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Bridal Babes is an inclusive bridal wear brand that appeared on episode 05 of season 14 of Shark Tank. Founded by Ashley and Charles Young, the company offers beautiful, diverse, and affordable wedding attire primarily aimed at women of color.
Bridal Babes is known for its commitment to inclusivity and customization. The brand provides a range of sizes from 2 to 26 in their ready-to-ship collection, and they also offer a special order collection in sizes 26 to 32. This ensures that bridesmaids of all shapes and sizes can find dresses that fit them perfectly.
Bridal Babes takes pride in its customizable designs. Customers can work with the company through virtual or in-person consultations at their Baltimore location. The brand offers various options for materials, colors, and styles, allowing bridesmaids to create their ideal garments.
The company even sends swatch samples to clients for approval, ensuring they have a say in the process no matter where they are located.
The dresses themselves are made from super stretchy, curve-hugging material. This fabric allows women of any shape or size to feel confident and beautiful on their wedding day.
Bridal Babes aims to make bridesmaids feel just as stunning as the bride. Bridal Babes is known for its affordability and focus on inclusivity and customization.
Bridal Babes offers dresses that usually cost less than $300 in a market where wedding attire can be pricey. This makes it an attractive choice for brides who want their bridal party to look fabulous without breaking the bank.
Bridal Babes is a fantastic choice for brides who want their diverse bridal party to look and feel fabulous on their special day.
Bridal Babes revolutionizes the bridal market and provides a much-needed solution for women seeking diverse and beautiful wedding attire through its customizable designs, inclusive sizing options, and affordable prices.
Information | Answer |
Company Name | Bridal Babes |
Founder | Charles and Ashley Young |
Product | Dresses for bridesmaids and weddings |
Investment Seeking | $250,000 for a 10% equity |
Final Deal Accepted | $250,000 for a 20% equity |
Episode | Season 14, Episode 5 |
Business Status | In Business |
Website | Visit Website |
Net Worth | $1.5 Million |
What Is Bridal Babes?
Bridal Babes is a brand that specializes in bridesmaid gowns and accessories. They aim to offer a wide selection of gowns that suit different personal styles, flatter various body shapes, and are available in missy and sizes.
Bridal Babes offers options for virtual consultations with stylists to make the shopping process easy and convenient. This personalized experience allows bridesmaids to find the perfect gown and accessories for the special day.
Bridal Babes also provides a range of gifts for the bride and groom, including tees, sweatshirts, and bundles. These gifts are designed to celebrate the couple and make their wedding experience even more memorable.
Founded by husband and wife team Ashley and Charles, Bridal Babes aims to provide a better shopping experience for bridesmaids.
Bridal Babes gained recognition when they appeared on ABC’s Shark Tank, showcasing their innovative approach to bridesmaid gown shopping. The brand offers stretch fabrications and fabulous designs to ensure comfort and style for every bridesmaid.
Bridal Babes offers groomsmen accessories and bridesmaid gowns, creating a cohesive bridal party look. They believe bridesmaid dresses and groomsmen attire go together like champagne and weddings.
Bridal Babes has been featured on various social media platforms due to its strong presence. They have received positive feedback from customers who appreciate the quality of their dresses and how well they fit different body shapes and sizes.
Bridal Babes is dedicated to helping bridesmaids feel confident and beautiful on the wedding day. Their extensive collection, inclusive sizing options, and commitment to customer satisfaction make them a popular choice for bridal party attire.
Who Is The Founder Of Bridal Babes?
The founders of Bridal Babes are Ashley Young and her husband Charles. Ashley Young, the CEO and Lead Stylist of Bridal Babes, discovered a gap in the bridal industry when she was planning her wedding.
She realized that traditional bridal shops often lacked styles that flatter curvy women and colors that complement brown and black skin tones. With her background in marketing and working with global brands, Ashley had the expertise to bring her strategic vision to life.
Before appearing on Shark Tank in Season 14, Episode 5, Bridal Babes had already established itself as a successful business. They offer a personalized experience to customers and have a large inventory of high-quality designer wedding and bridesmaid dresses at affordable prices.
Bridal Babes stood out by providing virtual consultation services and remote online showcases, which changed how women shop for wedding clothes even before the pandemic.
Bridal Babes’ success can be attributed to several factors. Firstly, their competitive pricing was made possible by not having the overhead costs of a physical store. Instead, they operated from a warehouse and a showroom.
Additionally, the inventory was regularly replenished with thousands of dresses arriving from the production facility, ensuring a wide variety of styles and colors for customers.
Bridal Babes also focused on inclusivity and diversity. They offered sizes up to 24 and had plus-sized models to showcase how the dresses would look on different body types.
Moreover, the business went beyond just wedding and bridesmaid dresses, offering dresses for flower girls, mothers of the bride and groom, and a growing inventory of accessories.
To experience Bridal Babes, customers could browse their website at their leisure without feeling overwhelmed or limited by salespeople.
They could order swatches to assess the fabric and make an appointment for a virtual consultation, which included a styling session, advice on selecting a style, discussions about bridal party preferences, recommendations for undergarments, and guidance on taking measurements.
Ashley Young and her husband, Charles, founded Bridal Babes to address the lack of inclusive options in the bridal industry.
The company’s innovative approach, extensive inventory, affordable prices, and emphasis on personalized experience contributed to their success even before their appearance on Shark Tank.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of Bridal Babes?
The entrepreneurs Charles and Ashley Young appeared on Season 14 of Shark Tank with their company Bridal Babes. They were seeking a $250,000 investment in exchange for 10% equity in their fashion/dress business.
The sharks showed interest in the company but had concerns about its valuation.
During the pitch, Charles and Ashley Young shared that their classic collection of fashion choices cost around $14 to manufacture and sold for just over $40. They also had a luxury collection that sold for about $200 but had lower production costs.
