Romp n’ Roll Update | Shark Tank Season 1

Michael and Babz Barnett founded Romp n Roll, a play center that provides a comprehensive developmental program combining physical activity, music, and art. Their goal is to offer parents a convenient solution for finding engaging and educational activities for their kids. Will the sharks see the value in this business and invest in it? Let’s find out in our Romp n’ Roll update and pitch recap.

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

Michael and Babz entered Shark Tank Season 1, seeking $300,000 for 10% equity in Romp n’ Roll. Ultimately, they left without securing a deal.

In terms of a Romp n’ Roll update, the company expanded its operations internationally, including China and South Korea. As a result, they now generate an annual revenue of approximately $4 million.

Shark	Result
Robert Herjavec	$300,000 for 51% equity
Kevin O’Leary	No offer
Kevin Harrington	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Barbara Corcoran	No offer

Shark Tank Romp n’ Roll Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Babz and Michael Barnett
• Business: Toddler play centers with gym, art and music classes
• Ask: $300,000 for 10% equity
• Result: No deal
• Sharks: None

Michael and Babz began by sharing the inspiration behind their indoor playground concept with the sharks.

Initially, they came up with the idea when they struggled to find quality kids’ gym classes in their hometown of Richmond, Virginia.

The entrepreneurs sought an investment to expand their franchise model and grow the business both domestically and internationally.

Romp n’ Roll is a specialized play center that offers a variety of gym, art, and music classes for children aged 3 months to 5 years.

These classes are designed to support cognitive, social, and physical development in a nurturing environment where kids can learn and play while parents bond with them.

Additionally, the curriculum is carefully designed to be age-appropriate and grounded in key child development theories, making each session educational and enjoyable.

Romp N’ Roll’s offerings include trial classes, birthday party packages, and summer camps. 

This makes it an attractive option for parents and caregivers seeking a fun and developmentally beneficial experience for their children.

During the pitch, the entrepreneurs revealed to the sharks that they had made $1.2 million in revenue with a 30% profit margin in the previous year.

This success caught the sharks’ attention. However, they felt the Barnetts were overvaluing the business.

Mr. Wonderful reminded them of his experience selling a children’s business for $3 billion.

Meanwhile, Robert Herjavec asked how much they were spending on marketing. Michael replied that they only spent 1% and mostly targeted moms.

Despite this, Kevin O’Leary doubted the long-term viability of the business model, so he exited the negotiations.

Likewise, Daymond John didn’t see it as a good fit and also passed on making an offer.

In addition, Kevin Harrington didn’t believe it would appeal to a national market, and he’s out as well.

Moreover, Barbara Corcoran couldn’t overlook the recent closure of her local Gymboree; she declined as well.

Robert Herjavec seemed interested and offered $300,000 for 51% equity.

Babz and Michael, hoping to get the other sharks back in, stepped out to deliberate on what to do.

When they returned, they countered with an offer of $300,000 for 20% equity.

Robert didn’t budge at their new offer, and the entrepreneurs left without securing a deal.

Let’s find out in our Romp n’ Roll update if Babz and Michael made the right call.

Shark Tank Romp n’ Roll Update

Our Romp n’ Roll update found that shortly after its episode aired, the company expanded to nine U.S. locations and opened its first international franchise in 2009.

Furthermore, Romp n’ Roll expanded to over 300 centers in China in 2016.

At the time of writing our Romp n’ Roll update, the company operates 95 international franchises, including locations in China and South Korea.

With plans to add 10 to 15 new franchisees each year, they are focusing on both U.S. and international markets.

Our research on the Romp n’ Roll update revealed that the company currently generates approximately $4 million in annual revenue.

We call this Romp n’ Roll update a success.

Would you like to learn about the other companies featured in Season 1, Episode 11? Follow the links below for our other company updates from the episode.

• Hells Bells Update
• The Twister Update
• The Chef in Black Update
• Ink Flip Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 1 page for more updates