Table of Contents
HillBilly Brand is a lifestyle brand featured on the second season of the popular reality show “Shark Tank.” Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees created the concept for HillBilly Brand in 2009, essentially encapsulating rural America’s culture, values, and lifestyle.
HillBilly Brand appeals to people who value the outdoors, country music, hunting, fishing, and similar activities. The product line initially featured clothing items such as hats, t-shirts, and accessories and later expanded into other merchandise, including branded outdoor gear.
HillBilly Brand embodies the rustic, down-to-earth country lifestyle through its designs. The apparel offers a variety of designs, color options, and styles to suit the diverse tastes of its target market.
Moreover, the clothing and accessories are designed with quality and comfort in mind, making them a suitable choice for those engaging in outdoor activities.
The company’s commitment to quality products and its focus on community engagement make it a good choice for those looking to express their love for the hillbilly lifestyle.
| Company Name | HillBilly Brand |
| Entrepreneur | Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees |
| Product | Redneck and trucker clothing |
| Investment Asking For | $50,000 for 25% equity in HillBilly Brand |
| Final Deal | $75,000 for 100% equity in HillBilly Brand + 7% royalty on future licensing deals |
| Shark | Daymond John, Robert Herjavec, and Jeff Foxworthy |
| Episode | Season 2, Episode 4 |
| Business Status | In Business |
| Website | HillBilly Brand Website |
| Net Worth | $4 Million |
What Is HillBilly Brand?
HillBilly Brand is a distinctive line of country clothing, hats, and accessories celebrating the rural lifestyle. The brand offers a range of products, including t-shirts, tank tops, and trucker hats, all reflecting the unique spirit of the country’s way of life.
HillBilly Brand also produces beverages, with HillBilly Brand Beverages soon available in stores. Born in America, HillBilly’s products are a nod to the redneck lifestyle and are even recognized for their appearance on ABC’s Shark Tank and My Big Redneck Vacation.
The brand invites everyone to join the HillBilly Nation and proudly represent their roots. HillBilly Brand is more than just a clothing line—it’s a statement of origin, identity, and community.
Who Is The Founder Of HillBilly Brand?
Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees are the co-founders of HillBilly Brand. They’re both Florida natives with a shared love for the laid-back, outdoors-centric lifestyle often associated with the Southern and rural parts of the United States.
Mike Abbaticchio grew up in a small Florida town. He always had an entrepreneurial spirit and a keen interest in the fashion industry. Meanwhile, Shon Lees was raised with a passion for the outdoors, with a background in hunting, fishing, and country music.
Their shared values and interests laid the groundwork for what would eventually become HillBilly Brand. The idea for HillBilly Brand was born from the desire to create a brand representative of their lifestyle and the culture they held dear.
They realized that there was a significant market of people who shared their love for the outdoors and country living but lacked a brand that specifically catered to them.
They saw this gap in the market as an opportunity and decided to create a brand that not only offered functional products but also captured the essence of the rural lifestyle.
Before appearing on Shark Tank, HillBilly Brand had great success. They had established a robust online presence and sold thousands of products across the United States.
The brand had also garnered attention from a few high-profile individuals, leading to their products being worn by several country music stars and professional athletes. Furthermore, they managed to get their products into a few retail stores, expanding their reach beyond their online platform.
Despite their success, Abbaticchio and Lees felt they could further grow their brand and, thus, decided to appear on Shark Tank to secure the capital and partnerships needed to scale their business.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of HillBilly Brand?
In the second season of Shark Tank, Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees confidently pitched the HillBilly Brand. They were seeking $50,000 in exchange for a 25% stake in their company, valuing it at $200,000.
Their presentation showcased their product line, including clothing items and accessories, while highlighting their brand’s unique appeal.
They emphasized their commitment to representing a lifestyle with a strong following in America but were underrepresented in the clothing industry.
The sharks were initially intrigued by the passion Abbaticchio and Lees displayed for their business, and there was a clear interest in the niche market they were targeting.
They were able to demonstrate that the brand had established recognition in their target audience, and they had also secured some high-profile endorsements.
However, there were some reservations among the sharks. They expressed concerns about the brand’s scalability and the competition within the clothing industry. The sharks were unsure how the HillBilly Brand could set itself apart in a highly competitive market.
