On The Profit, investor Marcus Lemonis travels to Libertyville, Illinois to check out Handi Products, a company that designs and manufactures safety and accessibility products including non-slip treads for stairs, high traction tapes for bathtubs and pet ramps. The business they’re in is “fantastic” says Lemonis, but the father and son who run the business, Thom Disch and son Alex, have a troubled past. Alex didn’t get to spend a lot of time with his father growing up. While talking to both father and son, Lemonis tells Thom, “You’re not a bad father,” he points at Alex, “He’s just starving for you.” When Lemonis says, “He wants his dad so bad,” an emotional Alex walks out of the room.
Alex admits there isn’t a lot of warmth between him and his father, who agrees. “We’re not touchy feely,” says Thom. Marcus explains how difficult it is for father and son to work together. “Usually the father wants to be tough and not set a bad example” and the son usually doesn’t want to seem disrespectful. “It creates this very weird dynamic,” says Lemonis. The Profit airs Tuesdays at 10 pm on CNBC.
Marcus Lemonis helps an owner and his son overcome issues in their relationship in order to help build a better team from CNBC.
