Fur: What Happened To The Brand After Shark Tank?
"Shark Tank" is known for either making budding entrepreneurs' dreams come true or sending new business owners home with zero confidence if they aren't impressed by the initial proposal. The Sharks have taken several companies to incredible success: Millions of houses have Ring Doorbells, many feet adorn Bombas socks, and many people have used the at-home health tests by Everlywell. Appearing on "Shark Tank" is great exposure, even if the business owners don't receive a deal, but there is a level of intensity with every "Shark Tank" pitch.
One of the most innovative companies to appear on "Shark Tank" and receive a deal is Fur, an intimate hair care line which includes oils, body butter, and balms. Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung are childhood best friends and the successful CEOs behind the brand. Tung already worked in the beauty industry for L'Oréal when Schubert approached her with the idea for Fur. After discussing pubic hair care with her friends and family and experiencing her own struggles with ingrown hair after waxing, she worked with a chemist to develop a product that was safe, and Tung was so impressed with the final product that she agreed to enter into a partnership, The Shark Tank Blog explains.
Fur products are marketed to all people who want to care for body hair, including pubic hair, which had been a taboo topic until Fur brought it to consumers. Since appearing on "Shark Tank," Fur has evolved and progressed in products and profits.
What happened to Fur on 'Shark Tank?'
When Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung first appeared on "Shark Tank," they asked for $500,000 with 2.5% equity in the company. Most of the Sharks could not accept a percentage that low, and that is where the negotiations began. Schubert and Tung impressed upon the Sharks that this product was like none on the market, and because it was considered taboo, the opportunity for sales was high if it was marketed correctly. They pressed that it was created with all bodies in mind and for all different types of hair growth preferences, and that many would soon be implementing Fur in their beauty routines. At the time of pitching, they had already earned over $2 million from celebrities like Will Smith and Andy Roddick (via Shark Tank Wiki).
At the end of the episode, Fur's owners had three offers on the table. Daymond John pulled out of the offer just before the end, feeling like he could not partner with Schubert and Tung. "We want everyone to feel comfortable with their body hair expression, whatever that may be," said Schubert while explaining her product to the Sharks, and it was this focus on body positivity and acceptance that ultimately interested Lori Greiner. After some tense back and forth, the deal came when Greiner countered with a $500,000 dollar proposal at 8% equity including a $50,000 charitable component. The businesswomen agreed, and they shook hands with Greiner to confirm the deal.
Controversies related to Fur's products
Because Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung had experience with business marketing and the beauty industry, they knew there would be two different reactions to Fur. While some would take to the idea of products for pubic hair, those with more conservative views would shy away from the line. According to Beauty Independent, Schubert was rejected from dozens of possible formulators in the early days of the brand, before the "Shark Tank" appearance, because of the taboo nature of pubic hair. "A lot of them hung up on me because they thought it was a prank call or they thought it was from a pervert," she told the outlet.
"We would meet with retailers, and they said, 'We love you. We love the brand. Take 'pubic' off the front of the box, and we will stock you,'" Schubert added. "As a bootstrapped brand, that was extremely appealing, and we took it very seriously, but we never did that. We know that if we did, it would be diluting our mission."
Ultimately, the controversy surrounding the taboo nature of the products was not enough to stop the founders, who state that they "believe in a more inclusive definition of beauty, whether you think the bush is back or skin is in" on their official website. "That's why we created effective, simple, clean, and inclusive products for the whole body, including places you used to only whisper about."
Fur after 'Shark Tank'
Although the episode ends with Lori Greiner shaking hands with Laura Schubert and Lillian Tung, saying they had a deal, that deal didn't go through (via Insider Growth). Shark Tank Recap reports that after the initial surge in sales from being featured on the show, Fur's sales decreased by a significant amount.
After Fur's appearance on "Shark Tank" in 2020, the line received an exceptionally positive review from Best Products. The website revealed that Fur "exceedingly" lived up to expectations, though it was noted that the products should always be patch-tested first and that oils in general are incompatible with condoms. But despite these small gripes, reviewer Jennifer Hussein explained that the oil had made her body hair softer, she loved the bottle it came in, and she experienced a reduction in ingrown hairs.
Fur was also positively reviewed by freelance writer Rebecca Norris, who wrote on Women's Health that she "didn't hate" the all-natural oil and making it a regular in her routine would be a "big yes."
Is Fur still in business?
Though the deal with Lori Greiner fell through, the brand appears to be steadily growing. According to Innovationify, Fur is said to be worth around $30 million in 2023, and has expanded its product range to include a wider selection of grooming and skincare products, in addition to the original products for the nether regions. Note that there are conflicting reports about the brand's net worth, with BizNews reporting that Fur was worth $1.6 million in 2022.
You can purchase Fur products from major retailers, including Amazon and Ulta Beauty. Fur oil is also endorsed by celebrities like Emma Watson, who helped to boost sales considerably after an In Gloss interview regarding her beauty routine.
As inclusivity is part of the brand's mission, Fur has attracted customers from all walks of life and appeals to a wide demographic; Innovationify reveals that nearly 35% of its customer base is made up of men.
The future for Fur
Laura Schubert confirmed that Fur is continuing to grow in an Instagram post in April 2023, writing, "Every year, the Fur team has become bigger and stronger than the year before. There is so much growth to come and I am so grateful to the team that works together to make it all happen, and most importantly — keeps every day super fun!"
Additionally, we may see Fur become more involved with activism and promoting social justice causes in the future. Spurred by Alabama's most restrictive abortion ban, Schubert and Lillian Tung joined forces with other female CEOs to protest against the restrictions placed on women back in 2019 (via The Hill). On the Fur website, Schubert and Tung explain that they donated $1 for "every like and comment on [their Instagram post] about the spread to the Yellowhammer Fund, a nonprofit organization aiding pro-choice activists and those seeking safe abortions in Alabama." The website also shows that Fur has donated money to the Black Lives Matter movement and focused energy to stop AAIP hate.
Although "Shark Tank" didn't work the way they planned, these two trailblazing women have surged ahead in the beauty market and are reinventing conversation around body hair care.