The Original Comfy Update | Shark Tank Season 9

Michael Speciale and Brian Speciale wanted to combine the warmth of a blanket with the mobility of a sweatshirt. This challenge inspired them to invent The Original Comfy, a wearable blanket that meets both needs. However, their business plan needed more production capability, prompting them to seek investment in Shark Tank. Let’s see if any of the sharks are willing to invest in our Original Comfy update and pitch recap.

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

Michael and Brian Speciale entered Shark Tank Season 9, seeking $50,000 for 20% equity in their wearable blanket sweatshirt, The Original Comfy. After their pitch, they struck a deal with Barbara Corcoran for $50,000 for 30% equity.

In terms of The Original Comfy update, since airing, the company has experienced significant breakthroughs. They signed major licensing deals with brands like Marvel and Disney and are now available on the shelves of major retailers. With $550 million in lifetime sales, The Original Comfy is ranked sixth among the top-performing Shark Tank businesses. 

Shark	Result
Barbara Corcoran	Accepted offer of $50,000 for 30% equity
Robert Herjavec	$50,000 for 50% equity
Lori Greiner	No offer
Mark Cuban	No offer
Kevin O’Leary	No offer

Shark Tank The Original Comfy Pitch

• Entrepreneurs: Michael Speciale and Brian Speciale
• Business: Wearable blanket sweatshirt
• Ask: $50,000 for 20% equity
• Result: $50,000 for 30% equity
• Sharks: Barbara Corcoran

Brothers Michael and Brian Speciale brought their innovative blanket with sleeves, The Original Comfy, to Shark Tank, seeking investment to expand the reach of their cozy creation.

The Original Comfy is a wearable blanket designed for comfort and warmth. It’s essentially a giant sweatshirt with sleeves made from super soft, machine-washable fabric.

It comes in two sizes, standard and XL, and four colors: black, blue, pink, and purple.

The key feature of The Original Comfy is its practicality.

Unlike regular blankets that restrict arm movement, this wearable design keeps users warm while allowing their arms to move freely for activities like reading, using a laptop, or snacking.

The oversized design provides full-body coverage and includes a large hood for extra warmth around the head and neck. It also has a kangaroo pocket for added convenience. 

The high-low hem adds a touch of style, and the sleeves stay in place without dragging on the floor, ensuring comfortable movement.

This product is perfect for anyone who values comfort, whether at home on the couch, camping, or at sporting events and concerts. 

With its versatility and cozy design, The Original Comfy also makes an excellent gift for all ages and occasions.

Michael and Brian informed the sharks that their company was brand new and had been in operation for less than six months. 

This meant they had no sales because The Original Comfy hadn’t been brought to market yet.

In terms of margins, Michael and Brian explained that it costs about $13 to make a single unit and that they planned to price it at $39.95. 

Their vision was to start selling the wearable blanket online directly to customers to maximize margins.

Lori Greiner believed that a similar product was already on the market, so she decided to drop out without making an offer.

Mark Cuban also decided to drop out. 

However, Robert Herjavec made an offer of $50,000 in exchange for 50% equity. Barbara Corcoran also made an offer, but she only wanted 30% equity in The Original Comfy.

Ultimately, Michael and Brian accepted Barbara’s offer, and they made a deal.

Was this a good deal for both Michael and Brian? Let’s find out in our The Original Comfy update.

Shark Tank The Original Comfy Update  

Since airing, The Original Comfy has experienced significant success. In fact, after airing, they sold out all existing inventory within 24 hours. 

With Barbara Corcoran’s support, the company continued its momentum, even selling out on QVC.

In 2018, The Original Comfy was available on the shelves of major retailers such as Bed, Bath & Beyond, Costco, Kohl’s, Zappos, Amazon, and The Paper Store. 

Our The Original Comfy update found that during the 2018 Shark Tank Holiday Special, the company revealed $20 million in annual sales. 

In 2019, USA Today ranked it as one of the best-selling companies in Shark Tank history, with $150 million in lifetime sales. 

The company also secured licensing deals with Marvel, Disney, and various colleges and experienced a surge in demand driven by the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic.

However, 2021 brought significant challenges. Supply chain issues and mismanagement pushed the company to the brink of bankruptcy. 

In June 2021, Michael Speciale bought out Brian and Barbara’s shares, but delays in Chinese manufacturing further strained the business. 

In early 2022, our The Original Comfy update found that the company fired CEO Susan Hudson, who subsequently sued for breach of employment agreement and promissory fraud. 

Despite these hurdles, Michael Speciale kept the business running. By mid-2022, annual sales were around $15 million, with lifetime sales exceeding $400 million. 

By October 2023, The Original Comfy was back on track with  $550 million in lifetime sales. 

Most recently, the company announced a partnership with Tower 28 Beauty for a co-branded Comfy.

As you can imagine, we are definitely calling our The Original Comfy update a success! 

You can find the other company updates from Season 9 Episode 13 here:

• Christmas Tree Hugger Update
• RokBlok by Pink Update
• Modern Christmas Trees Update

Before you go, check out our Shark Tank Season 9 page for more updates!