What Happened to Bridal Buddy After Shark Tank?
What is Bridal Buddy?
Bridal Buddy is a company that sells a lightweight elastic waist slip that allows brides to fold their flowing dresses into a tight bunch above their waist, allowing them to use the lavatory without having to undress on their wedding day.
Bridal Buddy was founded and is owned by Heather Stenlake. Heather graduated from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania with a bachelor’s degree. She has been involved with the wedding industry in some form for over 20 years.
Bridal Buddy helps bridesmaids keep their dresses clean on their wedding day, saving them the hassle of following them to the stall to hold up the garment.
Bridal Buddy was founded by whom?
Heather Stenlake conceived and founded Bridal Buddy. Heather holds a bachelor’s degree from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania. She has worked in the wedding industry in some capacity for more than 20 years.
Beginning as a salesperson for a bridal boutique, she moved on to establish businesses specializing in wedding attire and planning.
She is still the CEO of Bridal Buddy and the founder of The Christmas Tree Bagger, a method for properly getting your tree home from the sales lot.
While working as a consultant for a bridal store in 2002, Stenlake came up with the idea. One of the most often asked questions by brides looking for a wedding gown was, “How can I go to the toilet in this thing?”
She came up with the solution but put it on hold while raising her family. In 2015, she launched her creation and began marketing it.
A Bridal Buddy costs $39.95 and comes in two sizes: one for women fewer than 5 feet 5 inches tall and one for those who are taller.
She tried a Kickstarter effort to have the product published, but it failed. Since then, she has been able to purchase the product on Amazon.
What Happened to Bridal Buddy’s Pitch on Shark Tank?
Heather Stenlake chose to pitch her idea to Sharks in episode 24 of Season 8 of Bridal Buddy on Shark Tank in order to push the product into mainstream retail.
Heather entered the Tank seeking for $75,000 in return for a 10% ownership in her firm, which worth $750,000.
A model presents the merchandise as Heather discusses her experience. After that, the model distributes samples.
When Heather was working in the bridal industry in 1998, she claims she was frequently questioned, “How do I go to the toilet with this dress?”
She developed a prototype in 2002, but she put it on hold to raise her children. She returned to the concept in 2015, now divorced, and borrowed $40,000 from her retirement account to get things going.
Heather has made a total of $195,000 in sales during the course of her career. She spends $14 on each unit and charges $29.95 for them. She alleges she approached David’s Bridal but was turned down.
Lori shares her displeasure with the “toilet connotation.” Mark joins in, declaring that the wedding industry is not for him, and then he exits.
Robert believes she needs retail since brides will buy at the point of sale. He went out because there was too much legwork.
Marissa, the model, stands out on Heather’s behalf at this point, while Lori and Kevin exchange whispers.
Kevin and Lori offer $75,000 in return for 25% equity in each of them and 25% equity in Marissa.
Barbara then makes a $75,000 offer for 33.3% equity shares. Lori enters the fray, stating that she and Kevin were willing to pay $75,000 for 20% of Marissa’s shares.
Heather asks if they intend to seek 30% equity, to which Barbara replies that they will.
Lori and Kevin match it, and Heather joins them with an offer of $75,000 for 30% ownership of the company.
Finally, the pitch finally ends with a deal.
What Happened to Bridal Buddy After Shark Tank?
Kevin and Lori’s deal was not completed after the show aired, and Heather left the pitch without a deal. To expand their product line, the company produced a “buddy” mermaid dress.
As of December 2021, the firm was still in existence. The product is sold in around three dozen independent bridal shops as well as Bed Bath & Beyond stores.
Bridal Buddy’s Net Worth
During the pitch, the firm was valued at $750,000. The company has an estimated net worth of $1 million.
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Bridal Buddy FAQs
What does Bridal Buddy do?
Heather sells a lightweight elastic waist slip that allows brides to fold their flowing dresses into a tight bunch above their waist, allowing them to use the lavatory without having to undress on their wedding day.
What is the Bridal Buddy net worth?
The company has an estimate net worth of $1 million.
What was the Bridal Buddy net worth before Shark Tank?
The company had an estimate net worth of $750,000 during the pitch.
Who owns Bridal Buddy?
Heather Stenlake is the founder of the company.
What is Bridal Buddy made of?
It is a lightweight elastic waist slip that allows brides to fold their flowing dresses into a tight bunch above their waist, allowing them to use the lavatory without having to undress on their wedding day.
How do I use Bridal Buddy?
Heather Stenlake advises women to place their dress on the floor, and then stand on top of it, bringing their hem up around their waist. The slips allow them to grab a hold of the garment and keep it stable as they walk around.
Is Bridal Buddy safe to use?
Heather Stenlake claims that she has been using the slips for the last five years for her own two daughters as well as other brides she knows. She also says that it is not possible to “trip” or “fall” in them.
How much does Bridal Buddy weigh?
With a shipping weight of 1 pound, the product weighs about as much.
Is Bridal Buddy safe to use by pregnant women?
The product is safe for pregnant women.
Is Bridal Buddy recommended?
Heather Stenlake advises women to use the belt only in the comfort of their homes, as it should be removed before returning to the wedding venue.
How much does Bridal Buddy cost?
The product costs $39.95 plus $6 shipping and handling.
Where can I buy Bridal Buddy?
The product is available by ordering directly through Heather’s website and participating retailers such as Bed Bath & Beyond.
How much does Bridal Buddy weigh?
With a shipping weight of 1 pound, the product weighs about as much.
What is the Bridal Buddy price?
A Bridal Buddy costs $39.95 and comes in two sizes: one for women fewer than 5 feet 5 inches tall and one for those who are taller.
What is Bridal Buddy return policy?
Bridal Buddy products are not returnable.
What is the benefit of using Bridal Buddy?
Bridal Buddy enables women to use the lavatory without having to undress in the presence of their partners and other guests.
What is Bridal Buddy warrant?
There is no formal warranty for the product.