Bridal Babes had a significant advantage with an Instagram community of over 90,000 users, which helped boost their sales.
The company has generated $2 million in lifetime revenue since its launch, with an average margin of 70% on direct-to-consumer sales.
Robert Herjavec and Kevin O’Leary appreciated the quality of the business but felt they couldn’t provide long-term value, so they dropped out as potential investors.
Emma Grede, however, saw potential and offered $250,000 for 20% equity, believing she could add value to the company.
After a private discussion, Charles and Ashley accepted her offer.
Here’s a table summarizing the Shark’s names, their investment offers, the counteroffer by the founders, and the final deal accepted by the founders:
Shark’s Name | Investment Offer | Counter Offer by Founders | Final Deal |
Emma Grede | $250,000 for 20% equity | – | Accepted |
Ultimately, Bridal Babes secured a deal with Emma Grede on Shark Tank. The company’s pitch showcased its successful sales, strong margins, and social media presence.
With Emma’s expertise and investment, Bridal Babes will experience significant growth and increased name recognition.
Did Bridal Babes Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Yes, Bridal Babes did get a deal on Shark Tank. Co-founders Charles and Ashley Young pitched their company, which specializes in designing beautiful and affordable wedding dresses for brides and bridesmaids.
They asked the Sharks for $250,000 in exchange for a 10% equity stake in their business, which had already achieved lifetime sales of $2 million.
After presenting their product lines, sales figures, and growth projections, Emma Grede, the Founder and CEO of Good American, offered $250,000 for a 25% equity stake in Bridal Babes.
The entrepreneurs countered with a request for a 17.5% equity stake but ultimately agreed to Emma’s offer of 20% equity.
Emma Grede’s investment in Bridal Babes has provided financial support and her mentoring expertise to help grow the company.
Bridal Babes continues to be in business, focusing on the wedding season and offering affordable dresses to brides and bridesmaids.
Bridal Babes is expected to experience increased success and sales due to Emma’s involvement and exposure from Shark Tank.
What Happened To Bridal Babes After Shark Tank?
After appearing on “Shark Tank” in season 14, episode 5, Bridal Babes, a company founded by Ashley and Charles Young, experienced significant growth and success. Bridal Babes provides custom wedding dresses, specifically catering to women of color who want to showcase their curves.
The exposure from the show generated a lot of interest in the company, leading to increased visibility and customer engagement.
Ashley Young, the CEO and Lead Designer of Bridal Babes shared on the show that the idea for the company came to her when she struggled to find diverse and bold dress options for her bridesmaids.
Since its launch in 2019, Bridal Babes has gained recognition for its dresses featuring vibrant colors and exquisite designs. The company focuses on inclusivity and diversity, aiming to create a space that celebrates Black love and families.
They offer online and in-person consultations, allowing customers to choose fabric samples before creating their dresses.
Ashley and Charles have extensive experience in marketing and advertising, and they utilized their skills to promote Bridal Babes effectively.
They embraced new marketing methods such as Instagram Live and face-to-face customer interactions, expanding their reach and connecting with their target audience.
Like many businesses, Bridal Babes faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic. However, they quickly adapted by listening to customer feedback and making necessary adjustments. The company regained momentum by leveraging its network of 65,000 brides of color.
The company’s efforts did not go unnoticed. Bridal Babes received recognition from prestigious publications and secured a $15,000 grant from Capital One in 2021 for earning the second spot in Boss Women Media’s Black Girl Magic competition.
Looking towards the future, Ashley Young aims to increase revenue to attract more investors. She also plans to expand the team and introduce automation to enhance the production process’s efficiency.
Overall, Bridal Babes experienced significant growth and success after appearing on Shark Tank. Their commitment to diversity, innovative marketing strategies, and ability to adapt during challenging times have contributed to their continued progress in the wedding industry.
Bridal Babes Shark Tank Update
After appearing on Shark Tank, Bridal Babes received an investment of $250,000 from entrepreneur Emma Grede in exchange for a 20% equity stake in the company.
Emma Grede, the Founder and CEO of Good American, a US-based premium apparel brand, also became a mentor to help grow the business.
Following the investment, Bridal Babes focused on providing beautiful and affordable wedding dresses for brides and bridesmaids. The company experienced positive sales growth, with projected sales of $1.2 million in 2022.
While the company’s sales have been strong, profitability has been challenging. As a result, Bridal Babes has primarily reinvested its revenue to fuel further business growth.
The appearance on Shark Tank helped increase awareness and popularity of Bridal Babes’ wedding dresses. The positive response from viewers and social media users indicates a potential company sales boost.
Bridal Babes is still in business and operates primarily during the wedding season. The company is headquartered in the Washington DC-Baltimore Area and employs 1-10 individuals.
Is Bridal Babes Still In Business?
Yes, Bridal Babes is still in business. Despite experiencing a downturn in business due to the COVID-19 pandemic and the reduction in big weddings, they have managed to keep afloat.
With the end of the pandemic on the horizon, they are hopeful for an uptick in business, possibly by early summer. Bridal Babes is known for its custom bridal gowns, mainly catering to curvy women and women of color who may have trouble finding gowns that suit them.
They also offer bridesmaid gowns and fun accessories, all available through their online store.
Bridal Babes still offers beautiful, affordable dresses for real women despite challenges, such as poor customer service and limited return options, making them appealing in a competitive bridal wear market.
What Is the Net Worth Of Bridal Babes?
Our research shows Bridal Babes’ net worth is $1.5 million. The valuation of Bridal Babes was $1.25 million after securing an investment from Emma Grede on Shark Tank.
Also, read about other businesses that appeared on episode 05 of season 14 of Shark Tank: