Morrison Outdoors Update | Shark Tank Season 16

Tavis Malcolm went camping with his newborn son and couldn’t find a sleeping bag that kept the baby warm and safe. He had to bundle him up in layers, which felt uncomfortable and risky. That moment led him to create Morrison Outdoors, a line of insulated, sleeved sleeping bags made specifically for infants and toddlers. The bags keep kids warm while giving them the freedom to move their arms. Let’s find out in our Morrison Outdoors update and pitch recap if the sharks will see the value in this parent-driven invention.

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

Tavis entered Shark Tank Season 16 to pitch his specialty outdoor gear for kids. He sought $300,000 for 10% equity. After his pitch, he agreed to a deal of $300,000 for 20% equity with Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran.

In terms of a Morrison Outdoors update, the company expanded its retail reach, securing shelf space in over 80 stores across North America, including REI and MEC.

Shark	Result
Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran	Accepted offer of $300,000 for 20% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Robert Herjavec	No offer

Shark Tank Morrison Outdoors Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Tavis Malcolm
• Business: Specialty outdoor gear for kids
• Ask: $300,000 for 10% equity
• Result: $300,000 for 20% equity
• Sharks: Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran

Tavis walked into Shark Tank and asked for an investment to scale his marketing efforts for his company, Morrison Outdoors.

He showed the sharks his specialty sleeping bags for kids and explained that the bags use soft fabrics and premium insulation. They follow the same sleep sack design that babies are used to.

Kids can use their hands, and once asleep, the cuffs flip over to keep fingers warm. The product is designed for families who love the outdoors and want safe, comfortable sleep gear for their little ones.

Prices range from $85 to $200. Production costs range from $22 to $52. Tavis donates 1% of all sales to charity.

As Tavis handed out the sleeping bags to the sharks, Robert Herjavec asked what kind of material was used to keep kids warm.

Further, he explained that the bags come in two types. The 20-degree bags are filled with real duck down feathers, while the 40-degree bags use a synthetic material made from man-made fibers.

Tavis added that the down-filled version is good for colder temperatures, and the synthetic one works well in milder weather.

Lori Greiner asked about his background. Tavis shared he was an Eagle Scout and came from a family of entrepreneurs.

Before starting his business, he worked in digital marketing and tried other startups. This was his fourth attempt, and it started with just $3,000 in savings.

Furthermore, Tavis revealed they’d made $4.3 million in sales over five years. Sales came from three channels: 50% direct-to-consumer, 25% Amazon, and 25% wholesale.

They had made $850,000 so far this year and expected to finish at $1.1 million. The year before, they did just over $1 million but ended with zero profit.

Tavis revealed he had overspent on marketing and trade shows while chasing growth and admitted it was a mistake.

Further, he revealed that this year they spent less than $15,000 on marketing but still hit strong sales. Their return on ad spend was over 6x.

Kevin O’Leary wants to know how big the market really is. Tavis responded that they had already shipped over 50,000 bags. He mentioned their buyback program and the resale model.

Mark asked what they do with the used bags. Tavis said they resell them at a 50% discount.

Meanwhile, Kevin asked about the age range. Tavis said the bags cover kids up to five years old, which is where traditional bags usually start.

Lori asked why he hadn’t made adult versions. Tavis revealed the Mega Mo, a new product customers had long requested. It’s a wearable adult sleeping bag.

Barbara Corcoran joked about running from a bear in it. Tavis explained that it has zippers for easy movement. He said it’s great for sporting events or outdoor movies, and it sells for $115.

Kevin said he liked Tavis and the story, but didn’t relate to the outdoors. He was out.

Robert liked the product but didn’t see a large-scale opportunity, so he passed, too.

Lori liked the baby version and adult idea, but wasn’t fully sold on market fit. She stepped out.

In contrast, Barbara offered $300,000 for 20% equity, all while admiring how Tavis focused on fixing his margins. Mark liked her offer and joined in on the deal.

After a moment of hesitation, Tavis accepted. He walked out with two sharks and a plan to grow the brand even bigger.

Keep reading our Morrison Outdoors update to find out how the two sharks helped him scale.

Shark Tank Morrison Outdoors Update

Our Morrison Outdoors update found that the deal with Mark Cuban and Barbara Corcoran did not materialize, Tavis told KOAT.

Nonetheless, the company’s products are now available in over 80 retail stores across the U.S. and Canada, including major retailers like REI, Mountain Equipment Company (MEC), and Scheels.

The brand has received industry recognition, including being named a finalist at the Outdoor Retailer Innovation Awards and earning the “Best in Show” honor from GearJunkie.

Our Morrison Outdoors update found that the company sells around 5,000 sleeping bags per year.

For more information and to explore their product offerings, visit the Morrison Outdoors website.

We’ll keep an eye on Tavis and bring you the latest in our next Morrison Outdoors update.

For more updates from Shark Tank Season 16 Episode 19, be sure to check the links below:

• ESAI Update
• Cricket’s Candy Creations Update
• Mirai Clinical Update

Before you go, be sure to check out our list of all the Shark Tank Season 16 products.