Snarky Tea Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Jenni-Lyn Williams sought to create a tea brand that empowered women rather than sexualized them. This led her to create Snarky Tea, a line of teas offering delicious blends with humorous names that celebrate women’s confidence. Will the sharks see the need for another canned beverage? Let’s find out in this Snarky Tea update and pitch recap.

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

Jenni-Lyn Williams pitched her tea business on Shark Tank Season 9. Seeking $150,000 for 25% equity, she landed a deal with Kevin O’Leary and Bethenny Frankel for $150,000 for 50% equity.

In terms of a Snarky Tea update, the company remains a thriving business, offering a variety of teas through its website and Amazon. Since its Shark Tank appearance, the company has experienced significant growth, reaching annual revenue of around $1 million.

Shark	Result
Kevin O’Leary and Bethenny Frankel	Accepted offer of $150,000 for 50% equity
Robert Herjavec	No offer
Lori Greiner	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer

Shark Tank Snarky Tea Pitch

• Entrepreneur: Jenni-Lyn Williams
• Business: Tea that keeps it real to address everyday problems for women
• Ask: $150,000 for 25% equity
• Result: $150,000 for 50% equity
• Sharks: Kevin O’Leary and Bethenny Frankel

Jenni-Lyn Williams shared her background in financial marketing consulting and explained how her daughter inspired her to create Snarky Tea in 2016. 

Her vision was to create a tea brand that celebrated women and empowered them, avoiding the overly sexualized marketing often seen in the industry.  

Jenni-Lyn tells the sharks that Snarky Tea offers a unique approach. The brand catered to women’s needs by providing a variety of blends for different situations, all infused with a touch of playful humor reflected in the tea names. 

She highlighted a significant milestone in 2017 when Snarky Tea was included in the gifting suite for the prestigious Oscars ceremony.

This positive reception among high-profile guests further solidified the appeal of her tea.  

To ensure quality, she partners with a reputable FDA-registered importer in China to source the raw tea leaves.

These leaves are then shipped to a facility in Philadelphia that is both licensed and inspected by the USDA, guaranteeing a safe manufacturing process. 

Snarky Tea is currently available for purchase at various independent tea shops throughout the country, with a concentration of retailers in the Northeastern United States. 

The brand offers a variety of blends with distinct flavors, caffeine levels, and targeted benefits. Customers can find options for relaxation, hangover relief, and more.  

Jenni-Lyn is on the show, seeking investment from the sharks to expand distribution beyond independent shops and secure partnerships with major national grocery chains.

Kevin O’Leary pointed out that the branding seemed geared solely towards women. Jenni-Lyn acknowledged this as a deliberate intent.

Kevin expressed concern about potentially excluding a significant portion of the market – men who might also enjoy the tea.

Guest shark Bethenny Frankel acknowledged women’s purchasing power and highlighted that they often make tea-buying decisions within households.

However, Robert Herjavec and Mark Cuban countered that men are also tea drinkers.

Mark wants to know the numbers, Jenni-Lyn shared that her online store generates the majority of sales, accounting for 85%, with the remaining 15% coming from brick-and-mortar stores (physical stores) spread across roughly forty locations. 

She also disclosed that she has achieved $190,000 in sales over the past eight months. 

Kevin asked about the customer acquisition costs, and Jenni-Lyn revealed her cost to be around $11 per customer.

When she further explained that a box of tea retails for $12.99 but costs $4.85 to produce, Kevin expressed concern that the profit margin might be slim.

Lori Greiner questioned the long-term viability of the brand, and she exited the deal. 

Robert Herjavec followed suit, citing the niche market focus as a reason it wouldn’t be a good fit for him.

Mark voiced his apprehension about competition, suggesting the possibility of Amazon launching a similar tea brand and potentially taking business away from Jenni-Lyn. He’s out as well.

Kevin O’Leary offers $150,000 for a 50% equity and integrating Snarky Tea into his “Something Wonderful” platform.

Guest shark Bethenny Frankel countered with $150,000 for a 50% equity, highlighting her established distribution channels. 

Jenni-Lyn proposed a collaboration between the two sharks and countered with $150,000 for 42%. Bethenny and Kevin agreed to work together but rejected her counteroffer.  

Instead, they want 50% of the company. Mark advised Jenni-Lyn against surrendering half of her company ownership. 

However, Bethenny tried to sell the value of trust in partnerships and encouraged Jenni-Lyn to consider their proposal. 

After careful deliberation, Jenni-Lyn agreed to deal with Bethenny and Kevin.

Let’s see what  Jenni-Lyn is up to in our Snarky Tea update.

Shark Tank Snarky Tea Update 

According to our research, the deal with Kevin O’Leary and guest shark Bethenny Frankel eventually closed. However, the originally agreed term of $150,000 for a 50% equity was revised to $150,000 for a 12% equity.   

Since the show aired, Snarky Tea has continued to thrive. The brand hasn’t strayed from its signature “snarky” voice, even adding playful mugs with cheeky messages. 

They’ve also expanded their offerings with a monthly subscription service and seasonal tea blends.

Our Snarky Tea update found that in 2020, the company acquired BRUW, a fellow Shark Tank company. This acquisition allowed them to develop a cold tea maker, further diversifying their product line. 

Interestingly, Snarky Tea also introduced a new line of “Feel Good” teas with names like “Cleanse” and “Detox.” These teas offered similar benefits to their existing blends but with a more neutral tone. 

Since airing, the company has grown its annual sales to over $6 million, so we can call this Snarky Tea update a success!

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 8 here:

• Dreampad Update
• SnoofyBee Update
• No Mo-Stache Update

Before you go, be sure to check out more updates on our Shark Tank Season 9 page.