Ep 6. Hatbox & Ramp

In season 7 episode 6 of The Profit, titled Hatbox & Ramp, host Marcus Lemonis travels to Norman, Oklahoma to meet with the owners of two businesses that have recently merged. Hatbox is a company that sells vintage-style hats and accessories, while Ramp is a custom fabrication business that creates ramps for wheelchair-bound individuals.

Lemonis is introduced to Hatbox co-founders Terri and Brent Battey, who are struggling to keep their business afloat despite their passion for the products they sell. The couple has poured their life savings into Hatbox and have recently taken on a partner in an effort to grow the business. However, sales have been stagnant and the company is not seeing the expansion they had hoped for.

Lemonis also meets with Ramp founder and CEO Dan Horne, who has dedicated his life to creating custom ramps for those in need. Horne's passion for his work is evident, but his lack of business acumen has hindered the growth of Ramp. The merger between Hatbox and Ramp was intended to help both businesses thrive, but Lemonis quickly discovers that the integration has been poorly executed.

As Lemonis delves deeper into both businesses, he uncovers a number of issues that are preventing them from achieving success. For Hatbox, Lemonis identifies a lack of focus and a confusing business model as major obstacles. The company sells a wide variety of products, from hats to scarves to jewelry, and has not defined a clear brand image. Lemonis works with Terri and Brent to refine their product offerings and create a cohesive brand that will resonate with their target audience.

For Ramp, Lemonis identifies a number of operational issues that are causing delays and missed deadlines. Horne has a history of taking on projects that require significant upfront costs, but he has not established adequate processes to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget. Lemonis works with Horne to streamline Ramp's operations and develop a more efficient project management system.

Throughout the episode, Lemonis emphasizes the importance of communication between the two businesses. The merger has created a number of logistical challenges, and Lemonis stresses the need for open lines of communication to ensure that issues are addressed in a timely manner. He also encourages both companies to focus on their core competencies and avoid taking on projects or products that are outside their areas of expertise.

By the end of the episode, Lemonis has worked with both Hatbox and Ramp to implement a number of changes aimed at improving their operations and expanding their customer base. He also helps the companies come up with a more effective communication plan to ensure that the merger runs smoothly going forward. The result is a stronger, more focused business that is well-positioned to succeed in a competitive marketplace.