Send A Ball Update

Send a Ball Update | Shark Tank Season 1

ByAndrew Smith

Frustrated by a lack of exciting gift options, Michele Kapustka, a stay-at-home mom with mailing experience, saw an opportunity while sending a ball to a friend. A stranger’s interest in mailing a similar gift sparked the idea for Send a Ball, a unique mail-order business. Will Michele and her sister earn a deal on Shark Tank Season 1? Find out in our Send a Ball update!

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

Michele and Melissa entered Shark Tank to ask for $86,000 for 20% equity in their new business. Despite a strong pitch, they failed to secure a deal with any of the sharks.

In terms of a Send a Ball update, the company is still in business and is currently doing around $1 million in annual revenue.

SharkResult
Kevin HarringtonNo offer
Kevin O’LearyNo offer
Daymond JohnNo offer
Robert HerjavecNo offer
Barbara CorcoranNo offer

Shark Tank Send a Ball Pitch

Shark Tank Send a Ball Update
  • Entrepreneurs: Michele Kapustka and Melisa Moroko
  • Business: Balls with personalized messages printed on them
  • Ask: $86,000 for 20% equity
  • Result: No deal
  • Shark: None

Michele and Melissa enter the tank to pitch their unique company, Send a Ball. The sisters then explain the concept behind their business: custom-printed balls with messages like “Have a ball on your birthday!” or “Bounce back soon!”. 

They further explained you could even include the recipient’s address and postage on the ball itself.

They further highlighted the two factors contributing to Send a Ball’s success: no packaging costs and recipients’ love for their gifts. Most recipients order their own Send a Ball for someone else within 48 hours.

These factors alone have significantly contributed to their business growth over the past few years since they started the company.

Robert Herjavec asked why they needed $86,000. Michele explained that they have grown quickly and would like to bring Send a Ball’s production in-house to help keep up.

At the time, they outsourced the ball production, but bringing it under their own roof would offer greater control and potentially lead to cost savings in the long run.

Mr. Wonderful asked about the profit margin of the business on each sale. Michele says they make around $15 on each $20 sale. Kevin is impressed with the numbers.

To further understand their business model, the sharks asked the sisters more questions. However, this revealed a crucial concern: scalability.

The sharks gathered that the business, in their current vision, may struggle to reach the level needed for significant profits. 

Kevin O’Leary said he doesn’t want to be in the ball business, and he’s out.

Barbara Corcoran asks why they haven’t sought a loan from a bank. Michele explains that the sharks’ experience and advice are just as important to them as the investment money.

Kevin Harrington doesn’t see a long-term future for the business because anyone could easily copy their idea. He’s out.

Citing Kevin’s concerns, Daymond John also dropped out of the deal.

Robert Herjavec doesn’t seem interested in the business, and he joins the other three sharks and drops out.

Barbara Corcoran seemed conflicted. Although she initially appeared interested after listening to their pitch, she ultimately decided against investing. She explained that while the idea had potential, it wasn’t the right fit for her investment goals.

Unable to convince the sharks, let’s see what becomes of the company in our Send a Ball update.

Shark Tank Send a Ball Update

While Send a Ball didn’t secure an investment on Shark Tank, their appearance on the show proved to be a big win.

The national exposure they received after airing led to a significant increase in sales. This boost in sales allowed the sisters to keep expanding their business and reach new customers.

Just as Kevin Harrington predicted, copycat services did emerge. However, Send a Ball benefits from being the first mover in this niche market, allowing them to establish a strong brand identity and loyal customer base.

Our Send a Ball update research found that their website also mentions a patent-pending, which could offer further protection against imitators.

The Send a Ball sisters’ story proves that rejection on Shark Tank doesn’t have to be the end. 

As of July 2021, Send a Ball has grown to around $1 million in annual revenue.

Despite not securing a deal, they immensely benefited from the “Shark Tank Effect”. We are excited about our next Send a Ball update.

Are you looking for updates on the other companies that appeared in Season 1 Episode 14? Follow the links below to learn all about them.

For even more on companies and products, be sure to stop by our Season 1 Products Page!

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Andrew is a lifelong fan of Shark Tank and an entrepreneur at heart. He started Shark Tank Recap because he wanted a single place to track what happens to the companies, founders, and deals after they air on TV. With a sharp eye for business insights and a passion for all things Shark Tank, Andrew makes sure every recap is accurate, engaging, and fun.