Niki Rasor of Vista, California is the wife of a firefighter and the entrepreneur behind Firefighter Turnout Bags. She recycles firefighters’ turnout coats and turns them into super durable backpacks, duffle bags, and makeup bags. She and her husband are pitching her 8-year-old business Firefighter Turnout Bags on Shark Tank (February 10). The Sharks tend to love firefighters and other entrepreneurs who serve the community, so Rasor has that edge. Plus there is the can-do bravery that comes with the job, a characteristic that the Sharks like to see in their entrepreneurs.
[Firefighter Turnout Bags supports The Widows, Orphans & Disabled Firemen’s Fund]
Designs, sizes and prices vary but the Everyday Turnout Bag – with two large pockets on the outside and one inside – sells for $130 on the Firefighter Turnout Bags website. A Turnout Makeup Bag goes for $30. Firefighter Turnout Bags also takes custom orders. Shark Tank airs Fridays at 9pm on ABC.