Ultimately, three sharks showed interest in investing in the HillBilly Brand: Robert Herjavec, Jeff Foxworthy, and Daymond John. After a period of negotiation, Abbaticchio and Lees agreed to a deal with Herjavec and Foxworthy.
The founders of HillBilly Brand accepted an investment of $75,000 for a 100% licensing agreement, with a 7% royalty and 5% equity in the company.
The founders viewed this deal as a great opportunity to further expand their brand with the aid and expertise of the two sharks, who had a solid background in the kind of market that HillBilly Brand catered to.
What Happened To HillBilly Brand After Shark Tank?
The HillBilly Brand experienced a significant boost after its appearance on Shark Tank. The exposure alone led to a surge in sales, helping the company to expand its operations and product range.
Working with the sharks, Robert Herjavec and Jeff Foxworthy, also opened up new doors for the brand regarding networking, retail relationships, and business advice.
While it’s not uncommon for deals made on Shark Tank to fall through during the due diligence process, the agreement stayed intact in the case of HillBilly Brand.
Abbaticchio and Lees could leverage the expertise of Herjavec and Foxworthy, who were instrumental in getting the brand’s products into a wider range of retail stores and introducing more strategic marketing efforts.
HillBilly Brand continued to grow, solidifying its place in the lifestyle and clothing industry. They were selling not only through their online store but also in brick-and-mortar retail outlets across the country.
They had managed to significantly expand their product line beyond clothing and accessories, which included an expanded range of outdoor gear, further enhancing their appeal to their target market.
In addition to its commercial success, HillBilly Brand had stayed true to its mission of celebrating and promoting the rural lifestyle, and it had developed a strong and loyal following. It also made efforts to give back to the community through various initiatives.
HillBilly Brand Shark Tank Update
After their appearance on Shark Tank, HillBilly Brand experienced growth and success. Co-founded by Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees, HillBilly Brand is a clothing line with a rustic appeal that resonates with outdoor enthusiasts, particularly those who embrace the American country lifestyle.
Following their pitch seeking $50,000 for a 25% stake in their company, HillBilly Brand made considerable progress. In the following years, HillBilly Brand’s sales reached around $271,000 within three years, with recent annual sales hovering around $50,000.
Their distribution network expanded significantly, including partnerships with well-known retailers like Sports Authority and travel plazas. They retained the rights to the “Hill Billy” term for clothing, maintaining a strong brand identity.
Despite the initial deal on Shark Tank not coming to fruition, HillBilly Brand pursued success independently. They diversified their women’s wear range by introducing hats, caps, and patches and expanded their product line to include iced tea flavors and accessories like koozies, decals, masks, and stickers with free U.S. shipping.
Notably, they also introduced Hill Billy Bourbon in various proofs and HillBilly Vine Whiskey blended with muscadine grapes, extending their presence across multiple states.
The brand’s expansion didn’t stop there. By July 2021, their revenue had grown to about $1 million annually, boosted by licensing agreements and continued efforts to diversify their product offerings.
Further growth was evident as their revenue reached approximately $5 million yearly, and their products became available on Amazon. This expansion led to HillBilly Brand’s significant presence in the market, catering to country lifestyle enthusiasts.
HillBilly Brand’s journey showcases its potential and the resonance of its brand with a specific cultural niche. Their commitment to capturing the essence of the outdoor, country lifestyle has resulted in steady growth and a prominent presence in the market.
Is HillBilly Brand Still In Business?
Our research shows that HillBilly Brand is still in business and thriving. The brand has grown and expanded significantly since its appearance on Shark Tank. Founded by Mike Abbaticchio and Shon Lees, HillBilly Brand offers a range of country clothing, hats, and accessories that reflect the rural lifestyle.
They have also introduced HillBilly Brand Beverages to stores and are actively seeking distributors globally, including countries like Australia, New Zealand, the UK, Germany, Japan, and Brazil.
The brand’s net worth has experienced substantial growth, reaching about $4 million by 2023, which highlights its successful journey post-Shark Tank.
HillBilly Brand is still in business and has expanded its offerings, introducing beverages and seeking distributors internationally. Its net worth has increased significantly since its appearance on Shark Tank.
What Is the Net Worth Of HillBilly Brand?
According to our research, the net worth of HillBilly Brand is estimated to be $4 million. The valuation of HillBilly Brand was $75,000 after securing an investment from Daymond John, Jeff Foxworthy, and Robert Herjavec on Shark Tank.
