Hand Out Gloves Update | Shark Tank Season 8

Jake Sullivan noticed that outdoor enthusiasts were constantly taking off their gloves in cold weather, risking getting lost or wet. In 2013, he rebranded Hand Out Gloves and, with help from Don Wildman, came up with a smart solution—gloves with zippers that let you free your hands without fully taking them off. This clever design keeps your hands warm while making it easy to do things like use your phone. Let’s dive into our Hand Out Gloves update and see if they got any offers from the sharks.

If you’re short on time, here’s a quick overview of what happened to Hand Out Gloves after Shark Tank.

Jake and Don entered Shark Tank Season 8, seeking $150,000 for 20% equity in Hand Out Gloves. In the end, they made a deal with Barbara Corcoran for a $300,000 line of credit for 25% equity.

In terms of a Hand Out Gloves update, the company introduced new product offerings for hunters and construction workers. Despite the passing of co-founder Don Wildman and challenges from the COVID-19 pandemic, Hand Out Gloves has grown to around $1 million in annual revenue.

Shark	Result
Barbara Corcoran	Accepted offer of a $300,000 line of credit for 25% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer

Shark Tank Hand Out Gloves Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Jake Sullivan and Don Wildman
• Business: Mittens and gloves with strategically placed waterproof zippers
• Ask: $150,000 for 20% equity
• Result: $300,000 line of credit for 25% equity
• Shark: Barbara Corcoran

Jack and Don entered Shark Tank looking for an investment that would help them increase production and boost their marketing for Hands Out Gloves.

They also aimed further to develop their innovative “five-finger dexterity” technology.

Hand Out Gloves focuses on creating high-quality gloves and mittens for outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, and skiing.

What makes their gloves stand out is a patented zipper on the back that allows users to free their fingers without taking the glove off. This feature is crucial in cold and demanding conditions.

Customers can buy the gloves directly from the company’s website or through other retailers.

These gloves are perfect for people who need warmth and waterproofing but still want the flexibility to handle small tasks.

The gloves are built to last with durable materials, but they do come with a higher price tag.

During their pitch, Don shared his past business accomplishments and explained that he partnered with Jake because he believed Hand Out Gloves could truly shake up the glove market.

As Don was explaining the gloves’ benefits, a woman came out wearing them, spinning flaming disks to demonstrate their flexibility and functionality.

At 85 years old, Don joked that Jake needed more help because of his youth, and they handed out samples to the sharks.

The sharks couldn’t resist commenting on Don’s impressive physical condition. 

Barbara Cocoran playfully mentioned he could be her third husband, while Kevin O’Leary joked that Don might still be too young for her.

Don then revealed more about his background, noting that he’s worth about $100 million.

Robert Herjavec compared Hand Out Gloves to the ones he had bought for his kids. Don explained that their gloves provide full, five-finger dexterity, a feature traditional gloves lack.

Jake added that they hold a utility patent on the gloves, which gives them a competitive edge in the market.

When it came to sales, the company had a modest start, making around $15,000 in its first year by selling only in Salt Lake City.

However, in their second year, sales surged to $125,000 after being picked up by REI and selling on Amazon.

Barbara was the first to make an offer, proposing $150,000 for 12.5% equity. She wanted another shark to match her offer, raising the total to $300,000.

Robert asked about their online presence, and Jake confirmed that they were selling on Amazon and their direct-order website.

The sharks were also curious about pricing and production costs.

Jake explained that Lori’s lightweight glove cost $11 to make, wholesale for $20, and retailed for $40.

The glove Robert was wearing cost $32 to produce, wholesale for $60, and retailed for $120.

Robert praised the glove’s quality, saying it felt well-made. Jake added that Robert’s glove had been in use for four years, which is the entire lifespan of Hand Out Gloves.

Despite the positive feedback, Robert ultimately decided to step out, explaining that he didn’t see how he could help grow the business.

Mark Cuban followed, citing that he didn’t have any connections in the outdoor market.

Kevin didn’t feel the product was a good fit for him either and bowed out.

That left Lori Greiner, but she also passed, saying the market competition was too fierce.

Before leaving, Robert encouraged Barbara to make the full $300,000 investment on her own.

At this point, Don offered $300,000 of his own money to help balance the company’s finances.

Barbara then countered with an offer of $300,000 as a line of credit, with 6% interest for 25% equity.

Jake agreed and was able to leave Shark Tank with a deal.

Let’s get a Hand Out Gloves update to see where the company is today.

Shark Tank Hand Out Gloves Update

Our Hand Out Gloves update revealed that the deal with Barabra Corcoran ultimately fell through after some managerial disagreements.

However, in early 2018, they introduced lightweight gloves and neoprene gloves for fishing and planned to launch new products geared toward hunters and construction workers.

Sadly, in September 2018, the company suffered a tragic loss when co-founder Don Wildman passed away after a long battle with cancer.

Despite this emotional setback, Hand Out Gloves pushed forward with their plans for expansion.

In 2019, our Hand Out Gloves update found that they successfully launched a new line of work and hunting gloves, broadening their market and adding to their already diverse selection.

By December 2021, Hand Out Gloves was still up and running, but like many businesses, they faced difficulties due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Supply chain issues caused a shortage of their snow gloves, which they had hoped to restock by November 2021.

Our Hand Out Gloves update research found that the company had grown to about $1 million in annual revenue, with most of its sales coming from small retailers and ski shops.

We’re calling our Hand Out Gloves update a success. 

Before you leave, take a look at more company updates from Shark Tank Season 8 Episode 11:

• Sealed by Santa Update
• PolyGlide Update
• Digiwrap Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 8 page for more updates.