Brush + Banter Podcast Ep. 7: Repaint Tray’s Shark Tank Story with Billie Asmus

Painter Turned Inventor: Repaint Tray’s Shark Tank Story

You know that saying “necessity is the mother of invention”? We think that frustration can also be the mother of invention. 

In this episode of Brush & Banter, hosts Annie and Lauren sit down with Billie Asmus, founder of Repaint Studios and creator of the Repaint Tray, to talk about how a tired painter with too many dried-out paint trays turned a basement experiment into a product-based business… and eventually, a moment inside the Shark Tank.

From late-night prototyping to manufacturing challenges and choosing the right partners, Billie’s story is a reminder that innovation often starts with simply knowing that there has to be a better way. 

From a $50 Prototype to a Real Product

Billie didn’t set out to become an inventor. She just wanted to stop wasting paint.

Tired of plastic liners and half-used trays drying out overnight, she began experimenting in her basement by testing materials, researching manufacturing, and building what would become the first Repaint Tray. That first prototype cost just $50, but it proved something important: the idea worked.

What followed was a year of trial and error, learning curves, and figuring out how to take a DIY solution and turn it into a product people could actually buy.

What Manufacturing Really Looks Like

One of the most eye-opening parts of the conversation is Billie’s honesty about what no one tells you when you start producing a physical product.

From sourcing materials to navigating production timelines, she shares how much of the process came down to persistence and problem-solving. Every design choice was shaped by feedback from real painters using the tray in their own homes.

Listening became her biggest advantage.

The Shark Tank Moment

When Billie stepped into the Shark Tank, she didn’t just pitch a product, she put her heart behind it.

She talks about why she stayed in longer than expected and how she decided which partners were worth fighting for. The experience wasn’t just about funding; it was about finding people who understood both the business and the community she was building.

When a Product Becomes a Community

What surprised Billie most wasn’t sales. It was the people she met as a result of this new product. 

The Repaint Tray didn’t just help people save paint. It helped them return to painting.
Projects felt easier to pause and pick back up. Less waste meant less pressure. And that small shift created a ripple effect: more creativity, more confidence, and more people willing to try again.

Over time, Repaint Studios became a space for everyday painters to feel supported and inspired.

Tools That Support the Process

As both a painter and a product creator, Billie knows the value of reliable tools. In her brick-and-mortar shop, she stocks Zibra brushes alongside Repaint Trays. She’s starting with the essentials and expanding as her own product line grows.

“We will probably feature general paint brushes first—like 2-inch angled brushes and the Pro Bundle, and then artist tools later,” Billie shares.

Why Zibra?

“I love the brushes because you get crisp lines every time, and they hold a lot of paint without there being any drips.”

Keep Listening

To hear the full story, including Billie’s basement beginnings, what manufacturing really taught her, and how a simple tray sparked a creative movement, listen to “Painter Turned Inventor: Repaint Tray’s Shark Tank Story” wherever you stream podcasts.

Catch up on all Brush & Banter episodes here.

Follow Repaint Studios

Billie Asmus is the founder of Repaint Studios and creator of the Repaint Tray, a reusable paint tray designed to make painting easier, less wasteful, and more approachable.

Connect with Repaint Studios:

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