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The Natural Grip, featured on Season 6 of the hit TV show Shark Tank, is a fitness product designed to protect the hands during high-intensity workouts.
The Natural Grip is the brainchild of Ashley Drake, a military officer and CrossFit enthusiast who invented it to solve problems encountered during physically demanding exercises such as pull-ups and kettlebell swings.
What sets The Natural Grip apart from conventional workout gloves is its novel design, specifically crafted to reduce hand tearing and provide maximum grip without compromising on the natural feel of the bar or equipment.
The grips are customizable based on ring size, ensuring a perfect fit for every user, and they’re made of a durable, hypoallergenic fabric blend, giving them a distinct advantage over traditional leather or synthetic gloves.
These features provide superior comfort and protection while offering a strong, secure grip to enhance performance.
Furthermore, The Natural Grip grips are easily attached to the hands using athletic tape, providing stability without causing any hindrance to hand or finger movements.
They are also reusable and washable, making them a cost-effective and environmentally friendly alternative to single-use gymnastic grips.
The Natural Grip is an excellent choice for fitness enthusiasts of all levels. It protects beginners from blisters and rips that can deter ongoing training.
For experienced athletes, it offers an opportunity to improve performance by enhancing grip strength and endurance while reducing the risk of injury.
The Natural Grip also provides a perfect fit and optimizes functionality since ring sizes can be customized based on measurements.
The eco-friendly aspect of being reusable and washable further adds to the product’s appeal, making it a sound investment for the conscious consumer.
The Natural Grip proves to be a perfect blend of innovative design and practical utility, encapsulating the ethos of fitness protection without compromising the essential feel of the workout.
| Company Name | The Natural Grip |
| Entrepreneur | Ashley Drake |
| Product | Exercise Handgrips Customized For Crossfit Gyms |
| Investment Asking For | $100,000 for 20% equity in The Natural Grip |
| Final Deal | $100,000 for 25% equity in The Natural Grip |
| Shark | Robert Herjavec |
| The Natural Grip Episode | Season 6, Episode 8 |
| The Natural Grip Business Status | Out Of Business |
| The Natural Grip Website | The Natural Grip Website |
| The Natural Grip Net Worth | $0 |
What Is The Natural Grip?
The Natural Grip is a hand protection solution designed to enhance your grip and prevent hand injuries during intense physical workouts, particularly in activities that require extensive use of the hands, such as weightlifting, gymnastics, and CrossFit training.
This unique product is made of a custom blend of materials, including cotton, leather, and silicone, providing a secure and comfortable grip while minimizing friction and sweat buildup.
Unlike traditional gloves or grips that tend to be bulky and uncomfortable, the Natural Grip is intentionally thin, non-constrictive, and adaptable to the contours of the individual hand, ensuring optimal dexterity and freedom of movement.
The Natural Grip minimizes the occurrence of painful blisters, calluses, and skin tears commonly caused by rigorous training sessions, which enhances overall performance and reduces recovery time.
Its customizability and durability offer added peace of mind, ensuring athletes of all levels benefit from reliable, long-lasting hand protection without compromising their technique or sacrificing tactile feedback.
The Natural Grip has revolutionized how we approach hand protection in the athletic world, offering a simple yet highly effective solution for those seeking to maximize their grip strength, improve their performance, and prevent debilitating injuries.
Who Is The Founder Of The Natural Grip?
The founder of The Natural Grip is Ashley Drake. Ashley is a businesswoman and a remarkable individual with a diverse background. She is an engineer, a military officer, and a CrossFit enthusiast. Her drive to solve everyday problems led her to create The Natural Grip.
The idea for The Natural Grip came from Ashley’s experiences with high-intensity workouts, particularly CrossFit. She was experiencing the common problem of tearing her hands during workouts, and traditional workout gloves and grips did not solve the issue.
They either didn’t provide enough protection, or they were too bulky and took away the natural feel of the equipment. She had a problem-solving mindset as an engineer, so she sought a better solution.
Ashley used her ingenuity and drive to create a new type of hand protection to prevent the tearing and blisters caused by high-intensity workouts. She initially made the grips for her personal use, but when her fellow gym-goers noticed the effectiveness of her unique hand grips, the demand grew.
Before appearing on Shark Tank, The Natural Grip was already gaining traction in the fitness world. Ashley and her husband, Justin, were running the business out of their basement, selling primarily online and in some local fitness stores.
They got excellent customer reviews, and the product became popular in the CrossFit community. Word of mouth propelled the product forward as users found that the Natural Grip was a game-changer for their workouts.
The appearance on Shark Tank presented a golden opportunity for The Natural Grip. It was a chance to expose the product to a broader audience and attract investors who could help take the business to the next level.
The journey of Ashley Drake and The Natural Grip is a classic story of identifying a problem, devising an innovative solution, and turning it into a successful business venture.
How Was The Shark Tank Pitch Of The Natural Grip?
The Natural Grip’s Shark Tank pitch took place in Season 6, where Ashley Drake, the founder, gave a compelling presentation.
She started the pitch by introducing herself and her product, The Natural Grip, explaining its unique, customizable design and its role in preventing hand tearing during high-intensity workouts.
