Barbell Apparel Update | Shark Tank Season 8

Alex Hanson faced a challenge when he struggled to find jeans that fit his muscular legs, a common issue among bodybuilders and athletes. In response to this, he developed Barbell Apparel, a line of jeans and pants specifically designed for athletic builds using flexible, breathable denim that offers both comfort and performance. Let’s dive into our Barbell Apparel update and pitch recap and see if they secured the deal.

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

Hunter and Alex appeared on Shark Tank Season 8 to pitch Barbell Apparel, seeking $500,000 for 5% equity. Unfortunately, they left without securing a deal.

In terms of a Barbell Apparel update, the company expanded its product line beyond athletic-fit jeans. Additionally, Barbell Apparel has grown its revenue to $5 million, opened two retail stores, and built a strong online presence.

Shark	Result
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Daymond John	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer

Shark Tank Barbell Apparel Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Hunter Molzen and Alex Hanson
• Business: Fashionable and functional denim athletic jeans.
• Ask: $500,000 for 5% equity
• Result: No deal
• Sharks: None

Hunter and Alex came to Shark Tank with a simple vision: clothing should be better specifically for bodybuilders.

Barbell Apparel was created to address a common issue among athletes—finding stylish, comfortable clothes that fit muscular builds.

They were looking for an investment to boost brand visibility and break into retail markets with their high-performance, athlete-focused clothing.

The brand delivers well-fitted apparel that allows for easy movement without compromising on comfort, durability, or style, helping athletes look and feel their best.

Each pair of jeans costs between $15 and $20 to produce, and they sell for $149, resulting in a markup between 645% and 893%, depending on production costs.

The entrepreneurs narrated to the sharks how they turned to Kickstarter to fund their first batch of products and reached their $15,000 goal in under an hour.

By the end of the campaign, they had sold 8,000 pairs of jeans in just 45 days and raised over $730,000.

Kevin O’Leary immediately questioned the high valuation.

The duo explained that they had already reached $2 million in sales and expected to double that figure the following year, with projected profits of $500,000.

However, they stressed that managing inventory was their biggest challenge, which is why they needed the sharks’ expertise and investment.

Despite their strong sales numbers, Daymond John decided to exit the negotiations, citing concerns about denim’s durability, which reduced the need for repeat buyers.

Mark Cuban also passed, worried that the brand would struggle to fend off competitors.

Lori Greiner felt the business wasn’t a fit for her, so she’s out.

Robert Herjavec was hesitant due to the financial burden of their inventory problems and dropped out.

Kevin O’Leary explained that the apparel industry requires a lot of money to operate and grow.

For this reason, he decided not to invest and became the last shark to withdraw from the negotiations.

Unfortunately, Hunter and Alex left without securing a deal.

Let’s see if the sharks’ rejection discouraged the entrepreneurs from pursuing their ideas in our Barbell Apparel update.

Shark Tank Barbell Apparel Update

Our Barbell Apparel update found that shortly after its airing, the company received a wave of positive attention on social media, with many viewers expressing interest in their products.

This exposure boosted sales, allowing Barbell Apparel to overcome early inventory challenges and expand its product line.

Originally focused on athletic-fit jeans, it now offers a variety of apparel, including chinos, T-shirts, polos, and a women’s collection.

In April 2018, The New York Post featured Barbell Apparel in an article that discussed a survey the company conducted.

The survey found that 79% of respondents believed owning good gym clothes is essential to achieving fitness goals.

By 2021, Barbell Apparel had taken another step forward by opening two retail stores. One in Las Vegas, NV and one in Scottsdale, AZ.

Our Barbell Apparel update revealed that the company has grown to around $5 million in annual revenue.

Further, they have maintained a strong online presence with over 164,000 followers on Facebook and 131,000 on Instagram.

Despite not landing a shark’s investment, we’re calling this Barbell Apparel update a success.

For more on Shark Tank Season 8 Episode 9, be sure to check out:

• PupBox Update
• ENERGYbits Nutrition Tablets Update
• Line Cutterz Update

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