Do you ever feel like your workout weights are ugly? Well, you’re not alone. Max and Natalie made cool, bracelet-like things called Bala Bangles. Basically, they’re stylish weights for your wrists and ankles, and they’re kind of genius.
Husband and wife entrepreneurs Max Kislevitz and Natalie Holloway want a Shark to invest in Bala, their line of exercise “bangles,” in Shark Tank episode 1113. Max and Natalie are both yoga enthusiasts who wanted a way to supercharge their often rigorous workouts.
While the products are very popular with the yoga and Pilates crowd, the couple likely wants a Shark’s help with overseas manufacturing and expanding retail distribution. Will a Shark “weigh in” on this product?
About Bala
| Category | Details |
| Founder (Plural if multiple) | Max Kislevitz and Natalie Holloway |
| Product Type | Stylish wrist and ankle weights |
| Funding (Pre-Shark Tank) | Raised $50,448 through Kickstarter |
| Investment Asked | $400,000 |
| Equity Offered | 10% |
What Happened on the Shark Tank Episode?
Max Kislevitz and Natalie Holloway enter seeking $400,000 for 10% of the business. They tell their story and hand out samples. The Sharks like the look of the bangles, and they really like the numbers: $2.5 million in sales. Their problem is inventory. They can’t keep up with demand, and that isn’t allowing them to grow.
They knew adding weights to their wrists and ankles would help achieve that goal, but the products available on the market didn’t give them the mobility required when doing yoga; they weren’t very attractive either.
The couple decided to do something about it and created their product, Bala Bangles. Their version of ankle and wrist weights don’t look anything like the typical, utilitarian products on the market today. Bala Bangles look like stylish, albeit oversized, bracelets. They come in a variety of colors and in one or two-pound weight sizes. They’re made from cast iron coated with silicon and are both sweat-resistant and dishwasher-safe.
They got the idea while on a six-month tour of Asia and decided to run a Kickstarter campaign to fund initial production. They successfully raised $50,448 back in February 2018. Now, the products are in over 500 retail locations – including Nordstrom – and on Amazon. A pair of one-pound bangles costs $49, while the two-pound version is $65.
What Makes Bala Unique?
Bala Bangles are a revolutionary tool in the world of workouts and fitness. They are better than the traditional weights that people have been using. These weights are adjustable. You can wear them on your wrist or ankles.
They are in keeping with style and come in various colors. There are different weight options, so you can pick the ones you want to lift.
They have an adjustable Velcro strap, which makes it easy for them to fit around most wrists. The grip is also comfortable. Being lightweight makes them portable. They are multipurpose and can be worn while doing yoga, Pilates, running, walking, strength training, or even daily activities.
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Did Bala Get a Deal on Shark Tank?
Sharks ask the entrepreneurs what they need the money for. Max explains that they are facing a problem with inventory. Apart from that, the investment would be spent on an external salesperson as they are not themselves getting into it and proactively selling the product.
- Immediately, the Sharks start making offers. Kevin is first with a $400,000 loan at 7.5% interest and a 5% equity stake.
- Lori offers $500,000 for 18%.
- Maria wants in, but she wants to partner with another Shark. She also says she’d want more equity since she would also act as the product’s spokesperson.
- Lori and Daymond both try to partner with Maria, but Mark swoops in with a higher offer for more equity.
- Lori gets offended and reaffirms her offer of $500,000 for 18% equity.
- Mark and Maria offer $900,000 for 30% of the business.
Max and Natalie accept Mark and Maria’s combined offer as, that gives them two Sharks together.
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What Happened to Bala After Shark Tank?
Once an episode has aired, we track the progress of the businesses featured. Find out if they receive funding or not and report on their progress. This deal did close, and Bala is selling like hotcakes. Additionally, Lori and Daymond invested in this business as well. They’ve presumably tightened up their inventory issues.
The company gets an update segment in season 12’s episode 1203. Bala was a beneficiary of the Covid-19 lockdowns, as people couldn’t get to the gym. They did millions in sales and business is booming. As of June 2021, they are doing $3 million in annual revenue.
Another Update Segment
The company gets a second update segment in season 15, episode 1511. In the update segment, Max and Natalie say the company has changed dramatically since appearing on Shark Tank. They expanded the product line, and they now have over 15 products. Balacize, an online fitness platform, was also added to the mix. The products are available internationally, including Canada, China, and Western Europe. After the Covid-related sales boom, they found themselves overstaffed and with too much inventory.
They had to make difficult decisions and get the company back in shape. Before Shark Tank, they had $1.2 million in lifetime sales. Since their initial appearance, they have averaged $1 million in sales per month and have over $64 million in lifetime sales. Maria Sharapova says those numbers are “crazy.” She says the company is strong, the products are strong, and that she’s confident they’ll weather through it. Natalie says Maria opened doors to athletes like Serena Williams and brands like Reese Witherspoon’s Draper James. They announced that their products will be in 1700 Target stores. To close out the update segment, they introduce their 2 children who they are teaching to “power through and make it to the other side.”
As of July 2024, they are still doing over $1 million in sales per month.
Shark Tank Blog will update this page as more information on Bala & Max Kislevitz and Natalie Holloway becomes available.
Where Can You Buy It?
Kick your workouts up a notch with Bala’s stylish wrist and ankle weights, available on their official website. Get over the boring, bulky weights and grab a set of Bala bangles from Amazon.
Want to learn more about the company and its products? Check out their website. Stay in the loop with their latest styles and workout tips by following them on social media.
You can find more information about Bala Bangles – Fashion Wrist and Ankle Weights on the Shark Tank Blog.
Quick Summary
- Innovative Design: Bala Bangles are fashionable wrist and ankle weights made from cast iron and silicone, sweat-resistant, and dishwasher safe.
- Founders’ Journey: Max Kislevitz and Natalie Holloway created Bala Bangles to enhance yoga workouts, launching through a successful Kickstarter campaign.
- Market Impact: Bala Bangles quickly became popular. It generated $2.5 million in sales and secured spots in major retail locations like Nordstrom and Amazon.
