy, too.”
Project Pitch had over 190 entrepreneurs on the show, and the show’s organizers say it has created more than 500 jobs in Wisconsin.
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