Gnome Advent Calendar Update | Shark Tank Season 16
Jenna Hess identified a gap in the growing advent calendar market: a lack of unique, high-quality, and engaging options that bring magic to holiday traditions. This problem inspired her to create handcrafted, Scandinavian folklore-inspired gnome calendars designed to mark the days leading up to Christmas. With $160,000 in sales fueled by TikTok influencer collaborations, Jenna is ready to take her business to the next level. Will the sharks offer her a deal? Find out in our Gnome Advent Calendar update and pitch recap.
If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Gnome Advent Calendar after
Jenna entered
In terms of a Gnome Advent Calendar update, the company successfully shipped 900 Christmas countdown calendars shortly after its episode aired. Furthermore, they expanded their product offerings and announced pre-orders for a Halloween Gnome Countdown Calendar for 2025.
| Shark | Result |
| Mark Cuban | No offer |
| Kevin O’Leary | No offer |
| Daymond John | No offer |
| Robert Herjavec | No offer |
| Lori Greiner | No offer |
Shark Tank Gnome Advent Calendar Pitch
- Entrepreneur: Jenna Hess
- Business: Festive Holiday Countdown Calendars
- Ask: $45,000 for 10% equity
- Result: No deal
- Sharks: None
Jenna began her pitch with a warm smile and holiday cheer, introducing herself as the founder of Gnome Advent Calendar from Frisco, Texas.
The Gnome Advent Calendar is a fresh twist on the traditional advent calendar. It features handcrafted gnomes made from high-quality fabrics.
A new gnome reveals itself each day, bringing excitement to kids and adults. The Christmas calendar includes 24 gnomes, while the Halloween version has 31.
Other options include Easter and Valentine’s Day, offering choices for different holidays.
She sought an investment to leverage the shark’s expertise and guidance. She was also hoping to use the investment to order in larger quantities to bring down costs,
Jenna launched the business 18 months ago. During this time, the company has generated $160,000 in revenue.
Interestingly, these sales were achieved without any advertising expenses. Instead, Jenna relied on organic marketing efforts and social media platforms, particularly TikTok, to reach her audience.
When Robert Herjavec asks about the pricing, Jenna replies that the Christmas Gnome Advent Calendar costs $47 to make and sells for $147. Similarly, the Halloween version costs $35 to produce and sells for $135.
While Robert thinks the overall price is great, Mark Cuban feels it is too cheap. Jenna responds by saying that the average price of a 12-inch gnome is $28. But with the Gnome Advent Calendar, the price is $6.12.
The company sells both products to customers online through its website and TikTok Shop, avoiding retail markups and maintaining control over pricing.
However, the sharks worry that this model also limits the potential for partnerships or large-scale retail deals, which could impact future scalability.
Robert says the business wasn’t the right fit for his investment. He’s out.
Similarly, Lori Greiner declined to invest because she felt the entrepreneur didn’t need her help, though she enthusiastically noted she would support the business as a customer.
Mark said that while the business suited the entrepreneur’s personal pace and priorities, investors typically expect faster growth. For this reason, he declines to invest.
In contrast, Daymond John admitted to being oversaturated in the gnome market due to his investment in Wendy’s Gnome Shop. He goes out as well.
Finally, Kevin highlighted that while the business’s projected growth could be fantastic for the entrepreneur, it didn’t align with the scale of returns he typically sought, leading him to decline.
Ultimately, Jenna left without a deal.
Let’s find out what happened after
Shark Tank Gnome Advent Calendar Update
Our Gnome Advent Calendar update found that shortly after its episode was filmed, Jenna shipped 900 Christmas Countdown Calendars.
Further, she has already announced a Halloween Gnome Countdown Calendar that will be available for pre-order in June 2025, followed by the Christmas Gnome Advent Calendar in August.
All products can be ordered through the Gnome Advent Calendar website.
Despite its success, our Gnome Advent Calendar update found that Jenna has tons of knockoffs by other companies.
To combat this, Jenna is actively working to build her brand and dominate the gnome calendar market.
Once the dust settles, we will be back with another Gnome Advent Calendar update!
For more updates from
Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.
Marvin Uzor
Marvin Uzor is a content contributor for Shark Tank Recap. He specializes in crafting engaging, well-researched content that delve into the latest Shark Tank stories, keeping readers hooked. He has a soft spot for his favorite Shark Tank companies, Bombas and Doorbot, known for their innovation and impact.