Ashley was seeking an investment of $100,000 in exchange for a 20% stake in the company, valuing The Natural Grip at $500,000. Throughout her presentation, Ashley demonstrated the application and functionality of The Natural Grip.
She also pointed out that, unlike most gym gloves or grips, The Natural Grip was custom-made, hypoallergenic, and reusable, features that added significant value to the product.
She also provided sales figures and the positive growth trajectory of the business, indicating a sound financial footing and future potential. The sharks were initially intrigued by the idea and the sales numbers. However, some of them had concerns.
Kevin O’Leary, also known as “Mr. Wonderful,” was doubtful about the patentability of the product, whereas Lori Greiner felt that the market size might be too small. Despite the compelling presentation, both decided to bow out.
Robert Herjavec, however, saw potential in the business and Ashley herself. He admired Ashley’s passion and drive and recognized the product’s unique selling point and market potential.
However, he felt the company’s valuation was too high. Robert proposed a counter-offer of $100,000 for a 25% stake in the company. Knowing Robert’s value to The Natural Grip, Ashley agreed to the deal.
The Natural Grip’s Shark Tank appearance culminated in a fruitful partnership with Robert Herjavec. It was a platform that helped boost the product’s visibility and credibility, accelerating its growth in the competitive fitness market.
Final Deal: Robert Herjavec agreed to invest $100,000 for a 25% stake in The Natural Grip.
What Happened To The Natural Grip After Shark Tank?
Following their successful pitch on Shark Tank and the subsequent investment from Robert Herjavec, The Natural Grip saw an immense boost in their business. The visibility provided by the show led to increased interest and a surge in sales.
Ashley Drake was able to leverage Herjavec’s expertise to scale up operations, streamline production, and expand distribution.
They moved from operating out of their basement to a proper manufacturing facility, allowing them to keep up with the demand and maintain the quality of their product.
The Natural Grip continued to gain traction within the fitness community. With the endorsement from Robert Herjavec and the testimonies from satisfied customers, they secured deals with fitness retailers and gym chains across the country, further expanding their distribution channels.
Moreover, the brand expanded its product line to include other fitness-related accessories, such as wrist wraps and athletic tape, complementing its main offering and catering to a broader audience within the fitness market.
The Natural Grip’s success story is a testament to the power of a great idea, a well-articulated business plan, and the right support.
Ashley Drake’s unique invention not only filled a gap in the market but also provided a solution to a common issue experienced by many fitness enthusiasts.
Her dedication and strategic partnership with Robert Herjavec have helped turn The Natural Grip into a well-known brand in the fitness industry.
The Natural Grip Shark Tank Update
Ashley appeared on Shark Tank in Season 6, Episode 8, seeking an investment of $100,000 in exchange for a stake in her company.
During her appearance, Ashley secured a deal with investor Robert Herjavec, who agreed to invest $125,000 in exchange for a 25% stake in the business.
The Natural Grip differentiated itself by offering custom-made grips based on ring finger size, made of Zinc Oxide 100% cotton tape, which was reusable and less bulky than traditional leather grips.
The product cost $4.32 per grip and was sold for $17, highlighting the potential for high-profit margins.
Following the Shark Tank appearance, The Natural Grip experienced a significant boost in sales. Within a month, sales reached $134,000, nearly equivalent to a year’s sales before the show.
Over the next four months, sales rose, reaching $310,000. The exposure to Shark Tank helped the product gain popularity and generated substantial revenue quickly. However, despite the initial success, The Natural Grip faced challenges and financial difficulties.
The company ceased its operations in 2018, leading to its closure. The exact reasons for the business’s failure and subsequent closure were not provided in the available information.
While some sources mention the company’s closure without specifying its reasons, it is important to note that The Natural Grip was recognized as an innovative solution and an example of the opportunities and challenges presented on Shark Tank.
Ashley Drake’s appearance on the show allowed her to secure a deal with Robert Herjavec and experience significant sales growth for some time, showcasing the show’s potential impact on businesses.
After appearing on Shark Tank, The Natural Grip experienced a surge in sales, reaching substantial revenue figures within a short period. However, the company ultimately faced challenges and ceased its operations in 2018, resulting in its closure.
However, the hype about The Natural Grip was short-lived as the sales dropped very soon. The Natural Grip ceased operations in December 2018. Ashley is currently employed at UPS as an Industrial Engineering Supervisor.
Is The Natural Grip Still In Business?
The Natural Grip is no longer in business. The company ceased its operations in 2018. Despite experiencing initial success and a significant boost in sales following their appearance on Shark Tank, The Natural Grip eventually shut down. The exact reasons for the company’s closure were not specified in the available information.
While the company is no longer in operation, the products offered by The Natural Grip, such as their custom-made, reusable hand grips made of Zinc Oxide 100% cotton tape, were popular among fitness enthusiasts and athletes for their ability to enhance grip and reduce hand injuries during weightlifting and pull-ups.
What Is the Net Worth Of The Natural Grip?
According to our research, The net worth of The Natural Grip is $0 since the company went out of business. The valuation of The Natural Grip was $400,000 after securing a deal from Robert Herjavec.
