"A wonderful experience" Jeska Shoe Company founder talks working with Shark Tank's Daymond John post the show 

When Jessica Haynes' mix-and-match heel company from the Shark Tank pitch, closed its doors in 2014, she made sure to acknowledge one person who made her entrepreneurial journey special.

"I want to thank Daymond John for the support and mentorship he provided through this endeavor," she wrote on Facebook.

Explaining:

"One question I get asked a lot is, what is Daymond like to work with. I can honestly say he is even more genuine than he appears on TV and working with him has been a wonderful experience."

This heartfelt message came two years after Haynes appeared on ABC's hit show Shark Tank, where entrepreneurs pitch their business ideas to a panel of successful investors. Her company, Jeska Shoe Company, aimed to solve a common problem many women face - heels wearing out before the rest of the shoe. Her solution? A clever system of interchangeable heels that could transform from stilettos to wedges in minutes.

Jessica Haynes’ Shark Tank born out of necessity

The inspiration struck Haynes during her MBA studies at Southern Arkansas University when she broke her heel while out. "The heel of your shoe wears out long before the base of your shoe," she told the Arkansas Democratic Gazette.

"I thought if I'm having this problem, then millions of other women have to be having this problem too."

Her innovative idea had already caught attention before Shark Tank, winning the Donald W. Reynolds Governor's Cup Innovation Award in 2011. However, she needed more capital to turn her prototype into a real product.

"I knew that I needed a large injection of money into the company to even move forward," Haynes explained.

Adding:

"And 'Shark Tank' is one of my favorite shows. So I had this crazy idea to apply."

The pitch wasn't smooth sailing. Most Sharks backed out quickly - Robert Herjavec thought women preferred owning multiple pairs, while Kevin O'Leary couldn't get past the lack of sales. Barbara Corcoran questioned the $200 price point, arguing that women who could afford it would rather buy several pairs. Mark Cuban simply admitted his lack of shoe industry knowledge and bowed out.

But Daymond John saw potential. He offered $70,000 for a 70% stake in the company - a steep price that Haynes ultimately accepted.

What happened with Jeska Shoe Company after SShark Tank?

The aftermath of the show brought unexpected challenges and surprises.

"A website was just not in the budget before, but knowing I needed a website to capitalize on the publicity of the show, my family once again rallied together and we made it happen," Haynes told Shark Tank Blog.

Her team managed to create a website in less than a week, just in time for the episode's air date.

The response was overwhelming. The website "exploded" on-air date, and the company's Facebook page buzzed with activity - including, amusingly, two marriage proposals for Haynes.

Despite the initial excitement and John's mentorship, Jeska Shoe Company never made it to market. In October 2014, Haynes made the difficult decision to close the shop.

"While I will always cherish the experience and the dream of the JesKa shoe, I must admit that this process has reached diminishing returns," she wrote.

Elaborating further:

"I received so many positive responses to the JesKa shoe idea; I actually hung in there longer than I should have."

But Haynes maintained her entrepreneurial spirit. By 2018, she was directing curious customers to check out Onesole, another interchangeable shoe company that found success through Shark Tank - showing that sometimes the best leadership means knowing when to step back and support others in the field.

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Shark Tank airs on Fridays at 8 PM ET on ABC, with all episodes available on Hulu.