Blondies Cookies
Highlights
- Brenda Coffman pitched Blondie’s Cookies on Shark Tank, seeking $200,000 for 3% equity.
- Blondie’s Cookies has 12 retail locations in Indiana and Florida.
- Despite strong sales of $2.3 million, the Sharks were concerned about $800K in outstanding loans and new Florida stores losing money.
- No deal was secured, but the brand saw increased sales and publicity after the show.
Overview
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Name | Blondie’s Cookies |
| Founder | Brenda “Blondie” Coffman |
| Industry | Food, Retail |
| Product | Cookies and baked goods |
| Funding | No deal secured |
| Investment Ask | $200,000 |
| Equity Offered | 3% |
| Valuation | $6.67 million (at the time of Shark Tank pitch) |
Blondie’s Cookies entrepreneur Brenda “Blondie” Coffman pitched the Sharks on her retail cookie store concept in episode 308 of season 3. Brenda, who started Blondie’s Cookies when she was still in college, has been in the cookie business for 25 years. Blondie’s Cookies boasts 12 retail locations in Indiana and Florida. The Florida locations are new and the first locations away from their “home territory” of Indiana, where the Blondie’s Cookies brand is strong.
Blondie’s Cookies in the Shark Tank
Blondie’s Cookies was looking for a $200K investment for a 3% share in the business. Brenda, like any good food entrepreneur, brought samples of Blondie’s Cookies for the Sharks. They loved the cookies and the fact Blondie’s had 2.3 million in sales in the previous year. What the Sharks didn’t like was that Blondie’s Cookies had about $800K in outstanding loans, most of which was used to fuel the expansion of retail locations into Florida. Unfortunately, the Florida stores, which were still relatively new as of the original broadcast, were losing money. This was due, in part, to their “newness” and they hadn’t captured the corporate accounts that the Indiana stores have.
Kevin O’Leary doesn’t like Brenda’s valuation, so he’s out immediately. Robert Herjavec likes the branding, but thinks Brenda needs to get back to Blondie’s roots and focus on the Indiana stores; he’s out. Mark Cuban likes the cookies – a bit too much – he thinks they’ll make him need to work out more; he’s out. Barbara Corcoran thinks Brenda needs to know when to quit: she doesn’t like the fact the Florida stores are losing money, so she’s out too. Daymond John doesn’t like the valuation, so he’s out, but he grabs all the remaining cookies and scarfs them down!
Blondie’s Cookies Shark Tank Update
The Shark Tank Blog constantly provides updates and follow-ups about entrepreneurs who have appeared on the Shark Tank TV show. Once an episode has aired, we monitor the progress of the businesses featured, whether they receive funding or not and report on their progress.
At least one of the Blondie’s Cookies Florida locations has closed since the original air date, but the others remain open and the publicity from Shark Tank has helped sales. A visit to the Sarasota store is in the works for Spring, 2013.
I never made it to Blondie’s because they closed all their Florida stores. As of July, 2022, the seven original Indiana stores are still open and you can order online. They also purchased a new production facility in Indiana to increase cookie capacity. As of May, 2023, annual revenue is $9-$10 million.
Company Information
Media Links
- Shark Tank Blog Coverage
Florida Store Locations
- Brandon Town Center
- 651 Brandon Town Center Drive
- Brandon, Florida
- 813.689.8877
- Citrus Park Town Center
- Tampa, Florida
- 813.920.2229
- Sarasota
- 8201 S. Tamiami Trail
- Sarasota, Florida
- 941.923.2105
Indiana Store Locations
- Bloomington, Indiana
- 2954 East 3rd St, Suite G07A
- Phone: 812.333.2710
- Glenbrook Mall
- 4201 Coldwater Rd., Suite 322
- Ft. Wayne, Indiana
- 260.483.0316
- Honey Creek
- 3401 S. US Highway 41
- Terre Haute, Indiana
- 812.232.1561
- Keystone Fashion Mall
- 8701 Keystone Crossing Boulevard
- Indianapolis, Indiana
- 317.705.9883
- Kokomo
- 1160 S. 17th St.
- Kokomo, Indiana
- Muncie Mall
- 3501 N. Granville Ave.
- Muncie, Indiana
- 765.288.3872
- South Bend
- 6501 Grape Road
- Mishawaka, Indiana
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