Buckle Me Baby Coats, a startup based in Londonderry, NH, was founded in 2016. Prioritizing safety, this company manufactures coats designed to work with car seats.
These coats address common issues faced by parents during winter. As many know, wearing a bulky coat in a car seat can make children uncomfortable, and in some cases, even pose safety risks.
Traditional winter coats don’t fit well with car seats, potentially causing kids to slip out or making the seat too tight, leading to discomfort and crying.
Buckle Me Baby Coats solves these problems by designing coats with front flaps that can be easily adjusted once the child is buckled in. After the child is securely strapped, the coat’s flip-over feature keeps them both safe and warm.
Available in a variety of designs, Buckle Me Baby Coats range in price from $69 to $149.
| Company Name | Buckle Me Baby Coats |
| Founder | Dahlia Rizk |
| Product | a coat that allows easy access to car seat buckles |
| Asked For | $100,000 for 10% Equity |
| Final Deal | $100,000 for 20% + 30% of licensing deals |
| Shark | Daymond John |
| Episode (Shark Tank USA) | Season 12 Episode 7 |
| Air Date | December 4, 2020 |
| Business Status | In Business |
| Net Worth | $2.1 Million *estimated |
Who Is The Founder Of Buckle Me Baby Coats?
Dahlia Rizk, a single mother of three living in New Hampshire, invented Buckle Me Baby Coats to keep children safe and make life easier for parents. She also has two cats and a dog.
Buckle Me Baby Coats are designed to protect children from the dangers of car crashes. The coats have been rigorously tested and proven to be safe.
Dahlia Rizk is the founder and CEO of the company. She holds a Bachelor of Arts degree from Rutgers University – Newark and a master’s degree from the University of New Hampshire.
In addition to her work at Buckle Me Baby Coats, she has over 15 years of experience working as a director at Choice Counseling of Londonderry.
She founded Buckle Me Baby Coats in 2016.
Did Buckle Me Baby Coats Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Dahlia Rizk, the founder of Buckle Me Baby Coats, appeared on Shark Tank seeking $100,000 in exchange for 10% equity in her company.
During her presentation, Dahlia impressed the Sharks with her product. They were particularly interested in her sales figures, as this would determine their willingness to invest. The production cost of each coat ranges from $14 to $15, and they were sold for $59.99 in 2020. By 2022, the price increased to between $69 and $149.
In 2019, Dahlia sold $500,000 worth of coats, which grew to $700,000 in 2020. Remarkably, she achieved this without any external funding. 75% of her sales come from her website and Amazon Marketplace, with the remaining 25% sold through big-box stores.
Dahlia projected $1.3 million in sales for 2020, but the COVID-19 pandemic caused significant supply chain disruptions, affecting her business. She holds a utility patent for her product, including a foundational patent for the coat’s car seat design, and has also trademarked her brand.
Kevin O’Leary asked Dahlia how she would provide a return on his investment. She explained that she would invest in distribution and marketing, spending $8,000 to $10,000 per month on advertising. The cost of acquiring a customer ranges from $15 to $18, leaving a 50% margin after factoring in production and advertising costs.
Lori Greiner believed Dahlia didn’t need a partner, so she decided to pass on the deal. Mark Cuban also passed, stating that the business wasn’t in an area he wanted to invest in.
Barbara Corcoran, however, offered $100,000 for 20% equity, expressing her confidence in Dahlia’s business. She highlighted her success with The Comfy, an apparel company that made $250 million in sales over three years.
Kevin O’Leary also made an offer: $100,000 for $2 per unit until $300,000 is recouped, plus 2.5% equity. Daymond John, interested as well, offered $100,000 for 20% equity in the core business and 30% in the licensing business.
Dahlia counteroffered Barbara $100,000 for 15% equity, but Barbara declined. Dahlia then made the same counteroffer to Daymond but kept his terms of 30% for the licensing business intact.
In the end, Dahlia accepted Daymond John’s offer of $100,000 for 20% of the core business and 30% of the licensing business, sealing the deal.
Buckle Me Baby Coats Shark Tank Update
Buckle Me Baby Coats secured a deal on Shark Tank, making the founder, Dahlia Rizk, very happy.
Although Kevin, Daymond, and Barbara all made offers, Dahlia ultimately accepted Daymond John’s proposal.
This product addresses a significant safety concern for children, so after the episode aired, many parents began ordering coats for their kids. In the weeks following the show, demand surged so much that inventory quickly sold out, and Dahlia had to start taking pre-orders.
As of May 2022, the company generated annual revenue of $6 million. In 2021, it was awarded the “Product of the Year” by Creative Child Magazine.
What Is Buckle Me Baby Coats Net Worth?
Buckle Me Baby Coats has an estimated net worth of $1.5 million.
In 2018, the company won the FedEx Small Business Grant Contest, and in 2019, it received the National Parenting Product Award.
Since its founding, Buckle Me Baby Coats has received multiple awards. After appearing on Shark Tank, the founder expanded the product line to include more sizes.
