Here's What Went Down With The Handbag Raincoat After Shark Tank
Ever treated yourself to a fancy new handbag, only to step out and have it get totally soaked by the rain? Well, sisters Morgan Sarner and Arley Sarner came up with a solution for that: The Handbag Raincoat. The product is exactly as it sounds, a patterned, water-resistant cover that you can put over your bag (particularly timeless top-handle designer bags) to protect it from the weather.
The two came up with the concept while in college after repeatedly getting caught outdoors in downpours with their designer bags exposed to the elements. To fix the problem, they made their first-ever cover out of an old shower curtain, but the business didn't go much further for the then-students. The two both ended up leaving the idea behind when they graduated, but later gravitated back towards the concept after Morgan started working in the merchandising and design sector for the massive fashion house Rebecca Minkoff. She then decided it was time to make a move and go into business with her sister, so the two circled back to their college concept and got the ball rolling on their company.
But they soon realized they would need some extra funding behind them to make the most of their concept. And, just like it did for fellow bag companies Season 10's Junkie Bags and Season 14's Cincha Travel, that's when "Shark Tank" came into the equation.
The Sarner sisters made quite the splash on Shark Tank
Morgan and Arley Sarner took their handbag protector to the entrepreneurs at "Shark Tank" during Season 10, which aired in 2018. The two were looking to give at least one investor 25% of their business in exchange for $300,000 — and they certainly made a splash with their attempt. Literally. The two showed Mark Cuban, Lori Greiner, Kevin O'Leary, Barbara Corcoran, and guest Shark, Spanx entrepreneur Sara Blakely, how the product works by creating a storm in the Tank. They then explained that they wanted to use the investment to market the product. But did it all go down a storm? Well, sadly, not exactly.
Despite the two sharing that they already had their product on the shelves in Bed Bath and Beyond Stores as well as Nordstrom, the Sharks weren't exactly blown away by the concept. Cuban and Corcoran were the first to make it clear they wouldn't be investing, with the two sharing that they weren't convinced there was a way to stop other businesses from copying the design. Blakely dropped out next, admitting she wouldn't be tempted to use the product, while O'Leary then declared himself out after taking issue with the sisters' sales so far. Griener was also unwilling to invest, despite being impressed by the entrepreneurial sisters, as she claimed she didn't see how the design was too different from putting up an umbrella. And, with that, The Sarner sisters left the Tank without a deal.
The Handbag Raincoat struggled after failing to secure a deal
Speaking about their time on "Shark Tank" after their episode aired, The Sarners still had nothing but kind words about the show, even after leaving empty-handed. "Everyone involved in the 'Shark Tank' family was truly a pleasure to work with, from the producers to the camera people to the sharks themselves. The experience was something we will never forget," Arley told NorthJersey.com.
But not getting a deal on "Shark Tank" sadly appeared to spell the beginning of the end for The Handbag Raincoat. Before appearing on "Shark Tank," the business saw a good amount of success. The products were featured on all corners of the TV world, including "Good Morning America," "Today," "Live with Kelly and Michael," and even "The Oprah Winfrey Show." Morgan Sarner and Arley Sarner also made some impressive deals to get their product out there, with The Handbag Raincoat selling on QVC and also getting listed on Amazon.
Morgan told NorthJersey.com that they'd hoped the exposure they got from the show would only increase this visibility and sales as a result. But that didn't happen in the way the two were looking for, and exposure post "Shark Tank" appeared limited. When asked about the biggest struggle they'd faced in the business world, Arley admitted, "Trying to get our brand known in the accessories world with a small budget." And that didn't seem to improve without the investment they were seeking.
Things didn't get much better for The Handbag Raincoat
Sadly, it seems like, just like micro mini bags, The Handbag Raincoat is firmly out of fashion. The company's former official website, handbagraincoat.com, is no longer available, while its products that used to be listed on Amazon are displayed with the "currently unavailable" message.
The Handbag Raincoat also didn't make much of a social media impact at all after appearing on "Shark Tank." The company's X page, formerly known as Twitter, hasn't been updated since before the big TV appearance (2016, to be exact!) while its Facebook appears to have been dormant since 2018. And it seems an unsuccessful trip to the Tank may have been the reason for the brand's demise. That's because the business's most recent post on Facebook is a shot of the sisters on the set encouraging fans to tune in to their episode of the show, with no further updates afterward. That suggests the twosome weren't able to make the most of the boost that may have come from their "Shark Tank" exposure.
At least one of the Sarner sisters has moved on from the company
With The Handbag Raincoat not leaving much of a trace on social media and beyond, it seems safe to say that the company has now folded. And we know at least one of the Sarner sisters has very much moved on from the business. According to Arley Sarner's LinkedIn page, she ended her time with The Handbag Raincoat in December 2019 to work on other interests. She began working with the Boomer Esiason Foundation again (after previously working there before going into business with her sister) in November 2018 as Senior Manager of Team Boomer and Program Events. She appears to still be working there as of March 2024.
As for Morgan — who now goes by the name Morgan George on LinkedIn after marrying her husband, Trevor George — interestingly, she still lists herself as still being the co-founder and creative director of Handbag Raincoat. However, in line with the company's disappearance online, that information appears to be outdated.