Here's What Went Down With Pretty Rugged After Shark Tank

It's not everyday that a blanket creates such a ruckus on "Shark Tank," but Pretty Rugged is no ordinary blanket. Created by founder Tracy Slocum, Pretty Rugged is an outdoor lifestyle brand that offers a special, double-sided blanket with a water-proof, wind-resistant material on one side, and luxurious faux fur on the other. Airing on Season 14 of "Shark Tank," Slocum's pitch was all about genealogical ingenuity. Her great-great-grandfather was Joshua Slocum, who, in the 19th century, was the first man to sail around the world alone. To manage the harsh, wet conditions, patriarch Slocum wore furs to stay warm. Similar to her great-great-grandfather, Tracy Slocum also loved boating and spending time outside, but needed something warm to insulate against bitter conditions. Thus, in 2017, she created her unique blanket, which garnered attention of Oprah Winfrey, even earning a place on her famous Favorite Things list  in 2018. The company eventually expanded beyond blankets to include all kinds of wearable warmth, and that's what Slocum pitched on "Shark Tank": the lifestyle of Pretty Rugged.

"Shark Tank" isn't short on a history of powerful, female entrepreneurs, with Slocum being one of them. While Pretty Rugged is unique, we've seen entrepreneurs pitch inventions around comfort and warmth. Barbara Corcoran invested in The Comfy, a blanket with arms and a hood. And in another waterproof universe, sisters Morgan Sarner and Arley Sarner pitched waterproof purse covers. Clearly, dryness and comfort is a good venue for budding entrepreneurs. Slocum herself had an interesting experience on her 2023 "Shark Tank," appearance, and Pretty Rugged is alive and thriving today.

Tracy Slocum came out for her "Shark Tank" pitch wearing a white, faux-fur jacket by her brand, Pretty Rugged. Each of the sharks got a piece from her line, and Kevin O'Leary climbed under his blanket pronto, like the snuggle bear he is. Slocum was asking for $200,000 in exchange for 10% of her company. In her sample blanket, Slocum had "Shark Tank" embroidered on the waterproof side. Very clever! Slocum shared how she had experienced rapid success in the five years since she started Pretty Rugged in 2017. She arrived at the New York NOW trade show in 2018, and won for the best new product and best in market. 

The sharks got down to the money real fast. Slocum explained that her blanket retails for $290, despite costing only $36 to make. The sharks were absolutely psyched about such huge margins; her lifetime sales at that point were just under $3 million. Slocum said that her sales had been $1,197,000 in 2021, but she netted $32,000. The sharks couldn't wrap their heads around this. Slocum explained that she went to numerous trade shows, which cost a lot, and she had to make a big purchase order at the end of the year. By the end of the pitch, all of the sharks pulled out, save for Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec. The two jointly offered Slocum $200,000 for 25% of her company. Slocum counter offered with 20%, but the sharks stood firm, causing her to agree on the initial offer.

Things really blew up for Tracy Slocum after her "Shark Tank" episode aired. Slocum hails from Albany, NY, and her hometown was thrilled. The local radio station, 98.3 Try, gave her a shoutout. Plus, the Albany Business Review was quick to grab an interview with her after her "Shark Tank" success. "It was like a bomb just hit us," Slocum said of the "Shark Tank" effect. "We were just covered in orders. Oh my gosh, I thought, how are we ever going to get through these orders?"

Appearing on the ABC series did wonders for Pretty Rugged, and Slocum herself became a bit of a celebrity! "The exposure has been unbelievable," she explained to the Albany Business Review. "Honestly, I go places and people are like, 'Were you on Shark Tank?'" Slocum added that because of "Shark Tank," her 2022 sales wrapped in the multi-millions, which resulted in her needing to lease additional warehouse space. Because of the increased demand, she was able to hire more staff to get her product into brick and mortar stores all over the United States. She also invested in two additional embroidery machines — which cost approximately $30,000 each — to keep up with customized orders. "This is really just establishing ourselves to be ready for a larger year for packaging fulfillment," Slocum told the outlet. 

While Lori Greiner and Robert Herjavec initially agreed to give Tracy Slocum $200,000 in exchange for 25% of Pretty Rugged, it remains unclear whether the deal actually went through. When Slocum spoke to the Albany Business Review in February 2023, she said she wasn't able to discuss the terms of the deal. On Pretty Rugged's official website, Slocum says that she aired on the ABC show, but made no mention of the deal, nor does she speak about Greiner or Herjavec. Under the "Shark Tank" tab on her website, Slocum includes a quote: "It's these moments where you put yourself out there that shape who you become. Even if it doesn't end the way you think or want it to, you did it. You put yourself out there and you became a stronger person because of it." It's entirely possible that she's referring to the loss of the deal there.

Some people on YouTube had theories. Slocum's numbers were a little confounding to the sharks, particularly the fact that she sold over $1 million in 2021, but only netted $32,000. "I'm willing to bet that the deal did NOT close, bc there's DEFINITELY something this woman isn't telling the sharks about her business," one person wrote on YouTube. "$3 mil on sales with 80% margin but profit only 32k? Something ain't adding up," another commented. Whatever the case, it looks like the deal did not go through.

Whatever the backstory was with the "Shark Tank" deal, founder Tracy Slocum and Pretty Rugged appear to be doing just fine. The website features new products regularly, with pieces ranging from totes and scarves to baby blankets. Pretty Rugged also has a very active presence on Instagram, with regular posts about sales and new products. The brand has also had a lot of media exposure. Not only did Oprah single out their blankets, but other outlets, like Apartment Therapy, raved about the quality and durability of Slocum's outdoor products. She was even a guest speaker at Hudson Valley Community College for their Entrepreneur's Club. In toher words, Slocum hasn't slowed down and Pretty Rugged is growing bigger than ever.

In an interview with Her Life Magazine, Slocum shared about the journey of being a founder and entrepreneur for women and mothers especially. "At 45, I started my own business," she began. "Honestly, sometimes I have to remind myself of that fact. It's a part of the Pretty Rugged story that I want to share, especially for women who have been out of the traditional workforce raising a family or taking care of others." Slocum said that it's important for women to carve out time to achieve their dreams too, even if they're busy being a mom. That sounds like wonderful advice from an ingenious entrepreneur!