What Happened to the Glove Wrap After Shark Tank?
After Shark Tank, Glove Wrap achieved great success, and Gavin was honored with the Young Innovator Award
When 8-year-old baseball lover Gavin Batarse appeared on Shark Tank Season 15 he and his family were hoping to solve a common problem. It was breaking in stiff baseball gloves.
His innovative product Glove Wrap, was simple but effective, and it attracted attention from two of the sharks, Mark Cuban and Michael Rubin. But what happened to Glove Wrap after its big moment on the show?
“When Mark said I have a Sharky deal I was expecting 40 or 50 not 22”
Let’s dive into the detailed story of its journey from a family invention to a growing business success.
The Need for a Solution
Gavin’s idea for Glove Wrap came from personal frustration. After buying a new glove, he and his dad, Jon, tried using the traditional rubber band method to break it in.
They quickly realized it wasn’t working well, and Gavin thought there had to be a better way. He found some leftover rubber his dad used for physical therapy and asked if they could wrap the glove with it.
As Gavin explained:
“My dad and I just bought a new glove and were going to use the old-fashioned way to break it in with rubber bands, but we didn’t have enough. So I found a piece of rubber my dad used when he hurt his leg, and I asked him if we could wrap the glove with it.”
That simple idea led to the creation of Glove Wrap, a product that molds the glove’s pocket perfectly, making it easier to catch balls during games.
From Idea to Business
Gavin didn’t stop there. He and his family realized they had something valuable. Not only did Glove Wrap work for them, but it could also help other baseball players.
They decided to turn their solution into a business. The goal was to introduce Glove Wrap to the market and make it accessible to players everywhere.
While Glove Wrap was a great idea, the family faced some tough competition. Big brands like Rawlings and Lizard Skins already had products that helped players break in their gloves.
This made it harder for Gavin to convince people that Glove Wrap was better. Even during the Shark Tank pitch, Barbara Corcoran wasn’t convinced.
“I feel I have an identical band in my closet that I use all the time. So what makes this different?”
That kind of skepticism showed how hard it was for Glove Wrap to stand out in a crowded market
Their Plan for Success
To overcome this, Gavin and his family appeared on Shark Tank and asked for $50,000 in exchange for 20% of the company. They believed partnering with a shark could help them get their product into more stores. As Gavin explained during the pitch:
“Mr Mark I know you know the people at Dick’s Sporting Goods. Would it be good to go right next where their gloves”
Surprised sharky deal
During the pitch, some sharks admired Gavin’s passion but weren’t sure about the product. However, guest shark Michael Rubin saw its potential. He said:
“I believe you’re going to be a winner, and I want to be able to invest in anything you do in the future.”
Michael joined forces with Mark Cuban, and together, they offered $50,000 for 22% of the company. The family accepted the offer, securing two influential partners who could help grow their business.
“You guys asked for 20 we have to be sharks you realize that $50,000 split between Michael and I For 22% you got a deal”
Success After Shark Tank
Getting the deal on Shark Tank was a big moment for Gavin and his family. It showed them that even though their product was simple, it could still have a big impact.
The simplicity of Glove Wrap made it easy for players to use, and customers quickly recognized its value.
After the episode aired, Glove Wrap saw a huge boost in sales. The company sold more than 1,000 units in just a few days.
Media attention also grew, and the company’s social media following exploded. By 2024, Glove Wrap had over 300,000 followers on platforms like Instagram and TikTok, with millions of views on their videos.
Gavin even got the chance to meet professional athletes like Nomar Garciaparra, who were impressed with the product. These endorsements helped Glove Wrap gain credibility and made it even more popular in the baseball community.
Today, Glove Wrap sells for $19.99 and is available on their website and Amazon. The company has expanded beyond baseball, offering products such as softball and hockey gloves.
Glove Wrap was able to land a partnership with DICK’S Sporting Goods. They announce that last June.
Also, recently Gavin received the Young Innovator Award from the city of Tustin, CA at the 2024 Business Recognition Luncheon.
With continued backing from Cuban and Rubin, Glove Wrap is now a growing name in the sports accessory industry.
Featured image credit @ Instagram
