Shark Tank drama: ‘Pissy’ Naomi unleashes on ‘rude’ contestants

A FURIOUS Naomi Simson has accused a couple of pitchers of taking the panel for fools and saying she’s ‘pissy’ over their behaviour.

BUSINESSWOMAN and Shark Tank ‘shark’ Naomi Simson bares her teeth on this week’s episode of the show, unleashing on a pair of pitchers who refuse to make a deal with her — and accusing them of rorting the TV show for exposure.

Simson grows increasingly frustrated when Patrick Gaskin and Tom Clift, co-founders of boutique greeting card start-up Cardly, make their pitch. Given Simson made her name with online gift experience retailer RedBalloon, she and the boys seem an obvious match — but they refuse to budge over the small stake of the business they’re willing to give up in return for an investment.

The guys from Cardly hold their ground.

“I love your business — I absolutely love it” she tells them.

“I HATE your valuation. Seven per cent? That says to me, ‘We weren’t really looking for an investor here today’.”

She voices her concerns to the rest of the panel.

“I don’t think they’re here to do a deal, and I’m REALLY pissy,” she fumes.

Naomi lays down the law.

Simson wants a one-third stake in Cardly — and she lets Gaskin and Clift know exactly why she thinks she can demand such a hefty share.

“I have 500,000 customers every year. I also have a business-to-business gifting business, and that also has HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of possibilities of sending these cards.”

She can certainly offer the boys a lot, “but I am NOT doing it for seven per cent. Why would I?”

The pair politely but firmly refuse her offer. Exasperated, she makes one last-ditch attempt to do business with them.

One last attempt.

“This is what I’m going to do, and it is my final offer and the FINAL time I’m speaking,” she says.

Simson suggests a compromise involving her taking on a lower stake upfront, then more of the business later down the track should their partnership prove successful. She’s clearly frustrated she’s even had to offer such a watered-down deal.

“I don’t see why I should give you 15 years of my experience and my customers, so that I can sit on the side for 10%. It’s just … it’s RUDE.”

Shark Tank airs 7:30pm tonight on Ten — see if the boys from Cardly take her up on that final offer. Also in tonight’s episode: A pitch becomes a surprise marriage proposal.