In this episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, Jon LaClare sits down with Adam Tash, CEO of GT Water Products, to explore how he is modernizing a family business built on more than 50 years of product innovation.
Adam shares the remarkable origin of the Drain King, which his father invented in 1970 using a bicycle tube, a curling iron, and a hose fitting after repeatedly dealing with a clogged drain. That simple solution grew into a successful American-made product line that includes Drain King, the Master Plunger, and professional plumbing test plugs.
After spending 20 years in television production—including several years working behind the scenes on Shark Tank—Adam returned to the family business and eventually took over after his father passed away. He explains how bringing an outsider’s perspective helped him eliminate obsolete inventory, improve efficiency, navigate a major culture shift, and grow the company’s cash reserves from six figures to seven figures.
The conversation also explores how GT Water Products is adapting its marketing for today’s customers through Plumbing101.com and its interactive Find Your Fix experience. Adam explains why educational content, video, and visibility across search engines and AI platforms are becoming essential for established brands that previously relied on knowledgeable retail employees to recommend their products.
Adam also shares what Shark Tank taught him about persistence, how he recovered from a $25,000 product-development mistake, and why flying airplanes helps him clear his mind and return to the business with greater focus.
If you’re leading a family business, developing a new product, or trying to modernize an established brand without abandoning what made it successful, this episode offers practical lessons on innovation, execution, and preserving a meaningful legacy.
In today’s episode of the Harvest Growth Podcast, we cover:
- How a recurring household problem inspired the original Drain King
- Why entrepreneurs should identify the problem before inventing the product
- What Adam learned while working behind the scenes on Shark Tank
- How to modernize a multigenerational family business
- Why outdated inventory and bulk purchasing can quietly drain resources
- How Adam improved efficiency and strengthened the company financially
- Why educational content is essential for search and AI-driven product discovery
- How Plumbing101.com helps customers solve common plumbing problems
- What a $25,000 product-development mistake taught Adam about perseverance
- How GT Water Products is expanding with the new Ugly Plug product line
- Why American manufacturing and inclusive employment remain central to the company
- How focus-intensive hobbies can improve creativity and business decision-making
- And so much more!
Want to learn more about Adam and GT Water Products?
Visit GTWaterProducts.com and Plumbing101.com to explore Drain King, the Master Plunger, professional plumbing products, and helpful DIY plumbing education.
Do you have a product you’d like to launch or scale?
Visit HarvestGrowth.com to book a free consultation and learn how our team has helped generate more than $2 billion in product sales.
